Backyard Designs

Make sure not to leave it too close to your house, as the smell will be very pungent sometimes.

Also, chickens like to peck at shiny things, so get some mesh for the fencing that isnt too shiny, as well as making sure to keep kids/pets completely out of access to the coop. You wouldnt want someone loosing an eye (seriously can happen..if you fall they will jump on you and can peck your eye out).

Also, make sure its got great ventilation, as well as areas inside the actual coop for the chickens to stay warm and “lay”. Hay inside, dirt outside.

They will want something to climb on.. the will need shaded outdoor space.. if you can build it around a tree even better.. one of my friends neighbours has a huge one with a big old tree right in the enclosure…

there are a ton of websites for building them, just google chicken coops.

Protection from predators is easily #1 on my list.

1. Make sure you can lock the doors at night

2. Build the coop floor out of concrete so that predators don’t dig under the walls to get inside

3. Ventilation & lighting are a must. So is insulating the inside walls to keep the chickens dry

Make sure the coop is the appropriate size to house your birds. A heavy layer should have about 4 square feet of room to itself, so if you have 20 heavy layers, your coop should be at least 80 square feet (10×8 in size).

Predator-proof your building. Hardware mesh over windows, hinged doors or ramps that close securely at night to keep out raccoons, weasels, fox and such. Most chickens are killed by nocturnal predators because they are virtually blind at night and can’t see the intruders.

Windows are always a good idea. They let in natural light in the winter months and can be opened in warm weather to provide additional ventilation. Hardware mesh screens means the windows can be left open at night without allowing predators in. Birds can suffer from overheating quicker than they will suffer from cold weather.

Adequate nest boxes and roosts for your specific breeds should be provided. Some birds prefer to roost high, and rounded perches prevent heavy breeds from injuring their feet. Other breeds want to roost low or stay on the ground. Know your breed and what they need for roosting and nest boxes. 1 nest box for every 3-4 birds is plenty.

Provide fresh, clean water at all times, as well as a commercial feed that has at least 12% protein, as well as crushed oyster shell and grit. All of this should be accessible inside the coop, as most birds don’t want to wander out for food or water in bad weather.

Heating is not a requirement, but hanging a few heat lamps in cold weather helps warm the nest boxes and keeps water from freezing. Additional lighting is often required to keep birds productive and laying throughout the winter months.

Never store anything toxic (pesticides, lawn chemicals, driveway de-icer, motor oil, etc.) in your coop. Limit (or better yet, eliminate) use of such items on your property, especially if birds free range.

Keep the coop clean and dry to reduce parasite infestations. Bedding in nest boxes and shavings on the floor should be spot-cleaned at least weekly and completely changed out every month for a large flock, or seasonally for a smaller one. When planning your coop, make sure you’ll have access to get in it to make cleaning easy.

Hope this covers the basics! There are lots of different coop designs, but these are the main considerations when designing your own.