Portable Chicken Coop - A Must Have

A chicken coop is a house that you build for live chickens. It can be something that is built fixed in a specific place or it can also be a portable chicken coop.

If you are planning to build a chicken coop, you have to consider different things. You have to look at the number of hens you are going to raise. You also have to study the area where you will raise them. You must know the type of weather in your place and the existence of possible predators.

A portable chicken coop is a must have if the weather in your area is forever changing. Although you can build your coop with weather proofing attachments, it is still best to have a chicken coop that's portable so you can move your chickens in safe places during adverse weather conditions.

There is a school of thought that actually believes that chickens can withstand weather changes but there are others who believe otherwise. But chickens, like other living things, can be affected by extreme conditions so it is always more prudent to be prepared in such eventualities.

It is also best to have a chicken coop that's portable if there are many predators in your place. It is good to move around the coop until you find a spot best suited to prevent predator attacks.

Portable coops should be made of light weight materials if you intend to move them manually. It should also prevent chickens from getting injured during transfers. You can have a dolly to help you move around the coop.

Machine-portable coops can be made of heavier materials. Larger coops are better moved with machines than moved manually. You can build the coop on skids or on wheels. The problem with a wheeled coop is that it can roll down even if you don't want it to if placed in an inclined surface. Skid-mounted coops do not.

Building a portable chicken coop requires great planning. You cannot just build it anyway you want it.

If you want to download step by step chicken coop blueprints, you should take a look at my blog - where I'll show you the best resource available for downloading fully illustrated, step by step plans for building a chicken coop. It really is easier than you think when you have the right plans! Click here to go there now.

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How to Build a Chicken Coop - How Much Does it Cost?

I was shocked to find the price of chicken coops on sale. Actually it took me forever to even find any decent ones for sale. There is a big gap in the market for someone to make affordable chicken coops. In the meantime the high cost persuaded me to build my own and pocket the saving. Assuming you have the basic DIY skills to put up shelves and do basic home maintenance you will easily be able to make your own chicken coop. What's more, you probably have all the nails, screws and tools you need to do the construction.

The costs really are the basic timber that you need plus some chicken wire. The other things you will need is a way to make the coop waterproof and warm. Insulation materials are not too expensive if you go to a good builders merchants. The cost can increase if you plan to have a special design or extra features such as egg collection hatches and automatic feeders.

I use timber that is prepared for external use. Decking boards are particularly useful because the are treated and are very strong. They are certainly strong enough for constructing the base of the chicken coop. They are also useful for laying out a small yard for the chickens to run in. The chicken wire can be stapled directly to the deck wood.

For the roof you can use a piece of roofing felt to make it water proof. This comes in very cheap and most merchants will sell you just what you need. In fact you can probably walk round your builders yard and get most of what you need in one trip.

The final factor in costing out your home made chicken coop is the number of chickens you have. For a modest 2 chicken coop you can probably make one up for well below $100. If you have different breed you want to keep separate then you will be looking at quite a bit more. For most home made chicken coops you should have plenty of change from $200.

For specific plans and more ideas on how to build a chicken coop there is some great info at http://howbuildachickencoop.blogspot.com/

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Your Chicken Ark - A Great Tool For Protecting Chickens

The term chicken ark is a specific term in style for a chicken coop. Another term used for this type of structure is chicken tractor. There are several types one can build but most are of an A frame style built without a floor. Most are relatively small being only 5 to 6 feet in length and only about 4 feet high. The chicken ark falls into the category of portable chicken coop. This is for the reason that they are easily moved and are without a floor. These can generally house up to 6 to 8 birds depending on species.

This type of chicken coop is the easiest to keep clean because most of the chickens are roaming free during the day, it can be sprayed down with a hose. The waste the chickens release can also be easily cleaned or if the ark is moved on a constant basis can just be absorbed into the ground. This is if the ground is not too trampled on and compacted.

For ease of movement of the ark, some are equipped with two wheels at one end. Since most are small enough to be moved by one person, the wheels make it easier to move as well as there will not be any drag marks or divots in the space from where it was resting last.

The chicken ark is most common by small chicken farms. This type of housing unit would not work for a large commercial chicken farm. For the small chicken farmer another consideration needs to be considered. This is whether the whole ark is to be covered with a roof or just part. If the whole unit is to be covered, the chickens will need to be let out to stay health and get the needed sunshine and clean air all living creatures require.

A chicken ark is best for raising small numbers of chickens for personal use.

The key thing about protecting chickens is making sure that you have an excellent chicken coop plan. For info that you need to have before you start raising chickens, visit us at http://www.buildmychickencoop.com where you learn about building a chicken coop and lots of other critical information.

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How to Build a Chicken Coop - What is the Cost Involved?

We are currently in the midst of economic turmoil. This affects every action that everyone takes. It even affects your decision on how to build a chicken coop.

Okay, so just what do you need to build that chicken coop? Well, as there are many different styles, it's hard to say "use this and use that" but for the most part, you're going to need two by fours, concrete cinder blocks chicken wire or fence wire, insulation strips, nails, screws, screwdriver and hammer. So, what's the cost of all this? Well, let's break it down as cheaply as we can.

Planks of wood, if you don't want to go out chopping wood all day, depending on the quality of the wood, will run you anywhere from $15 to $25 or more. Now, you don't want your coop to fall apart on you so I'd recommend going with a good maple for about $20. Of course that's entirely up to you.

Insulation strips are not quite as much, thank goodness. You can pick up a package of 16 strips for about $10 or so. Again, you want to get some good insulation. Chickens do NOT like being damp and wet. They don't mind the cold too much but some insulation is going to be required.

Cinder blocks are relatively cheap and can be picked up online for about $5 a block. I suggest going to a site like Home Depot or if you have one close to your home, take a drive over. That way you can check them out personally. I suggest getting blocks that are somewhat attractive. You do want this coop to look nice, right?

You can get 6 inch chicken wire from Craft Supplies for about $11. Depending on the size of your coop, you may need a few rolls of these. As for the rest of the stuff, nails, screws, etc...they're negligible in cost.

A good chicken coop will probably run you a couple of hundred bucks, again depending on the size. Check out the link in my signature below for some great building ideas.

http://www.howtobuildchickencoop.wordpress.com is a #1 rated website for people interested in building a chicken coop.

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Chicken House Plans - Getting Going

There are lots of chicken house plans out on the market and the internet. Prior to deciding on a set of plans decide what features you desire in your chicken house first. First answer the question, how many chickens do you wish to raise at once? The size of your new chicken house needs to be determined so the appropriate plans can be chosen. The next feature should be do you want a fixed structure, best for large volume chicken farms, or a portable one. Another item is do you wish to house all of your chickens in just one house or multiple houses. In today's world this is a concern since there is the avian flu and chickens can become contaminated.

After these decisions are made the list of different features need to be decided on. Some people like to go into the chicken house to collect the eggs while others like a trap door from behind. Either way a decision must be made. There is a third option, just like a pool table the eggs can go down a channel that has a slight decline for easy collection. The reason for the slight decline is so the eggs do not break.

Another feature would be whether you want a one or two story chicken house. Some people prefer a long one story row of chickens while others would prefer to stack them to save space. The area on which you are to build your chicken house can help in determining this feature. Windows will be intended for fresh air to enter the chicken house. If these are free range chickens then the windows will need to be predator proof. If the chickens will be roaming in a fenced off area that is safe from all predators then this may be unnecessary.

There are many more decisions that will need to be made but these will get you started on deciding which chicken house plans suit your needs best.

The most important thing about raising chickens is making certain that you have an excellent chicken coop plan. For information that you need to have before you start raising chickens, visit us at http://www.buildmychickencoop.com where you learn about building a chicken coop and lots of other critical information.

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Chicken Shed - Key Things You Should Know

A chicken shed is better known as a chicken coop, is easy to build but first decide what you really want. Is this structure going to be permanent? If so then what it looks may need to be factored into the design. There are designs that look like a chicken shed from out on a farm. Then there are those that wish to have one look appealing to the eye.

If the appeal is important then consider one that looks like a play house for children or even one that is just a smaller version of your own home. This will take more work and planning but they normally turn out looking very good and still be functional.

But to have a true chicken shed it must look like a shed. Just like the one used to house the lawn equipment or other items not used on a regular basis. For those that live where the snow falls then the shed should be close by a main structure so an electrical line can easily be run to it to supply the power that will be needed to keep the chickens warm over the cold winter months.

This choices can be ignored if and only if the chicken farmer decides to eat all of his livestock before the first frost. If the chickens are to last the winter they will have to stay warm so walls all need to go all the way down to the ground especial the one facing north. This will keep the north wind from creating too much of a problem. The west wall will also need to be solid because in America, most storms come from the west, especially in the Midwest regions or plains states.

The last consideration is the floor. A permanent shed should have the floor off the ground. The sides of the shed should reach the ground and not allow the air to circulate under it. This will keep the floor warmer in the winter time. Just remember to create your chicken shed to fit your needs and the chickens needs.

The most important thing about raising chickens is making certain that you have an excellent chicken coop plan. For information that you need to have before you start raising chickens, visit us at http://www.buildmychickencoop.com where you learn about building a chicken coop and lots of other critical information.

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Pet Chickens - Everything You Ought to Know

There are many good reasons to keep pet chickens around, not only do they eat the scraps from your table but the hens can provide farm fresh eggs on a daily basis. One important factor that has to be mentioned is that like other living creatures, chickens need to spend time outdoors in the sunlight.

Chickens can be amusing pets. They love to take dust baths and they do a service for your lawn also. They may possibly eat at new shoots of plants but they also scratch at the dirt and loosen it up. If you lawn has a bug problem then a chicken or chickens can do a valuable service. They love to eat bugs. After chickens are feed their daily dose of grain, they spend the rest of the day scratching at the ground looking for the little bugs that are all lawns. This is an important source of protein for their diet.

For those wanting to have a trained chicken, it is possible. They are easily trained with food as a reward. After some time of getting to know your birds, petting as well as hand feeding them is possible. Once they know you are a source of food they will happily follow you around the lawn waiting for the next hand out.

But for those who want a chicken to rest in their lap and become a true friend it would be best to raise it from a baby chic. Baby chics do need special care in that they require a fresh environment and a heat source. The clean environment means constant cleaning their waste and a heat source can be as simple as a light bulb. Four to Five week old chics are old enough to go outside and join with the rest of your flock but in those first weeks of bonding, your child can have a lifelong friend. Yes the pet chickens' life.

The most critical thing about raising chickens is making sure that you have an excellent chicken coop plan. For information that you need to have before you start raising chickens, visit us at http://www.buildmychickencoop.com where you learn about building a chicken coop and lots of other critical information.

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