Building a chicken coop using free chicken coop plans is an affordable weekend DIY project for most. The following free chicken coop plans show you step by step how to assemble a chicken coop with detailed blueprints, materials lists, and detailed building directions, making it a low-cost and simple choice over purchasing a ready-made chicken coop from the market.
This plan includes details of the specific dimensions, height, and location of each of the 4 quadrants in the coop, as well as a complete illustration of the door and window arrangement. In addition, the plan includes a complete list of the things you need including hardware, screws, hinges, and other hardware. You may choose to purchase the materials separately to customize the design and construction.
Chicken flock rearing is often done on small sites at the edge of a large field. To avoid the expense of starting an expensive project right away, consider building your own first using a free plan to get a practical idea of what’s involved and the benefits of building your own.
Good Chicken Coop Plans Should Have
As an example, most designs include the use of strong fences and multiple runs for perches and nesting boxes. You may also want to include a chicken tractor for easy egg collecting and cleaning. When planning your structure, be sure to include steps for feeding your chickens and cleaning the inside of the coops daily.
Another advantage of a good plan is that it includes lots of space savings. Most of the time, the run or barn is built with a movable wall that extends towards the rear of the house. You can create several additional chicken coops on the same site if you have enough space. You can save even more money by constructing a portable run. Portable runs are designed to be moved from site to site when needed.
Small chicken coop ideas also involve the most economical use of your property. If you build your hen house on a small lot, you may not be able to get a permit to allow you to set up a larger house on the same land. Small runs also allow you to keep track of your chickens easily. You can put a small pen above the run where the birds lay their eggs or collect the droppings, keeping these items contained and organized.
Good Ventilation is Important For Your Chickens
In addition to saving money and keeping your backyard free of clutter, plans with good ventilation are important to the health of your birds. Ventilation helps keep your flock healthy by providing good air circulation throughout the house.
Chickens, like people, don’t want to be hot or too cold. Good ventilation helps provide a natural environment in which they thrive. Ventilation also keeps your coop’s clean, allowing you to remove old chicken poop easily without scrubbing. This also keeps the area cleaner for you and other neighborhood critters that love to scoop up chicken poop.
There are other materials that make good choices with your chicken coop plans, such as wood, plastic, wire, or PVC. Wood is nice because it is cheaper than other materials. It also holds up better in the rain or snow. Plastic waterers are often not as comfortable as metal, but plastic waters are relatively easy to clean, which is important if your flock has a lot of human interaction.