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Do you want to build your own backyard chicken coop? Here are some questions that you might want to ask before beginning your project:
Is it Expensive to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop?
If you do not have old lumber lying around in your background, you have to shell out some money for your hen house. Costs are minimal since you only need to buy bolts, nails, screen and other inexpensive items. If you buy a pre-built one, the upfront cost would be significantly higher.
There are many benefits from raising backyard chickens. You will get fresh eggs every day plus you will have free fertilizer for your crops. You can definitely consider your chicken coop as a good investment!
Is it Easy to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop?
Beginners can build chicken coops easily by using the help of a chicken coop guide or chicken coop plans. If you do not want to create your chicken coop from scratch, just buy a chicken coop plan. You can also free plans online.
The simple chicken coops are easy to construct. The cuts are not complicated. Advanced sawing skills are not necessary. You just need to know how to saw and hammer.
The bigger chicken coops or the more elaborate hen houses are harder to build. If you are just a newbie at carpentry or woodworking, it’s better to stick with the simple coops.
How Many Chickens Can I Keep?
First and foremost, you need to check your city’s rules and regulations regarding raising chickens. Some cities do not allow keeping backyard chickens. Other cities allow hens and not roosters. It is important to know the clear ordinance so you are sure that you are not doing something unlawful.
Chickens generally like living with other chickens. Therefore, it’s better if you keep more than one bird. If you don’t want a lot of chickens, just keep two. They are social animals which do not fare well when living alone.
What Breed Should I Raise?
There are a lot of chicken breeds with different characteristics. However, there are two categories in terms of size: Standard and Bantam.
Bantam chickens are smaller than the standard ones. If you have a limited space, you can keep these small-sized birds. Their eggs are a lot smaller but they do lay edible legs. For bigger spaces, keeping normal sized birds is appropriate. You can also keep a mixture of bantams and standard chickens for variety.
The weather in your area should be considered as well. Living in a cold climate is not good for bantams. It’s a better idea to raise standards since they are tougher. For areas where climate is warm, it is better to keep the smaller sized chickens. The bigger chickens will not fare well in this kind of weather.
