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.
Size
Coop size is probably one of the key factors to consider when you set out to build a chicken coop. Depending on how many chickens you intend keeping, you can obtain plans for small, medium and large coops.
The biggest and also the most common mistake made by those who keep chickens, is that they try to squash too many chickens into a coop. Bear in mind, chicken require an adequate amount of space in order for them to feel comfortable and to lay eggs as they should. For this reason, you really do want to make the right decision with regards to size before you starting building.
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.
Portable chicken coops also have the advantage in that they can be shifted to a suitable area for cleaning and general maintenance.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something with a little more structural integrity than you’ll likely be better off choosing a fixed chicken house since these will be built sturdier so that they are able to withstand wear and tear.
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.
Style
Finally, think about the overall appearance of what you want your chicken coop to look like. There are a number of different ways you can build the chicken coop which will impact the overall design of the chicken coop. This will also likely influence the cost of the building process, so it’s something to think about and work within your budget.
There are definitely cheaper methods to build your chicken coop so understanding the different things that will influence the cost is the first step to making a smart decision.
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.