What Type of Chicken Coop Should You Build?
If you’ve decided you want to build a chicken coop then you’re more than likely trying to figure out what type of coop to build, and who can blame you considering there are so many options available. However, you really need to consider which type of coop will be best suited to your needs before you go ahead and start handing over any of your hard earned cash.
Essentially, there are a few factors which are more important than other and as such, you need to pay careful attention to them. Hopefully, those points which are mentioned in this article will help you to set out on the right foot so that you’ll end up having a coop which is ideal for your needs.
Coop Size
Size is perhaps the most important thing to take into consideration before you start building a coop and one should bear in mind that plans are available for small, medium and large coops, each capable of housing a specific number of birds.
Unfortunately, it seems that the most common mistake people make, is that they try to house too many chickens in their coop. Remember, each chicken should ideally be provided with enough space to feel content and comfortable, particularly if you want your chickens to lay a decent amount of eggs.
A good rule of thumb to follow is that it’s better for a coop to be too large rather than too small, not to mention the fact that if the coop ends up being too big, you can simply add a few more chickens.
Portable Coop or Fixed Coop
Once you’ve determined what size of coop you require, you then need to ask yourself whether you intend keeping the coop in one area or if you would rather have one which is portable. Of course, portable chicken coops do have certain advantages in that the can be moved around anytime you choose. For that reason, the are extremely well suited for those who want to keep chickens as pets.
Additionally, portable chicken coops also allow for easy maintenance because you can move them to a specific area for cleaning purposes.
Having said all that; if you would like something a little more permanent, then you should of course consider going for a fixed coop. Bear in mind that fixed coops are usually noticeably stronger than portable ones and as such, they tend to last for ages.
Level of Protection
If you’re going to keep chickens then you need to acknowledge the fact that predators are a very real threat, hence the need for suitable protection. Ideally, your fencing should be able to keep all forms of predators out and of course, this is something you need to factor in when you build the coop.
Appearance and/or Style
Of course it goes without saying that most people want the overall appearance of the coop to blend in with the immediate surroundings and there are many things you can do in order to ensure it does. However, because this can have a heavy impact on building costs, it’s an area you have to pay considerable attention to in order to stay within your budget.
There are a vast number of ways to build an economical chicken coop so it’s always advisable that you make a point of understanding your options before you start out.
Providing you pay some attention to those points which have been mentioned before you start building a chicken coop, you could very well end up saving a small fortune in the end.
