You've decided you are going to be keeping chickens. Now you're wondering what type of chicken coop you'll be needing. There are many chicken coop plans to choose from but you want the one that is the best fit for your needs. You'll be spending money on your poultry shed so you want to take your time to make the right choice.
So what type of coop should you build? The following guidelines will lead you down the right path to choosing wisely and being fully satisfied with your new chicken coop once it's built.
SIZE
There are small, medium and large hen house plans. It all depends on the number of chickens you'll be keeping. The biggest mistake people make is trying to cram too many chickens into your coop. We don't like to feel like a sardine in a can. Neither do the chickens. They need space to live comfortably. They'll be happier and lay eggs properly.
If anything, you should go bigger instead of smaller. That way you'll be able to add more birds later on. Check out the link below for some excellent chicken coop plans...
Chicken Coop Designs!
FIXED SHED OR MOBILE
Portable chicken coops, of course, give you the advantage of being able to move it around to wherever you are, so if you're someone who will be keeping chickens as pets, this makes for a very attractive option.
A mobile chicken coop allows for easier maintenance since you can simply move the chicken coop to wherever you need to clean it.
If you're looking for something with a little more structural integrity you should choose fixed chicken housing. These are built sturdier so that they are able to withstand wear and tear. And all kinds of weather conditions.
PROTECTION
Those nasty predators. We do have to think about them as we don't want harm to come to our chickens. This will affect your decision on what type of chicken coop to make as well. Ideally you should have a very solid fencing system to keep all varieties of predators out. The chicken fencing will have to be built to match the size of the coop as well.
APPEARANCE
What do you want your chicken coop to look like? There are a number of different ways you can build the chicken coop which will impact the overall design. This will also likely influence the cost of the building process, so it's something to think about so you can work within your budget.
There are definitely cheaper methods to building a chicken coop, so understanding the different things that will influence the cost is the first step to making a smart decision. You can get very creative with the appearance of your poultry shed. I've see a few that look like doll houses!
So, be sure you're factoring these points in as you decide which type of chicken coop you wish to build. Getting the information up front before you start to build will help save you hundreds of dollars over the long run.
Find Your Chicken Coop Plans Here!
