Providing a safe and comfortable home for your chickens is the key to raising healthy and happy poultry. If you have ever done any research on DIY chicken coop ideas, you already know that there is an abundance of information out there on the world wide web. To help you shuffle through it all, I have gathered my favorite ideas for you to have a look.
Before you pick a design idea for your chicken coop, you should consider these questions first.
How much room do my chickens need?
This usually depends on how many chickens you will raise at a time. A general rule of thumb is to allow for 4 square feet per chicken. Make sure you let your chickens get out of the coop for a majority of the day so they have room to roam in the fresh air.
Where will I place my chicken coop?
Location, location, location. This rule doesn’t just apply to real estate, it is also very important for the placement of your chicken coop. You want to avoid placing it in a location that is close to your home, or your neighbor’s home. The perfect location would also have both sun and shade throughout the day.
How do I raise healthy and happy chickens?
There are a few necessities your chickens will need to lead a healthy life. Keep these in mind while you are choosing your chicken coop design.
- Nesting Boxes
- Perch
- Poop Trays: Use these handy trays to cut cleaning time in half.
- Light: This is where windows come in very handy. During the winter time, adding lights that provide warmth can help with egg production.
- Fresh Air: Another great function of built in windows.
- Chicken Run: This is important if you plan on keeping your chickens cooped up. It gives them a place to get fresh air and exercise daily.
- Dust Box: Chickens like to clean themselves with loose dirt. Placing a box with dirt inside the coop will allow them to care for themselves properly.
DIY Chicken Coop Ideas
After you take sometime to determine exactly what you need for your chicken coop, you can move on to picking a design. (Yay! The fun part!) Here is my list
This DIY chicken coop idea looks like a red barn, complete with a tin roof. Perfect for your chickens.
Loving this cape cod style coop! It is complete with a copper plated cupola. Adorable and functional.
If you are looking for something simple, this chicken coop plan is the perfect place to start.
Space can be an issue when you are building a coop. No need to worry, you can still keep chickens even if you have only a little bit of space.
You can recycle pallets to make a chicken coop. This one has standing room to help you keep up with the clean up.
I like this chicken coop idea because it makes cleaning up after the chickens a breeze thanks to the full size shed door.
The design of this coop blends in perfectly with the scenery around you.
Let your chickens roam without the worry that they will come into harm. This is a great idea if you have dogs or other animals that like to chase chickens.
Talk about fancy. The chickens that live in this coop are living the royal life. Who said bling and country don’t mix?!? Break out the chandelier!
You can also buy your own chicken coop if DIY isn’t your cup of tea. There are several places you can purchase pre-built coops and kits. If you are an Amazon Prime Member, you can even save on the shipping expense by shopping for chicken coops on Amazon. Here are a few of my favorite designs they have to offer. Prices do vary quite a bit, but that just means there is a variety to choose from. And remember, if you’re an Amazon Prime Member, you save on shipping costs. If you aren’t an Amazon Prime Member, you can try it free for 30 days and still get the benefit of free shipping during your trial run.
- The Prairie Home Chicken Coop- $176
- Extreme Cape Cod Chicken Coop- $270
- Red Barn Chicken Coop- $290
- Large Backyard Hen House Chicken Coop with Long Run- $493
- Chicken Coop Habitat- $1,321
If you really want to spoil your chickens or add some charm to your coop, take a look at these accessories I came across.
- The Chicken Swing
- Chick’n-Veggie Feeder Ball
- Beware of the Chickens Sign (I think they made this one with my chicken, Dinner, in mind!)
- Farm Bureau Co-Op Chicks Tin Sign
There are a lot of different things to consider when you are sorting through all of the DIY chicken coop ideas. Finding out exactly what you need to raise chickens revolves around one simple concept, healthy and happy chickens. Providing a well ventilated home with space for them to eat, sleep, and lay eggs will result in an abundance of freshly laid chicken eggs.
Do you have a favorite chicken coop idea?
