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The Chicken Coop Checklist

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Rooster in brown wooden coop | The Chicken Coop Checklist | chicken coop | how to build a chicken coop | Featured

Want to know how to build your own chicken coop? Take advantage of these useful tips to maximize your hen house!

RELATED: Advantages of Going into Chicken Farming

In this article:

  1. How to Build a Chicken Coop
    1. Roosts
    2. Nesting Boxes
    3. Food and Water
    4. Insulation and Bedding
    5. Ventilation
    6. Protection
    7. Watertight and Shade
    8. Egg Access and Decoration

    Chicken Coop | Useful Building Tips

    How to Build a Chicken Coop

    When it comes to a survival situation, one of the most important factors is the food supply. More importantly, you want that food supply to be sustainable and offer good nutritional value.

    For years people have been keeping animals as a way to have control over their own food supply and as a necessity for survival. Many tribes still live primarily off foraged foods and the animals they keep, allowing them to live away from large groups and find safety.

    Keeping chickens is a brilliant way to have a consistent and sustainable food source, with many hens producing up to an egg each day. Eggs are full of great nutrients and natural fats that we need to survive.

    You can also obviously eat the chickens should they stop laying eggs, usually around the two-year mark.

    In the infographic below I’ve described some of the key features you could include in your chicken coop plans. One other thing that you may like to consider is the portability of the coop.

    If you should need to bug out, some coops can be very quickly taken apart or moved.

    Building a chicken coop doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. But there are some important things that you need to remember!

    1. Roosts

    Chickens sleep just as much as any other animal… sometimes more! They love to sleep on a perch, so you should try and install a horizontal bar across the chicken house where they can crouch and fall asleep.

    2. Nesting Boxes

    Brown hen near white egg on nest | The Chicken Coop Checklist | chicken coop | cheap chicken coops

    Chickens require nesting boxes where they will be able to lay their eggs. These nests should have some warm insulation such as straw.

    It is suggested that you have one nesting box per three hens.

    3. Food and Water

    You have plenty of freedom when it comes to chicken coop designs, but many people keep their feeders off the ground. This can help prevent spillages and accidents.

    RELATED: Hen Pecked: An In-Depth Interview On Raising Chickens

    4. Insulation and Bedding

    The most common bedding material is straw because it’s absorbent, cheap, and soft for the birds. You can also use wood shavings or chips.

    Remember that your chickens will require less insulation in summer, don’t let them overheat!

    5. Ventilation

    Have you ever smelt a chicken coop which hasn’t been cleaned out and ventilated properly? It’s not pretty!

    Install a simple window at least — but remember to also protect it with chicken wire or mesh.

    6. Protection

    chickens inside chicken coop | The Chicken Coop Checklist | chicken coop | cheap chicken coops

    Chickens have quite a lot of predators such as foxes, birds of prey, and raccoons. Make sure that you protect your chickens by using a wire mesh around the outside, building with sturdy materials and remembering to padlock the door (if you have one!).

    7. Watertight and Shade

    Chickens just like us also hate being too hot or too cold. Make sure that the coop is waterproof to prevent them from getting cold during the wet season.

    Also, ensure that your run has a shaded area where your birds can get out of the sun and cool off! – IMPORTANT

    8. Egg Access and Decoration

    Make sure that you can easily gather the eggs that your chickens have laid. You don’t want to have to crawl in every time!

    Also, decorate the coop with plants and greenery, it’s great for the chickens.

    Here’s the chicken coop checklist infographic for your reference:

    |

    With the right approach, you can definitely maximize your produce with simple and cheap chicken coops. Give your chickens a suitable environment by following these hen house tips for an abundant food supply.

    Are you an avid homesteader with your own chicken coop? Share your own tips with us in the comments section below!

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    Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on September 29, 2015, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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7 Comments

7 Comments

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  7. Anonymous

    April 24, 2019 at 6:05 PM

    The woven- wire fencing shown for the chickens’ yard is woefully inadequate for protection from predators. Raccoons will go through that wire with no problem if they are lured by a tasty chicken meal on the other side.

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