Thursday, March 8, 2012

Building a Chicken Coop

 Here are some things to consider before building a chicken coop!
 
Location- The location should be large enough to fit the size of both the coop and the outdoor run. Make sure no animals have access to this area so they           can't harass the chickens. 
     
Size- This depends on the number of chickens that you will be raising & also         the breed of chickens. As a rule of thumb you want a minimum of 2 sq. feet           per chicken for the coop and a minimum of 4 sq. feet per chicken for the run.


 Design- There are several basic elements you want to include in your coop: Security, A Roof, Ventilation, Nesting Boxes, A Place to Roost and an open air chicken run. There is an assortment of photos online for inspiration! One of my favorites is :Backyardchickens.com

 Building Materials-Some common materials that you may need include: chicken wire, 2x4s, plywood, shingles, insulation, pine shavings/straw. *Do not use cedar shavings as they can be poisonous to chickens.

 Cost- Figure out an estimated cost beforehand to ensure you can build the coop properly.

 Laws & Regulations in your City- Different cities have different zoning laws and regulations, so                  be sure to research this beforehand!      

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