how to build a cheap chicken coop

Chicken Coop Construction Guideline
How to build a cheap chicken coop

Building a backyard chicken coop will be one of the best investments you'll ever make. Not only will you have a self sustained miniature-farm that produces fresh organic eggs every day, recycles your food scraps and provides high quality fertilizer, but you'll be proud to know that you made something with your own two hands.
Also, building  your own chicken coop just makes economical sense. You can build a chicken coop at just a fraction of the cost of buying a pre-built one. Most pre-built chicken coops you buy need to be assembled anyway, you're really just paying hugely inflated prices for the material.
Unfortunately, building your own chicken coop is not as easy as hammering some wood and wire mesh together. You need to take into account materials, insulation, ventilation, lighting, positioning, nesting, perches, litter collection and protection from the elements and other animals.
I've revealed an excellent guide that can show you how to build a cheap chicken coop .It doesn't matter if your a master carpenter or a total beginner, If you require a big or small coop, or if you have a small or big budget.

So first thing take a look at this excellent guide that will show you,easely
step by step how to build a chicken coop with your own two hands.

Step 1:

Buying Construction Materials

Now that you have your guide to show you how to build a cheap chicken coop,
You are ready to buy your construction materials and supplies. To save on expenses, it is recommended that you shop for your chicken coop building supplies from second hand shops. You never know the kind of bargain you will be able to find in these shops.
Check the chicken coop plan you have chosen and copy the list of materials of the plan. If you will have less than 4 chickens in the coop, the size of the coop is sufficient but for future expansion purposes and to preclude building another coop after a year or two, it may be best to double (or triple) the original size of the chicken coop.
Make sure that all of the basics are taken cared of before you buy a single piece of lumber.
If you took our advice to use used lumber in building your chicken coop, then one of the problems you'll face is getting them all in the same lengths - don't worry, you can always cut them to size but bear in mind that the shortest piece you should get should also be the dimensions of the smallest piece in the chicken coop plan that you have chosen to avoid unnecessary joints.
In choosing your lumber pieces, make sure that they are:
1. Choose wood that are bigger or longer than the actual dimensions specified (you need to sand them clean yet) which means they'll become a little bit smaller.
2. Choose lumber that you can cut in half to make two equal pieces of the same length.
3. Don't worry about the cracks in the wood, the age of the wood guarantees that they are dry and will not split.
4. Buy as much as you need that are available in the second hand shop, you'll discover what a bargain (not to mention fun) it is to build your backyard

Comments

[terrybarcelo]

I have a wood tractor coop for my hens and rooster. The problem is that the keep getting infected with stick tight fleas. Some one told me it could be because of the wood is this true?

[nonni53]

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I was looking forward to learning the dimensions and materials list for a economical coop.
The author keeps referring to the "plans" that we don't have but obviously they do and thereby can follow.

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[$tarbucks]

www.backyardchickens.com for plans of members coops.
Buckerfields.com also has drafted plans online.
I am using stuff I have around for free mostly or a recycled purpose type of idea. For being inside of a garage or sunroom at night I just use a big dog kennel for my three. The rabbit hutch I used when they were younger but I did not think crouching so long in the second level was good so I sprang them to the sunroom with a ceramic heat lamp for the winter. The hutch will get a make over to raise the ceiling for the coming months. There are hundreds of coops on that site. Will motivate you I guarantee

[billo69]

We have seven young hens abd because we live in a suburban block wish to build a moveable cage. I was planning on 2 metre square by 1.5m high. Is this enough room for them? The reason for the movement is so the chickens fertilise the lawn without destroying it. Also as we are concerned about attracting rats and snakes is aviary wire a better option than chicken wire?

[$tarbucks]

Oh my God that is so wrong. Go to backyardchickens.com and look at shelter and space requirements. 2X3 per chicken in a coop and lots more in a run which they need too. They are portable and called a chicken tractor. Lots of plans from folks that are especially knowledgeable. More than I. Seven X 2 X 3. They also have forums for your questions. I have had my hens for ten months. Be rodent safe at night please. They have a good talk on that.

[Daerk]

This spam is an attempt for the poster to drive traffic to an online article that links to a clickbank affiliate reseller account to sell the plans to build the chicken coop and does not contain useful or instructables quality information in this ible.

[clance]

I try to use as many recycled materials such as old timber as possible in order to keep the cost down.

[firefly68]

I have seen these plans online somewhere but they have to be purchased. The link at the end of the ible appears to in Hebrew or Arabic. Any shed can make a decent coop. Just be sure to provide PLENTY of ventilation, more than you'd think necessary, but also eliminate drafts. Chickens don't mind cold weather and don't need heat or insulation; but they breathe out a lot of water vapor which needs to escape the building, even in winter. A large comb can be a problem in cold climates; it can be protected from frostbite by coating with vaseline. Or get breeds with small combs.