So you want to keep chickens? That’s great! You don’t really know what you’re doing? No worries! All you need is a set of plans for a chicken coop and you’ll be on your way. (Yes, you will need the chickens too!)

As soon as you have your plans for a chicken coop, you can get on with the fun part-building it! This, you will be pleased to hear, is not at all difficult or strenuous; you can build a small chicken house for about 4 chickens in a day, all by yourself. If you want to make a bigger chicken coop then you will have to take a bit longer on the building, and if you have any willing friends or family to help then so much the better.

You will need wooden planks for the chicken coop itself, which is where your chickens will sleep and lay their eggs. The coop needs to have perches for the birds to roost on at night, and nest boxes for them to lay in. The nest box should be slightly bigger than the hen, and should be lined with straw or hay, and the perches should be about 2 feet long-you can have more than one perch to make enough space for all the birds to roost comfortably. This part of the chicken coop must have a secure door to keep the chickens shut away at night, and safe from predators like foxes and cats.

Beautiful and easy to follow designs HERE.

The outdoor enclosure must be as big as you can make it, with plenty of space for the chickens to peck and scratch about in the dirt. The enclosure should be high enough so that the hens can’t jump out, and also high enough to deter predators from jumping in. Use fine meshed chicken wire so that the hens cannot escape through the holes and firmly secure posts in between-there is nothing worse than a flock of chickens flapping about your garden and digging up the flowerbeds! Ideally there should be some shade in the enclosure, but if you don’t have trees or bushes then you can drape a shade cloth to keep the birds cool in hot weather.

Chickens lay their best when they are happy and healthy-and there is no healthier way of life for a chicken than to peck about in the fresh air, with plenty to eat and fresh water. The eggs they produce from this natural lifestyle are bigger and better than shop bought eggs, and have the added bonus of being free from any chemicals, additives or diseases.

You don’t need a lot of land-a back garden is big enough to house enough chickens to make sure you have a daily supply of fresh eggs. You can keep your family in eggs, saving on the grocery bills, with just a little hard work and very little money. All you need are some well researched plans for a chicken coop, some wood and nails (and yes, the chickens.)

What are you waiting for let's start making your first chicken coop.  Click Here!