Garden visits and poultry, too - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Eleven private and garden spaces community two will be open from 11 to 16 today to visit garden of Lawrenceville. The free event began organic Lawrenceville community garden, 4734 Butler St., near the entrance of Allegheny Cemetery and is hosted by the Association of Lawrenceville home. Farmers market of Lawrenceville in the parking lot of goodwill on 52nd Street opens at 12: 30 p.m. Information: E-mail lawrencevillegardentour@gmail.com.

The city of Verona, will host a free self-guided walking tour of garden of 10 to 13 today. Maps are available at the corner of the Boulevard of the Allegheny River and Avenue South. Participating gardens will be marked with balloons and refreshments will be available at various locations.

The Grainery, a mill, which was restored by Christine Davis, urban archaeologist, will be also opened, and Ms. Davis will be on hand to talk about the building.

Pittsburgh's second annual Urban Chicken Coop tour will take place on 09-15 Sunday in the North and the districts of the East End.

The tour presents various styles of chicken coops and races, and urban chicken farmers will be available to discuss how including - chicken keep.

Tickets are $10 for adults, free for children and are available Sunday to the Quiet Storm, 5430 Penn Avenue; Tazza Oro, 1125 n. Highland Avenue; Animals Nature, 7610 Forbes avenue; Thompson 0.08 Acres, 1240 Resaca place; and Choderwood, 7665 Lock Western way.

A guided bike tour East End begins at 09: 15 on the Nature of the Animal. Product go to grow Pittsburgh. Information: noblechoder@aol.com.

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Constructor is a new niche in poultry - NewHampshire.com (blog)

A coop on measurement, complete with lighting and a floor vinyl. (DAN SEUFERT) Centre Port - The dip in the housing market and a construction project failed Jason Ludwick led to a new business growing - construction of new homes for chickens.

"Many people have chickens," he said, "... but they need credit cooperative associations.".

Ludwick, 35, a Carpenter of Northfield, had been leading a successful home, carpentry Lakes construction company, in the mid-2000s. Then the housing market - and his company - began to slow down.

A year previously, work had dropped so much that he decided to start, working firstly make bobhouses and custom millwork.

In particular, a custom order changed his life.

"This lady asked me to build him a henhouse," said Ludwick, who built the coop of Amish design. When he told his client the cost was $500, "she thought that the price was ridiculous, and I've stuck with it."

So he sold it on the Internet, received the more command, began to be more cooperative, and his business was born.

The week past, he and his partner, Jim Erdel, 46, of Moultonborough, worked on the coop 219e enterprise all-to-be-named. He now has customers across the country. There also a few large customers, such as blue seal, which makes the pet and animal feed products.

Fortunately, Ludwick and Erdel now have more work that they can manage.

"I'm 25 orders behind", he said with a smile.

In his workshop Wednesday: Erdel was working on a new order, Ludwick smiled as he had the air on many of the creations of the pair. Cooperative credit associations have full roof shingles, he explained. Some cooperatives have custom Windows. Others have custom vinyl floors. Many have lighting and heating. Some have wheels. All can be painted to order.

Among the most popular prescription are cooperative with cages and market for chickens ramps may remain in their chicken coop or roam, safe from predators, in cages of predator-safe, without the need for human intervention, he said.

Basic 6-Chicken Coop is 4 by 4 feet and costs $495. A nine-unit, which is 4 to 6 feet, cost $595. A coop chicken-12, 4 - by 8-foot costs $695. Chicken cages which correspond closely to the co-op are $ 300. Each basic unit comes with outlets wired and a cord of external power supply for the coop can be connected to an external extension of the home.

Before this first command, Ludwick had never seen a chicken coop as a Money Maker. Its success surprised even him.

He asked "Can believe you this?". "". It turns out that many people have chickens; has taken the local "farm-cost" thing, but they need credit cooperative associations. »

His company has even yet a Web site, but Ludwick said that he was not worried much about competition.

He, however, offers a bonus for buyers. His Christian faith led him to give back to humanity, so it is part of Kiva.org, a global organization that provides interest-free loans to people in need. He and Erdel sold their 100th coop a year, Ludwick began a donation of $25 for each sale coop, to a family in need through Kiva.

When customers buy a coop, they get a photo and a description of the family that their purchase has helped, he said.

"It is giving money to certain families who need a traditional loan to start a business, but they can obtain a.". "They have to repay it," he said.

"I felt that I needed to give my success of this.". It was incredible. Who would have thought that I would make this chicken in cages? »

Ludwick and his company can be reached by standard email to coopsforacause@gmail.com.

Dan Seufert can be reached at dseufert@newstote.com.

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No sweat: leader in the high-tech Auto sealer now makes life more comfortable in the barns, too - PRWeb

The company which allows tens of millions of vehicle interiors quiet and dry is also making life more comfortable in a very different environment: chicken cooperatives. Jyco sealing Technologies, a world leader in systems for metallic doors of car, windows mobile, and compartments engine, today announced that he is to provide seals fan for exhaust for poultry and egg production facilities.

Jyco seal, which is made of an extruded plastic rubber compound called, POS replaces the seals rubber that fatigue, discolor and can not be recycled. According to Jyco, new seals meet requirements of the industry for reliable performance, durability and aesthetic improvement.

"Air flow is extremely important for the production of livestock," said John McGovern, Director of the Division of industrial products of Jyco. "Comfortable birds eat better and produce more eggs, and the exhaust system is essential for the comfort of the environment." Excessive air flow may increase the rate of mortality in young birds. Too little Air flow will be too hot and reduce the productivity of the weight and the eggs of the birds.

"The new TPV for exhaust fan seals last longer, saving energy, cheaper and no discolor.". Old seals are rubber, which fatigue and look nasty. In any application to do with food, you want everything to be clean, tidy and uniform as possible. »

TPV Jyco seals are better for the environment before, during and after their installation. The company treats its TPV without particles or VOC emissions and production scrap is directly recyclable. New fan seals were made in part with http://www.jycosealingtechnologies.com/en/jygreen.php technology that Jyco launched in 2007 to retrieve rubber tires and he reprocess into high-performance extruded TPV systems watertightness. And if the fan is never replaced, Jyco seal can be recycled.

Jyco is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan and has factories manufacturing to the Canada, the Mexico and China. Jyco is the only supplier for Corporate TS ISO/16949/9000 certification for design, test and manufacture of TPV seals.

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Fine Living: No chickens may fly the Coop - Marin independent Journal

SKOT McDaniel and Sarah Farrell were not research for the construction of a company; they were just built a henhouse for their six chickens, those they high as babies in their bathroom.

But when the company of garden on the Novato couple edible garden asked them to design a coop for last year San Francisco flower and garden show, they could not say no. They formed cooperatives Wingman.

It is that the editors of magazine spotted Sunset small henhouse McDaniel and Farrell and invited to present this 15th annual "sunset celebration weekend" to be held Saturday and Sunday in Menlo Park.

The event, which attracts 20,000 visitors, features, a stage of journey, a stage in the life of garden and outdoor, two stages of cooking with stars, seminar leaders wines subject to additional fees, food from "the West best food trucks," the "ultimate Outdoor Living Room" and a "Secondhand Sunset" pleasure where the elements featured in the magazine and plucked in the cupboards of the editors will be available for purchase.

"Sunset editors were at the salon and had eyes for the large barns and just like the coop Coops Wingman designed," says event spokesperson Dana Smith. "The Sun had its own chickens for a number of years and is opinion, regardless where you live, you can have fresh eggs, and that it was a large co-op in the garden.".

McDaniel, an engineer, said he and Farrell were simply "fell in love".

with their chickens, and while they were ready to receive a degree of the bathroom at the garden, the couple wanted to keep locked safely at certain times.

"They are so pleased to have", he said. "When out us in the garden, they are all crushed clucking - it's like a small Committee of home.". And when we are digging and weeding, they are here with us. »

The enclosed coops are designed for a small herd, no problem, easy to maintain and from predators.

The townsman coop, featured at the event, is home to six hens, has a wire mesh low with a drawer of manure in the lower part and a resting and nesting area on the top with easy access for the elimination of the egg.

The covered enclosure optional is evidence of predator and comes with an area shaded on the coop and a door.

The cost for the city dweller coop and the enclosure is $ 3,000 and includes installation and delivery of most of San Francisco, Sonoma and Marin. The only co-op is $ 2,300. A small coop, City Slicker, is also available.

"McDaniel, said the winger focus is not on the creation of cooperatives" but to implement successful herds and to consult with the birds. »

Thus, for $100, the couple provides an assessment on place for chickens be kept successfully with the tax applied to the purchase of a coop. The company also offers three sizes of chicken or portable tractors covered runs from $750.

For more information about the cooperative credit associations Wingman, call 328-7037 or go to www.wingmancoops.com.

Garden Tour

If you've been ready for a peaceful Garden Tower, North on 3 June in five magnificent gardens and good health to Healdsburg, all designed by members of the Sonoma County Master Gardeners.

The tour focuses on how the site challenges can be transformed into elements of positive gardens through creative solutions, but there are also expert advice and demonstrations on the cultivation of vegetables, compost, Garden, spread, irrigation, bees and beneficial insects, container, soil and mulch gardening.

Better still, there is a sale of plant over 200 varieties of shrubs, perennials, grasses, ground covers and succulent all spread by master gardeners.

PJ Bremier wrote on home, Garden, sign and entertaining themes every Saturday and on his blog at DesignSwirl.net. She can be contacted at p.o. box 412, Kentfield 94914, or pj@pjbremier.com.

IF YOU GO
What: "Sunset Magazine Celebration Weekend: fee from the West".
Location: Sunset Magazine, 80 Willow Drive, Menlo Park Campus
When: 10 to June 17, 2 and 3
Admission: 14 $ to $16, free for children 12 years and younger.
Information: 800-786-7375. http://sunsetcw.eventbrite.com/; www.sunset.com/CW

IF YOU GO
What: Bloomin' ' backyards
Where: Truett Hurst Winery, 5610 Dry Creek Road, Healdsburg
When: 09: 30 to 04: 30 p.m. June 3
Tickets: advance $30, $35 at the door
Information: 707 565 2608 or http://www.sonomacountymastergardeners.org/

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Plymouth Mayor vetoes plan of backyard chicken - Sheboygan-Press.com

A day after the common Council of Plymouth decided to lift the decades-old ban city chickens backyard, Mayor Don Stuttgart Wednesday vetoed measure, saying he fears it could harm values property and the quality of life of residents.

This is the third time within a year that Plymouth officials are turning to lift the ban on chicken of the city, an idea which has been proposed by a small group of residents who say that the animals would be used to produce fresh for their personal consumption eggs.

The measure adopted 5-2 at the Council met Tuesday evening, an absent Alderman. Without a sixth vote, subject to the right of veto of the Mayor, something Stuttgart issued late Wednesday afternoon, ensuring that what has already been a drawn of the process will continue.

Brian Yerges, Director of Plymouth City services, said that he expects that the measure will now return to the Council, which would require six votes to override veto power of Stuttgart.

Stuttgart has said that he has several concerns on to chickens, namely the impact on neighbouring countries and the property values. He also feels that it will cost the city too much money to enforce.

"Chickens are farm animals, they are not pets," said. "I think that the issue of the quality of life is important." I do not see people moving here because they can have chickens. I see them go here so that they can get a good job. »

Under the two Ordinances enacted by the Council Tuesday, residents would be able to maintain some barns in their gardens, and the city would be annual permits for people to keep up to five chickens ? but no roosters.

The new orders would require that poultry is at least 40 feet of any nearby residence, and animals would not be allowed to wander outside the cooperative credit associations.To receive a licence to keep chickens, residents at the outset should inquire all adjacent property owners, and if one of them objected, the licence would be automatically denied. The licence must be renewed every year, although he would not need approval of the neighbor to each renewal.

The Council set the cost of the licence at a future meeting.

The proposal failed twice on the concerns of some city officials that the application of nuisance and health guidelines would be costly and time consuming. There were also concerns about sanitation problems, although lenders argued that the responsible owners of chicken would be composted waste from chicken or use it as fertilizer. Those who would not have allowed them revoked.

Plymouth is one of a number of communities of Wisconsin in recent years to consider welcoming garden chickens, which became popular in the local food movement, although donors have had success in adopting these measures.

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Chicken coop tour in the agricultural benefit Goss - Seacoast Online

Rye - To help its bid to raise funds for the restoration of the barn of the farm of Goss, the city turned to the birds on Sunday.

Chickens, to be precise.

The Conservation Commission of rye held a chicken coop tour to give participants an inside look of various barns around the city. Volunteers provided maps detailing homes in the people of the city must visit the tour.

Among the larger coops were Joe and Julie Tucker House on the way to Washington, where the husband and wife raise animals for fun and take and rehabilitate others.

The property of Tucker is home to countless chickens, ducks, pigeons, pheasants and other poultry. Many types of chickens, including multicolored bantams and silkies fluffy, Japanese, pavanait and its round the property. The Tuckers also help wild animals injured or abandoned, including squirrels and the marmots.

"We like," said Julie Tucker. "We care about animals.".

While Julie Tucker said she was a little surprised to hear there is interest that other tour of its barns, she and her husband agreed that it was a good way to educate the community and those interested in raising chickens in their backyard.

Joe Tucker said much work will take care of livestock and that he was ready and willing to trade for advice on appropriate housing, food and livestock.

"Many people think that you can just throw them in a crate," he said.

At the farm of Goss on Harbor Road, coordinators gave tours of the farm showing the progress made in the past year. There are now community and patches of garden of the school field, but there is a lot of work to do, they said.

Tracy Degnan, specialist in conservation with Rockingham Conservation District, pointed out several species of invasive plants to eradicate, and the damage to the structure of the barn itself. Sunday event was a way to raise funds for the restoration of the barn, as well as $ 170,000 cost rated.

"It is an ancient structure." "It takes much work," Degnan said. "We want to make it usable for the small community events."

Jim Raynes, president of the Conservation Commission, said 100 tickets sold in advance and most people ran for throughout the day chicken coop tour, it appeared that the group is about to lift the necessary funds for the project.

"This seems to be taking off well", he said. "If we are going to do, we might as well do right, so it lasts for another 100 years."

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Ex teacher living in the poultry house was a decent start for pension plans - voice of the citizen

By Richard c. Rowland (Guest Writer)

In 1947, a Director of the retirement of California public school named the Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus discovered one of her colleagues teacher retirement living in a chicken coop, struggling to survive on a meager pension, in poor health, no way to get health care. The discovery shocked Dr. Andrus to take measures that would improve the lives of all older Americans for the decades to follow.

A leader active in the California retired teachers Association, Dr. Andrus tended to the handful of other organizations to employee school State who existed, including the Association of retired school of Pennsylvania (my employer), and then United our organizations to form Association (National retired teachers Convention). Collectively, we have put pressure on our States and the federal Government to enact legislation to improve the condition of the pensioners of the public service, and we combined the purchasing power of our members to encourage businesses to produce products and services that people need in their years later, including insurance of health for older people over 65which did not exist previously.

Any retired school only did not live in barns in 1947. Word of the Convention success for educators former spread, a growing number of elderly people who did not work in public schools turned to the Convention to help. Aging of all Americans for the means to defend themselves in a society that has provided little and completely ignored those who could not work and were forced to live in the barns and other slums. In 1958, led again by Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, we helped establish the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). What follows is a series of improvements in social security, the establishment of health insurance, the elimination of age discrimination in our laws and practices, affordable benefits and services designed for the elderly, etc. and millions of older Americans, out of poverty.

I looked over and alarm of the disappearance of private sector defined benefit pension plans and read the body of mounting evidence showing that the vast majority of people who have now plan 401 (k) and social security collects far enough to pay their basic life in retirement. I saw my own retirement account lost half of its value two times over the 10 years, for the first time when my money management entity has been involved in an accounting scandal, and again when the fact Wall Street fund managers sinking our financial by grouping system and is betting on bad mortgages. I witnessed first-hand the devastation that occurs when a person survives his retirement savings, that I helped my mother to sell all that she had to pay her nursing home fees.

The current drive to eliminate pension benefits determined for retired officials of Pennsylvania is defended by the same groups and individuals who promoted the elimination of company retirement and who have sought to privatize and to eliminate the guaranteed benefits provided by social security. Supporters of replacement of the defined benefit plans with the privatization of social security and individual retirement accounts are one and same - ultraconservative, libertarian organizations seeking to dismantle all programs of managed by the Government, such as the foundation of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, funded by Wall Street entities who seek to take advantage of the management of retirement savings.

When we say no to Wall Street and demand that our elected representatives strive to strengthen systems that provide secure sources of retirement income?

Supporters of the elimination of pension and Social Security privatization plans benefit from scaring us with incomprehensible numbers - billions in unfunded employee pension funds, trillions in gaps in social security. The love of media controversy of fuel with stories about the amounts of scandalous pension that only a privileged few, including the benefits perceived by the legislators who voted themselves although retirement more lucrative than what the typical State or school employee can receive his retirement. All of this aims to convince us that the pensions and social security benefits are too generous, unsustainable and must be eliminated. Really?

The facts are that the average annual pension for an employee of the public school retirement in Pennsylvania is $ 23,500, and the average annual social security benefit is $ 14,500. It's not too generous amounts, given that the average personal income for residents of Pennsylvania is more than $ 41,000 per year. Eliminating guaranteed all sources of income at retirement, including pensions and social security, would be only to secure greater profits for Wall Street and a return to chicken coops for the elderly of our country.

Richard c. Rowland is the Executive Director of the SRAP. Founded in 1937, the retired Association School of Pennsylvania (SRAPS) is a voluntary organization composed of nearly 50,000 teachers pensions, administrators and school support staff. Mission of the association is to serve others in need and to help the other enjoy retirement.

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Back yard poultry housing proposed for Mundelein - Chicago Sun-Times

BY ED COLLINS special to the News

Chickens could come to roost in some back yards Mundelein.

Village Trustees heard an application for Holly Kim and some of its neighbors Monday night to modify current zoning regulations and allow residents to maintain a limited number of laying hens in their backs.

"I know you're worried perhaps irresponsible people." "However, nuisance Ordinances already cover odour, noise and problems", said Kim.

She also addressed some of the concerns common to keep backyard poultry.

She said Cockfighting should be banned. Only hens should be allowed, she said.

Kim said limits should be placed on the chickens how much one can accommodate in their coops.

She said "05: 56 would be reasonable,".

And if the odor is a problem? "Well well, any ticket," said Kim.

"No one wants to live something that is noisy or who feels bad.". That is why we have orders of the nuisance, "it noted."

Kim accepted the backyard chickens are not for everyone, "or if they should be."

"Vietnamese pigs are permitted here in Mundelein, but keep them really how many families." "Not everyone wants a pet pig, and everyone will want to raise chickens," she said:

"But we can reduce food waste to go to landfill sites, their dung is rich in nitrogen and great for composting uses in a garden and we as a family can take advantage of delicious fresh natural chicken non-marketed eggs which are readily available to us."

Mayor Ken Kessler said he was impressed by the presentation of Kim and personally could support the concept with certain regulatory provisions. He suggested zoning village planners examine the question of a comprehensive study.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit http://www.suntimesreprints.com/. To order a reprint of this article, click here.

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4 Chicken Coop Plans for Bantams

Raising chickens has become a high demanding job amongst farmers. You may not think that keeping chickens, feeding them, breeding them and using their eggs for food would be practiced regularly as it was in the past. Sure, times have changed and there are now many chicken raising factories that have automated egg hatcheries and such, but the fundamental procedures of raising chickens grows more and more each year as the world's population continues to grow. Hence it is vital for a chicken raising farmer to understand these concepts and learn how to build a chicken coop.

For many of us who have a backyard chicken flock, one of the key issues we come across is finding some really good chicken coop plans for building chicken coops. There are hundreds of different breeds of chickens and as any experienced chicken farmer will tell you, it is not a good idea to keep certain types of chickens together in the same chicken coop.

The bantam chickens are the ones that do not grow any larger than one fifth to one quarter of the size of a standard chicken breed. They are known as the miniature classes of chickens and they are extremely cute and fun to watch.

While there aren't many chicken coop plans designed especially for bantam chickens, I have found through my experience raising chickens that bantams and standard chickens differ in other ways besides their size. Therefore I have put together some chicken coop plans tips that will help you build a chicken coop for these miniature fowls.

#1:

Build a chicken coop that is tall and has multiple long and high perches. Unlike large standard chickens which tend to hang around at the bottom of the coop due to their excessive weight, small bantams can easily jump up to the highest perches, giving your chicken coop plenty of space to keep more chickens. Build plenty of perches, nests and feeders so that the bantams can jump around from perch to perch and eat from any part of the coop.

#2:

Bantam chickens have tendencies to jump really high and some can almost fly across an entire field. Therefore you want to make sure that if your chicken coop has an attached chicken pen or chicken run, it is covered with a high net or its surroundings have really high fences. The last thing you want is for your bantam chicken to fly over your fence because they are not smart enough to jump back across.

#3:

Bantams can be quite feisty. As cute as they are, bantam roosters can become quite aggressive when their territory is threatened. You may want to separate the chicken coop into smaller compartments with chicken wire. Keep one rooster per every three hens.

#4:

Be aware of injured bantams. For some strange reason, I have had many of my bantam chickens get eaten alive by the other bantams. This may sound absurd but it is true. Chickens tend to peck at each other at times and if they draw blood, the other chickens will begin pecking at the blood and eventually killing off the innocent chicken. This is why you should remove any chicken that you notice has been pecked or injured and keep it in its own cage for a week until it heals.

By following the chicken coop plans above you should have an easier time raising bantam chickens in your backyard. Bantams can be quite adorable but they require a lot of maintenance and care if you truly want to get the best out of your chicken flock.

Are you confident enough yet to build your own chicken coop? Many people have had success building their own coop and saved a lot of money in doing so. These are only just a few tips to help you on your chicken raising endeavors. For detailed chicken coop plan and instructions you should try these
advanced chicken coop plans

Dale Higgins has been raising chickens and poultry for over 20 years and is an expert in building chicken coops. You can visit his chicken coop plans website here: http://www.mybackyardchickenfarm.com

Build a Proper Chicken Coop - Easy Tips and Techniques

Raising chickens in the backyard has become the most popular mini business. People are more inclined to have fresh organic eggs right from their own backyard chicken coop instead of buying the stale eggs from shops and markets. Using the easy tips and techniques and implementing them to your hen coop will make your chicken coop an eye-pleasing and a perfect safety for your chickens.

Make a safe-built chicken coop

Your chickens need protection not only from the predators, but also from the extreme weather conditions in the surrounding. The natural elements like rain, snow and summer heat are marring the survival of your chickens. Therefore, the question of safety to the chickens comes on the anvil.

For this, build your hen coop on the high and drained area so that in rainy seasons it will not form stagnant ponds and the coop will dry up quickly. Install doors and sliding windows to the chicken coop. It will ventilate the coop and the chickens will not be subjected to death due to scorching heat of the sun.

The predator is the worst harmful element for your chickens. Fencing a chicken wire around the coop at the depth of 1 foot will keep the predators at arm's length from reaching out the chickens.

Keep maintenance to your chicken coop

Daily cleanliness of your hen coop is essential to avoid any possibility of diseases to your chickens. You have to gather the chicken dung and maintain hygiene of the chickens so that no infection will incur on them. Moreover, the chicken dung will prove a good fertilizer to your garden.

Thus, with these easy tips and techniques you can build a proper chicken house. Still for the perfect building up of chicken coop, you need a perfect plan that can guide you and help you to build a complete hen coop.

Now pay close attention here-

Building a chicken coop is not a problem as long as you have quality Chicken Coop Plans. Read chicken coop building guide here and you will know how to get quality chicken coop plans. The step by step coop plans found here will help you to build a chicken house with ease.

Click Here Now To get quality chicken coop plans and step by step coop building guide.

Chicken Coops And How To Build Them

Chicken coops are something you will have definitely thought about building if you have ever wanted to keep chickens. However it is sometimes hard to decide which type of chicken coops you require and the planning for the right coop is important to save otherwise wasted time and expense.

Building Chicken Coops

Although there are a wide range of different chicken arks you can build you need to understand which sort is going to best fit your requirements in order to achieve the optimal results for you and your chickens.

In order to ensure that you build the right kind of coop you need to follow some important guidelines to ensure that you are on the right path for choosing wisely and you will be satisfied once it is built.

Choosing which size chicken arks to build is a very important consideration and will depend on the number of chickens you intend to keep. There are small, medium and large chicken plans to suit your build.

A mistake that many first timers make is they build a coop which is too small for the number of chickens that they have. If you cram too many chickens into a small chicken ark your birds will not be comfortable and therefore will be less likely to lay the number of eggs that they would provide if only they had sufficient space.

It is better to err on the side of caution and use plans for a larger coop than you think you will initially need and then you have the option for the future of adding more birds at a later date.

Portable Or Static Chicken Coops

Once you have decided on the size coop that you are going to build you should then decide whether you want a portable chicken coop or if you would prefer a static ark. Portable chicken coops gives you the flexibility of being able to move it around to wherever you want to locate it. This can be good for people keeping chickens behind a fence to protect from predators. The fenced in perimeter area around the chicken coop will get worn to bare earth quite quickly as hens will eat much of the vegetation in the fenced area. Therefore being able to move your chicken coops around would be an advantage here. Also a portable coop can be easier to clean depending on the flexibility of the water source you will be using for its cleaning.

A portable chicken house by its very nature has to be movable and therefore is less likely to be as robust as a fixed coop. However if you have a good set of construction plans for your coop will ensure that if you choose a portable coop it will be as strong as possible.

Protecting Your Hens From Predators

Earlier we mentioned predator fencing around your coop and getting a good strong fence in place around the perimeter of the coop is vital to protect your investment in the birds as well as to ensure the well-being of the hens. Naturally at the planning stage for building a coop you also should be considering material requirements and costs for a protecting fence as the size of the hen house will have a direct impact on the size of the fence required.

Appearance Of Chicken Coops

Building chicken coops is an investment in time and money so you want to make sure that you end up building a coop that is fit for purpose but also has an appearance that you can be proud of.

Depending on your budget there are coop plans for many different structural styles which will directly impact the overall appearance of your coop. So when you plan your coop size you also want to think about what sort of appearance your budget allows you to build to. Again looking through some plans of chicken coops will help you choose what you will ultimately build.

Throughout this article we have been mentioning that getting the planning part stage of a coop build right is crucial. Making wrong decisions now will cost you time and money but getting those decisions right up front could save you hundreds of dollars. We hope you found this useful and if you want to learn more why not sign up to our free newsletter series in which you will get loads of great information and handy tips on planning and building your chicken coops.

Hank Williams has successfully raised chickens for a number of years and has built several chicken coops over the last decade. To learn more about building chicken coops visit http://www.chickencoopsx.com/chicken-coops-plans

Choosing the Right Chicken Coop for Your Urban Backyard Chickens

As more people strive to be self-reliant, they are choosing to raise chickens in their backyards. Choosing the right chicken coop is essential to keeping your flock healthy and happy.

Backyard chickens are becoming popular today in many cities, including Albuquerque, Seattle and New York. Cities across the nation are revising their local zoning and land-use laws to include backyard chickens in the regulations.

Before bringing new chickens home to your backyard though, you need to carefully choose the right chicken coop for your situation. Be sure to check your local city regulations before buying your chickens.

Tips for Choosing the Right Chicken Coop

Talk to city officials. How many chickens are you allowed in your yard? What is the distance they need to be kept from dwellings? Any other special regulations?
Choose the site best for your coop. The site needs to be well drained-you don't want your chickens standing in mud! Expose the coop to the south to provide good sun. Keep in mind the prevailing weather patterns in your area. Face the door so the coop is protected from the rain and wind.
Complement your home and yard with the right chicken coop design. Matching the design of the coop to your house or neighborhood makes it pleasing to look at and promotes backyard chickens to your neighbors.
Remodel an existing structure into a coop. You can turn a garden shed, a playhouse the kids outgrew or another outdoor structure into a chicken coop with a little creativity, tools and materials. You can even turn a corner of your garage into a chicken house and build a run outside.
Pre-fab coops are more expensive, but easier and quicker to get up and going with your chickens. Just order and the coop will arrive ready to be moved into your yard. You can also order "some-assembly required" kits.
Build it yourself. If you love woodworking or want to learn, building your own chicken coop can be a great project to hone your skills. You can purchase chicken coop plans and blueprints online. Once your neighbors see your hand-built coop, they may set you up with woodworking projects for them!
Chicken Tractor- No, you're not hitching your chicken up to a plow, but the concept of working the soil is the same. A chicken tractor is a movable coop that allows you to move your chickens over fresh grass in your yard every day. They eat the bugs and weed seeds, scratch at the soil and fertilize it. And they give you omega-3 rich eggs to boot. It's a win-win situation.
How big? You need to plan ahead for the size of your coop. Each hen needs a minimum of 4 square feet, inside and outside the coop. If you get Bantams, figure about 3 square feet per hen, since they are smaller. Overcrowded chickens tend to peck at each other, which can start a host of problems. For cold weather, you want the spacing to be adequate so the chickens can stay warm.
Have a quarantine area. A separate area to keep new birds for a week or two allows you to keep your flock healthy. It's also a good area to separate a hen if she becomes ill, until she recovers. You can also separate the occasional over-aggressive hen that is pestering the other birds.
Make sure the coop is wind and water tight. Your chickens need protection from the elements to stay healthy. They like shade during the heat of the day, but also need protection from cold drafts. Use closeable windows for ventilation or a line of screened vents built into the top of north and south facing walls.
Use appropriate building materials. Wood on the bottom of the coop that is in contact with the soil will eventually rot. Redwood and cedar are rot-resistant and excellent choices. Pine is cheaper and may need replacing in the future or require treatment. Be aware that preservatives put on wood might be poisonous to chickens. Use metal, fiberglass or wood shingles for the roof.
Perches. Chickens need to perch off the ground at night. You can be creative making perches from broom handles, natural branches or 2x2's rounded and sanded (1x2 for bantams). Figure 6-10 inches of perching space per hen or 6-8 inches for bantams.
Nesting boxes. Provide 1 nesting box for every 4-5 hens. They will often share a nest. Build the boxes where you can reach in through a hinged door for easy access to collect the eggs.
Predators. Raccoons, dogs, skunks, owls and hawks-all love a good chicken dinner or a pre-dawn egg breakfast. Dig a trench 1 foot around the perimeter of the coop, lay in chicken wire and cover with dirt to keep predators from digging under your coop. Make latches secure from nimble raccoon fingers. And protect chickens overhead with chicken wire, away from the hawks and owls.
Keep it clean. Plan your coop for easy to clean maintenance. Use the manure in your compost pile for valuable nutrients for your garden. Clean your chicken coop frequently to keep smells, bugs and neighbor complaints to a minimum.
Pre-plan how you are going to get inside the coop. If it's hard to get into, you'll avoid cleaning it, which will result in a buildup of manure. Use leaf litter, pine shavings or chopped corn cobs for bedding.

Your chicken coop design can elaborate and grand, simple and plain or anything in between to complement your home and neighborhood. The main point to remember is that the coop needs to protect your flock, keeping them dry, secure and comfortable. Following the tips on choosing the right chicken coop will ensure that backyard chickens continue to be accepted in more cities, bringing self-reliance back to the individual.

©2011 Shanna Ohmes

Learn more about homesteading, traditional foods, herbs, livestock and natural living skills at The Natural Living Site http://thenaturallivingsite.com/blog

Chicken Coop Plans - Six Crucial Elements For Success

When selecting chicken coop plans to build from you really need to consider more than just the look/aesthetics of the chicken coop designs. Sure, its important to have a nice looking chicken coop that fits your overall backyard design but there are some other very important things that need to be incorporated into whatever plans you choose.

Space. There is a certain amount of space that your chickens need to be healthy and happy. You must allocate 4 square feet of floor space per chicken. Therefore, a flock of 20 chickens should be enjoying an 80 square foot chicken coop. Do not skimp on space. In fact, it is better to allocate more space if anything. If your chicken coop becomes overcrowded, your chickens quality of life becomes reduced and can cause feather picking and in extreme cases can even cause cannibalism. This is obviously an outcome you want to avoid so never overcrowd your coop. Light. You need light in your chicken coop to stimulate egg laying. Particularly if you want your hens to lay eggs all year round. As a rule of thumb, you should have 1 light every 40 feet inside you chicken building. If you are just building a small chicken coop, it will be sufficient to have a single light above the watering/feeding section. As a bonus, the light(s) will also be a source of heat for your chickens in the colder months. Perches. Your chickens have a natural instinct to perch so you must provide them with appropriate perches otherwise they will perch on nesting boxes, feeders and anything else around the coop. This would then lead to these important areas getting covered in droppings which is certainly undesirable. It is as simple as using broom handles for your perches. Again, it is important that your chickens have adequate space on the perches so as a rule of thumb, allow 8 inches of perch space per chicken. To make it easy to keep the chicken coop clean, slip some trays under the perches so the droppings land directly in them, you can then pull the trays out to clean them. Ventilation. Chickens sweat. Sounds strange but it is true. Your chicken coop needs ventilation to keep your chickens cool in the warmer months and to allow the chickens perspiration to evaporate and escape the chicken coop. You should make sure your chicken coop plans include ventilation in the form of vents in walls or small windows but you also don't want it to be too drafty. You need a nice balance. One way to achieve this is to have the vents on the side of the chicken building that DOES NOT face the wind. This is typically the east or the south. This will also allow fresh oxygen rich air to flow into the hen house and the stale air and moisture to escape. Chickens can handle the cold but not the wet so it is vital to the health of your chickens that the moisture can escape. Nesting Boxes. If you are keeping chickens for the eggs, your coop needs to have at least 1 nesting box for every 5 or 6 female chickens. The nests should be comfortable and dark so your hens feel safe in them. You should put straw or wood shavings in the nest boxes and make the boxes at least 4 inches deep. If the boxes are not deep enough, your chickens may fight and pick each others feathers. You should keep the nesting boxes clean at all times so the eggs remain clean. Hens should be trained not to sleep in the nesting boxes because if they do, they will soil the area with their droppings. You should not have a problem with hens sleeping in the nesting boxes f you have given your chickens adequate perching space. If you find some stubborn hens that do want to sleep in the nests, close them off at night. Protection. You need to keep your chickens safe from all sorts of predators such as foxes, coyotes, hawks, raccoons and rats just to name a few. The structure should be strong and no part of it should be able to be pushed over by a person. That is just the way I rate the strength of my coops...Could I push it over? If no, then it is strong enough. There should be no way for rats or foxes to get into your chicken coop to kill your chickens. make sure the fencing goes all the way to the ground. You should also put the wire fencing down under the ground for about 1 foot out from the wire fence. This means when a fox digs at a fence, they will simply hit the wire mesh and will eventually give up or try something else. Use mesh that raccoons can't get their arms through. I recommend using 1/2 inch square wire mesh for all the wire mesh fencing on the chicken coop. This will keep your chickens safe and it also looks quite attractive. Remember foxes are quite wily so check over your chicken coop plans to make sure they are predator proof. If you keep these six elements in mind when you are selecting or creating your own chicken coop plans then you should succeed in keeping healthy and happy chickens that have the potential to lay 300 eggs each per year.

Clance McDonald,

Chicken Coop Plans Designer and Builder for over 10 years.

Chicken Coop Plans

Building a Chicken Coop Video Review

Chicken Coop Design - Building a Chicken Coop is Easy!

There are some important things you should consider before you go looking for a chicken coop design. These considerations will help to ensure that you build a coop that meets all of your needs. While you can often move a  coop at a later date, it's best to just put in the needed thought beforehand so that you can get some satisfaction from your placement decisions.

These are the most important factors you should consider when making plans for a chicken coop design.

Breed of Chicken

Different types of plans are required based on the type of chicken breed, so consider this first. It makes no sense to plan a coop design that won't suit your intended breed of chicken so figure this out and you'll surely be on the right track.

The Size of the Chicken Coop

There is a wide variety of designs available depending on the size you choose for the chicken house, so keep this in mind. You will want to consider the complete size of your yard, your geographical location, as well as your budget during the construction process of the chicken coop.

Chickens won't produce eggs effectively if they are uncomfortable, so it is very important that you get the size right. They are sort of picky about their surroundings, so you really should take the time to thoroughly think about this aspect of the coop.

You should opt for a large size coop if you are going to house ten or more chickens in the coop, as this would give them ample space to roam comfortably.

It's better to make an error in having a coop that is too large rather than too small, so it's okay to overestimate. Having too much space will actually be beneficial should you decide you want to breed more chickens down the road.

Positioning of the Chicken Coop

You need to consider the location of a coop within your yard when coming up with its design. You will be making lots of trips to the coop over the months ahead so you want to be sure that you have easy access to it. The coop should be in an area that allows for lots of sunlight as this is important to keep the coop dry and helps to promote optimal laying.

While building a chicken house, you will need several chicken coop plans in hand. Out of which you can select one that is appropriate to your backyard and suits your needs. A chicken coop plan should be complete in nature. So it will not waste your time and money. On internet, there are several free chicken coop plans available, but finding a complete one is a quite nasty task.

Now pay close attention here-

Building a chicken coop is a easy task as long as you have quality Chicken Coop Plans. Read chicken coop building guide here and you will know how to get quality chicken coop plans. The step by step coop plans found here will help you to build a chicken house with ease.

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Building Backyard Chicken Coops - Tips to Design a Backyard Chicken Coop

A chicken coop is a shelter place for chickens. It is a safe retreat place where hens lay their eggs. There are different kinds of chicken coop designs and plans available in the market. However, there are certain factors to be considered while building a backyard chicken coop.

Before planning and designing a coop you need to focus on three essential points so that the coop is comfortable for chickens:-
Have 4.5 sq. ft. of space between each chicken 3 nests shared between 8 chickens 9 inches of perch length for each chicken Once you have decided on this then comes the designing part of your coop. Your design should consider certain important aspects for convenience of hens:-

Conserve
Conservation of your chicken coop means its maintenance. A perfect plan of coop contains a design of easy cleaning of the coop. Keep the floor of the coop slightly sloped towards the main door. This allows maintaining cleanliness and appealing appearance of the coop. When the water is hosed inside the coop, it will run out through the main door.

Ample Ventilation
Your plan of coop should have a design for proper ventilation. Sliding windows maintain proper ventilation inside the coop and allow fresh air to come in.

Ample Lightning
Proper lightning inside the coop do not only act like a light giving source but also as a good heat source. Design your coop in such a way that it provides ample of lightning even during cold days.

Use of Thick Wire Mesh
Plan your coop in such a style that it proves to be a protective house for your chickens. Opt for thick wire mesh fencing so that the hens are protected against becoming a prey.

Besides above mentioned criteria, what you need is an ideal chicken coop plan. Another thing to be considered is about the run out area for hens outside the coop. If you are in search of ideal designs and plans for the coop you need to take help of professional plans and systematic designs so that your chickens feel comfortable inside and lay maximum number of eggs.

Now pay close attention here-

Building a chicken coop is not a problem as long as you have quality Chicken Coop Plans. Read chicken coop building guide here and you will know how to get quality chicken coop plans. The step by step coop plans found here will help you to build a chicken house with ease.

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General Rules in Building a Small Backyard Chicken Coop

General rules to building a chicken coop!

Chickens are by far the easiest most low maintenance animal to care for. All you need to do is provide them with a basic home, food and water and soon enough you can have a flock of your very own.

If you're considering building a chicken coop option please be aware that there are a few things you MUST consider in building a chicken coop:

SPACE: You should allow 3 to 4 feet per chicken. Just like people, chickens need room to breath, roost, nest and above all move!

VENTILATION. This is a very important part of your coop. Without the proper ventilation you can have toxic fumes build up, which will not only be a hazard to your health when cleaning and feeding your chickens, but consider what it is doing to the chickens and the eggs that they are laying. You of course are building your own coop for all the right reasons so don't risk leaving out this very important aspect of building a chicken coop by risking the health of your chickens.

INSULATION and LIGHTING is another very important factor. Your chicken's health will also depend on this. Your chickens must be keep kept dry and warm, so consider what climate you live in and what would be a comfortable environment for them. Provide them with some natural sun light if at all possible inside the coop, but also include some light source for yourself for cleaning and feeding your chickens, you will want to see where you're stepping. It is also a good idea to provide light over the feeding and watering areas.

Remember to provide a RUN for your chickens, all pets needs a place to exercise. Make sure at least part of the run is shaded to provide a comfortable place for you pets to roam. Also be sure to include a place to roost, nest and feed/water. Keep this in mind when considering the size of the coop you will need.

Always consider PREDATORS (dogs, cats, coyotes). These animals would be happy to reap the benefits you are sowing, so make sure your coop is designed to keep the chickens in and the predators out! I know many of dogs that would love to play with chickens, and as humorous as that could be, it could also be quite dangerous for you new found pet.

I know building a chicken coop is starting to sound like a lot of work, but trust me it's not! Your chicken coop doesn't need to be elaborate. I did say that basic housing is enough to satisfy any chicken. And you don't have to spend a fortune to do it. Some people are using old recycled materials, dog houses, dog runs and even their own garages. This does not need to turn into a major event. However if you're in it for the long run, consider building a nice looking coop to please your neighbors (and remember this will be right outside your window also). If you're serious enough to start building your own chicken coop, here are a few ideas you also might want to consider:

Build the coop so that you can remove the eggs from the outside of the house (this makes your job a lot easier).

Have a perch for them in front of where they nest.

Build your coop high enough to prevent flooding or puddles, but don't forget a ramp for you chickens to access their home.

A portable chicken coop is a great idea. A portable chicken coop allows you to move it around the yard so that not only your chickens but you can reap the benefits.

However you like your eggs, scrambled or sunny side up you are sure to enjoy the benefits of raising chickens in your own back yard. And even though that's probably enough for you to consider building a chicken coop there are many other benefits you will enjoy such as:

* Fresh eggs taste great!
* Organic. Which means healthier.
* Very low maintenance. There is no walking or grooming these pets.
* Extra income. You can sell your egg, that is if you're willing to part with them.
* Pest control. Chickens love to eat bugs.
* Entertainment. Hours of entertainment can be had watching your very own chickens.
* Chickens themselves do not smell.
* Natural fertilizer for your yard/flowers.

I would like to wish you good luck on your adventures in building a chicken coop and raising chickens, I have no doubt you will enjoy it for years to come. Just remember to always purchase your chickens from a local farmer, not only to support your community but to make sure you know what you're getting, and from where.

If you are still having questions or need a little advice on building a chicken coop visit Chicken Coop Plans Now and if you're still in need of a little direction in raising chickens don't miss this site for great information Backyard Chickens.

Happy Egg Laying!

Building Cheap Chicken Coops

For those who wish to enter the world of chicken breeding, building cheap chicken coops is often a necessary step to getting started. It is very important to understand that cheap chicken coops do not have to mean low quality. By understanding what type of coop you need, you can select the proper materials and designs that will get you quality cheap coops at a greatly reduced price. In fact, it can actually be up to 50% cheaper to build your own coop than to purchase one.

When trying to build a coop, ask yourself if you are intending to breed chickens for your own use only, or if are you intending to sell chickens and eggs to others. Regardless of what you intend, your cheap coops are a possibility if you take the time to plan. You may choose a small coop, which is well-sized for novices or small breeders who intend to raise only a few chickens, or those with limited space. Medium coops are for those that intend to conduct business and need to raise more chickens; these coops will definitely require more space. If you are operating a larger, serious business, you may opt for large and double-decker coops. These require the largest space and the greatest investment, but that doesn't mean that large coops can't be cheap coops as well - it's all relative!

Cheap chicken coops require good sourcing of materials. Standard materials will include timber for the frame of the coop itself. Chicken housing can be built by ensuring you are using the least expensive wood that will do the job. You can choose from pine, hardwood, or even unfinished logs. Keep in mind that the higher quality woods will be more expensive, however if you look hard enough, you can use many types of wood and still maintain a low price on cheap chicken coops.

Mesh wire, most commonly called chicken wire, is another large part of the coop structure. This is an extremely inexpensive building material, and is perfect for building chicken coops cheaply. A fifty-foot roll is usually about $15.00 US, and is more than ample for most small projects. It is important to choose a good quality wire, however, since even the cheapest chicken coops need to keep predators out.

Other materials needed are nails, screws to secure the wire, hinges for doors, and all of the required tools to use them. These tools include hammers, saws, drills, screwdrivers, rulers, and levels. If you do not have the tools handy, you can usually rent them from most large hardware retailers at a good price. Cheap chicken coops are built similarly to other types of woodworking and assembly projects.

Limiting the included amenities is a great way to keep the "cheap" in chicken coops. If you get carried away and add too many built-in features, you will be increasing your costs, often unnecessarily. Use some common sense and ask yourself if you need the extra door, the extra latch, or the built-in feeding tray. Always remember that building a Cheap Chicken Coop is within your reach if you plan it out well and do your research. Always shop around.

Building a chicken coop is becoming common place in more and more homes each day. Learning how to build is not hard at all! For more helpful tips and information on all things chicken coop, please visit: http://www.squidoo.com/smallchicken-coop

Chicken Coops - Save Time & Money

A chicken coop is a kind of enclosure in which the chickens are kept. The interior of the housing have nest boxes for the chickens to lay eggs, and also has perches for the birds to sleep on.

The inside and outside of a chicken coops is usually covered with material such as straw or wood chips. These collect the chicken waste making it easier to clean. A chicken coop would usually have enough ventilation for air circulation helping airing out any odors that may occur.

How to build a chicken coop:

There are 6 crucial elements in building a chicken coop -

The appearance:

Before you get on to constructing a chickens coop, sketch out the design of the kind of coop you need. It is not only the construction that you need to chalk out, but also the colors that you are going to use on the roof and walls of your chicken coop.

The coop should not act as a distraction to your neighborhood if it is clearly visible to your neighbors, or be a defacement of the surroundings where you live. Therefore, your chicken coop should have an aesthetic design and have no complaints from your neighbors.

Use sound judgment:

You should always use your sound judgment when constructing a chicken coop. You would be better off in using building materials which would allow you to clean the coop easily. The door of your coop should always open inwards, and it is always better to have sliding doors so that chickens cannot come out to roost on your windows. You should consider constructing the floor of your chicken coop with material which you can easily hose without many puddles.

To find the most suited solution regarding chicken coops, it takes a little careful planning.

Protection from Hazardous Elements:

Your chicken coop must be built in such a way that it can protect your chickens from hazardous elements such as heavy rain, wind, hale, snow, cold climates, etc, and from being eaten or killed by hungry predators.

The coop should protect the chicken from being stolen as well. The coop should be protected from draft with windows that can be opened and shut, having proper screening system, for example, a heavy gauge mesh wire.

Your chicken coops must have an adequate drainage system where rain water may flow out keeping the coop dry. You need to position your chicken coop in an area where it gets the Sun which will keep the chickens warm and dry.

Coop ventilation:

You have already taken care in protecting your chicken coops from drafts. At the same time you will need to maintain ventilation in the coop, allowing free air movement throughout. The chickens inside the coop are quite safe with cold being kept out, but at the same time they would need air to breathe.

It is very necessary that the carbon dioxide accumulating inside your chicken coop be removed regularly replaced by fresh air in order that the chickens can breathe. There has to be ample movement of fresh air inside with cold drafts being kept away from entering the coop.

Light Source:

You would want your chickens to be kept warm during the cold months and yet have solid source of ventilation during the hot months of the year. Placing your chicken coop facing the South would be a good idea, where the coop may get Sunlight and air through-out the day.

You should also consider an electrical light source which will help the chickens produce great eggs all the year round. This light could easily be installed at the height of the chicken coop's ceiling, and this would help in keeping the chickens warm and lay better eggs through-out the year.

Conveniently placed Water and Chicken Feeders:

You should always check if the water and chicken feeders have been put in the right places, and the flock has easy access to those areas. You should also take care in placing the containers knowing that the chickens like to make a mess of everything they eat. Try and place the feeders at the back of the chicken at a height where the chickens have to stretch their necks to eat and would not be able to reach the feeders with their feet.

Summary:

There are definitely ways to build your chicken house inexpensively. When designing your chicken coop, safety of your chickens would be your primary concern. Along with this, you should look into design factors which would keep your chickens warm and dry during the winter months, and properly aired during the summer.

For more information and advice on chicken coups, please visit our website today and see our no-nonsense FREE reviews. Our detailed and upfront reviews will assist you to end up with the perfect chicken coop to best suit your needs.

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Chicken Coop Guide - Things to Consider in Building a Chicken Coop

If you love the idea of raising chicken in your backyard, it is important that you know what it takes to put up a chicken coop. Of course, you can get a pre-built chicken coop at the shop but you will find it a little expensive when in fact building your own can be easy and fast.

If you are interested in the idea of a do-it-yourself coop for your chicken, you can actually do it with the help you chicken coop guides, designs and plans that allow you to follow certain instructions in building your poultry coop. Of course, by having a chicken good guide and design at hand, you will know what you will need, the tools that you will be using, as well as the materials that you need to secure for the building.

With a good guide at hand, building a coop can actually be easy and fast. Here are some things to consider if you want to make this a do-it-yourself project.

- Get a good chicken coop guide and building plan. Most of these coop designs have detailed instructions on how to build and materials that you need to make a coop. It just important that you get something that is easy to understand and have clear instructions.

- Decide on the materials that you will be using. You don't have to scramble to the shop at once. Survey your basement for some scrap lumber. This will help you empty your basement and save money from buying new materials as well. You can even find a lot of bargain materials that you can also use in your coop. Choose materials also that require you less maintenance as well.

- Chose a location where you will build your coop. This is important to consider especially for sanitation and health of your chicken. A slope or hilly land will be ideal for your coop to facilitate drainage of water. If you are putting your coop in your backyard, make sure your coop is facing the sun to avoid moisture and damp areas in your coop. Damp areas can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other organisms that can bring diseases to your chicken.

- Choose a coop design that allows proper ventilation and insulation for your chicken. Make sure also that they can get much natural light as well.

- Make sure that your coop keeps away your chickens from predators and other animals that can harm them. Install fences and chicken wires and make sure that the windows and doors do not provide entrance for the predators. Keep in mind that some predators can dig into the soil to prey on your chicken, so make sure your coop design does not allow that. You can also opt for a mobile chicken coop if you want to avoid predators from coming back to the place where the coop was once located.

Indeed, putting up a chicken coop has lots of considerations. But if you have a great chicken coop guide that will help you choose a design of your coop and maintain you coop, raising chicken would be a great fulfillment.

For a great guide to help you put up a chicken coop, check out how to Build A Chicken Coop. Also check out this other guide on Building a Chicken Coop, where you can find detailed instructions on how to make a shelter for your chicken.

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5 Simple Steps on How to Build a Backyard Chicken Coop

As you probably know, a chicken coop is an essential part of raising backyard chickens.
It will provide your flock with warm shelter and a safe place to eat and sleep. However,
not many of us want to invest in a pre-made chicken coop for many reasons such as:
inflated cost and the hassle of delivery or bringing it home. Therefore, I have written
this article to help you build a backyard chicken coop fast and easy. If you follow these 5 easy steps, you
will be able to construct a strong and durable backyard chicken coop that will provide excellent shelter for your chickens and keep them safe from predators.

Step 1: Plan Ahead of Time.

If you want to build a backyard chicken coop with the least amounts of setbacks, you must PLAN ahead of time. Some things to think about before beginning your construction are: How many chickens will inhabit the coop?, What size are the chickens, large standards or bantams? How many nests will you provide the hens with? How many feeders and waterers will you have available? How many windows will your chicken coop require to give enough sunlight to your flock? Will you be constructing a chicken run with easy access into and out of the coop? You see, there are various questions that need to be answered before you build a backyard chicken coop because you may find out too late that the coop you built was not sufficient enough to keep your chickens happy and safe.

Step 2: Choose your Terrain.

Once you have answered all your pre-building questions, the next step is to choose a terrain where you
will build a backyard chicken coop in. It is very important that you choose an area that is wide enough for your coop to fit with plenty of space around it for a chicken run or for you to maneuver around. You do not want to build a coop where you do not have easy access around its perimeter. Try to choose a terrain where it receives direct sunlight and far from heavy bushes or weeds where snakes, rodents, and other predators may reside in.

Step 3: Sketch out your Design on Paper.

When attempting to build a backyard chicken coop, do not go at it with a concept in your head. This can lead to disaster. Make sure you sketch out your coop on paper, even if you're not an artist, and cover every angle including a top view of the roof and a sketch of the inside. If this is your first time building a backyard chicken coop, you shouldn't go for an architectural masterpiece, but rather start out with a simple chicken coop first just big enough for your flock and as you gain experience, then go for something of a greater scale.

Step 4: Gather all your Materials.

Before you build a backyard chicken coop, make an effort to collect all the materials you will need so that you won't have to take unexpected trips to and from the hardware or lumber store. A good example of materials you will need are: wood (2 x 4), concrete cinder blocks, chicken wire or fence wire, insulation strips, and ofcourse nails, screws, saw and hammer. While these are your most common materials, only you
will know exactly what you need when you complete steps 1 and 3 and actually plan ahead of time and sketch out your coop design from every angle.

Step 5: Build it.

It is now time to build a backyard chicken coop. You have done all your planning ahead of time. You have chosen a terrain convenient to maneuver around with excellent sunlight and free from predators. You have sketched out your chicken coop design on paper and you have gathered all your materials. Now all you have to do is put it together.

Some things to remember: Provide plenty of ventilation through screened windows, bury your outside chicken wire along the coop's borders about a foot deep to prevent predators from digging in, and if you live in cold climates, make sure to properly insulate the roof and insides of the coop.

I hope these 5 steps will help you build a backyard chicken coop with greater ease and success.
However, these are only a few guidelines and there is so much more information you should learn before you actually build a backyard chicken coop.

To discover the wisdom and secrets on how to build a backyard chicken coop, visit longtime farmer and poultry keeper Dale Higgins's website: www.mybackyardchickenfarm.com.

Dale Higgins has been raising chickens and poultry for over 20 years and is an expert in building chicken coops.

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Chicken Coop Designs - 5 Important Considerations For Choosing Chicken Coop Designs

Chicken Coop Designs are found all over the Internet but very few out there are high quality or provide you with the information necessary to be successful in building your own coop at home. You may even be able to find a free set online and this may or may not be the best option for your particular situation. Most people only consider the appearance aspect of the new chicken dwelling they plan to build, but the things you need to consider run far deeper. Today, we are going to go over the five most important things to consider when choosing a set of chicken coop designs.

1) Survey The Area.

Before you begin construction on your coop, the first thing you need to do is survey the area where you plan on building. Do you live in a tight urban area or within the sprawling hills of the country? This will determine what type of chicken coop designs you will need and whether you will be building a movable (portable), semi-permanent, or fixed dwelling area for your chickens

2) Determine The Chickens' Needs.

Regardless of what type of backyard coop you decide to build, you will want to make sure the designs provide adequate shelter, comfort, security, and cleanliness for your chickens.

Your chickens will spend the majority of their lives in this new home, so your coop will need to keep them safe and secure from potential predators. It is possible to purchase a pre-made coop, and this may be a good option for some, but if you want to do-it-yourself and save money, make sure the chicken coop designs you choose meet the above needs.

3) Choosing The Right Chicken Coop Designs.

When choosing the right plans, you must first consider how many chickens you are planning to keep. Two or three chickens may only require a small portable coop while two dozen grown chickens will need a large fixed coop.

Once you have settled on coop size, you want to make sure your chicken coop designs meet your other needs. Unless you plan to purchase these separately, you will want to make sure the plans also include sections on building your own feeders and nesting boxes. This simple detail is often left out of most plans.

4) Where Will You Place Your New Coop?

Most people do not know this but it's important to position the coop strategically. In choosing the right position for a semi-permanent or fixed option, make sure the area will have the right amount of sunlight and is not directly in the direction of the wind. You will also want to make sure that your placement keeps predator threats to a minimum.

5) How Much Lumber Will The Chicken Coop Designs Require?

Most people neglect this fact when choosing chicken coop designs but lumber costs will make up about 90% of your building expenses. A high quality set of chicken coop designs will allow you to keep your lumber costs to the absolute minimum. This is because high quality designs will have completely thought out the use of lumber. You should end up with as few scrap pieces as possible. Paying special attention to this fact will help keep your overall costs low.

As you can see, building a coop for your chickens requires you take many things into consideration. You don't want to jump into the process haphazardly and you definitely don't want to choose any old set of plans. Choosing a high quality set of chicken coop designs will ensure you have the most enjoyable building experience possible and have a coop that will last for years or decades.

To see pictures and videos of some of the chicken coops I have built and the chicken coop designs I used, check out my blog. Raising chickens and growing your own food will be one of the most rewarding experience of your life.

Scotty Pickens

The Chicken Coop Designs Guy

http://www.chickencoopdesigns0.com

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Build a chicken coop? Avoid these 7 critical errors

Last year, I decided to build a chicken coop with my wife. He and I used to be obese and we decided to evaluate the food that we eat. We decided that a part of us even in better health is more and more of our own food and organic food to avoid chemicals that accumulate in our bodies. In this framework, we wanted to raise chickens for the healthy eggs. After a little more difficult that we asked of us finally made build a chicken coop. I wish that someone would be told me a long ago the only errors to avoid.

MISTAKE # 1: Not planning not before you build.

When you are ready to build a chicken coop, you plan all aspects of coop before take you even a hammer.

To build a chicken coop draw a plan. Collect all the materials. Select the materials that will be easy to make, easy to work with and easy to clean. The functionality of your coop plan. The doors should open inward, not outward. If you create the other way with the door opening to the outside you chickens will begin to perch on your windows. Your chickens spend much time in the coop which they need of fresh air, design a coop with sliding Windows is a great way to keep them fresh in the summer and warm in the summer.

When you build a chicken coop, you must consider how you will keep your coop-specific floors. You first need to cover with a good material for the chickens dig and scratch as they naturally. Unfortunately, hay is not ideal for this. Second, you must build the coop with the floors slightly sloping towards the door. This way you can spray the pipe in the coop and the dirt on the ground easily sliding on the ground below. You will have a coop clean and without puddles in the coop.

MISTAKE # 2: Not to give your Ventilation of chicken.

Construction of a poultry house is to protect your herd. The purpose of your coop is to protect your chickens out predators and the element, but should also provide good ventilation. Free movement of air inside the coop is very important, but you do not want to block your hens with a project. Chickens, like humans, they can only run at their optimal level if all their basic needs are met first of all, in this case protection and oxygen. A henhouse without free air movement and thus more oxygen will have high levels of carbon monoxide and moisture. This is not good because it is uncomfortable chickens do not produce as many eggs. It is also very dangerous because it facilitates the growth of mold in the walls.

MISTAKE # 3: Not of insulating walls.

Insulation of the walls to build a chicken coop correctly is very important. The walls of the chicken coop must have installed insulation. This will help keep the chickens warm in winter and cool in the summer. The insulation will also help to keep the coop to optimal humidity levels. When chickens are kept at the optimal level of moisture that they produce more eggs. Insulating walls will also help to keep the chickens dry. In cold climates when your chickens are dry they can bear the cold. Insulating walls will not only keep your chickens, eggs, but it will prevent your chickens to be sick.

ERROR # 4. Do not put water and feeders to the right place.

If you build a chicken coop, obviously water and chicken feeders must be in a place where your chickens can easily access. It is important to be very careful in the choice of a place to put water and feeders. Chickens can be great disorder of things, because their natural scratching and digging instinct. This is very frustrating to see the water and feeding of chicken you are just in the floor. To avoid this place the feeder and water at a chicken in the back. Ideally the chickens will have to stretch their necks to the food a little to eat and drink, but they are not able to put their feet in their food or water. Be sure to replace the water and feeding of chicken every day.

ERROR # 5 - did does not a good light Source.

Build your chicken coop facing South, so that the co-op will receive the Sun throughout the day. For the winter months when the days are shorter and there is less Sun, it is important to install lighting to the co-op. This is not difficult. They have lights that you can just stick to the walls at any local hardware store, you do not have to be an electrician, it's as simple as putting a sticker on a paper.Installation of this light will be worth the few dollars you spend in the making. It will keep your chickens warm and happy and follow your production of eggs during the winter, when most of the farmers of chicken experience a fall of production, because the chickens receive less light and heat.

Mistake # 6: Not step to protect your chickens from the elements.

Your coop is a haven for your hens, much as your House is for you. A well built poultry house will protect your chickens from hazardous elements such as weather.

Here are the basis for your coop weather-resistant.
1 Make sure the doors and Windows are sealed properly so that they do not leave a project.
2 Build the chicken coop on a high area where it can easily be emptied and the less moisture the coop.
3 Build your chicken coop with the sun fun. Will this keep the coop dry after it rains, warm when it's cold on.

ERROR # 7: Do step to protect your chickens from predators.

Build a chicken coop not only to protect the elements of your herd and to protect them from predators.

Here are the basics to protect your chickens from predators:

1. Do not build the coop near brush to the other animals may live.
2 Bury your off-trails of chicken with chicken wire. You can put the wire on the ground and then cover. This will keep predators such as raccoons, cats and even dogs digging under the term.

Construction of a poultry house is fun and easy, but you must follow these simple steps to avoid problems in the future. Raising chickens in a farm or in your urban or suburban garden is a pleasant experience. Just do not commit these mistakes.

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How to Build a Chicken Coop

Basic Tips to Build Coop for Your Chicken

If you have no idea and experience how to build a coop for your chicken, the best way to deal with it is to create a chicken coop plan. You can start planning by knowing the common chicken coop features that you need to build and incorporate with your construction plan. 

It is amazing to know that with the right tools and materials you can easily build a coop according to your own designs. Chicken coop typically consists of a chicken nest where the hen can lay their eggs, chicken feeders, water feeders, and roost where the chicken can restfully sleep and relax. 

Most chicken coop hobbyists suggest building additional feature on the coop such as windows to let the sunshine and fresh air inside the chicken home. You can plan your own housing designs while taking into consideration significant figures such as the space dimension that will provide the chicken the best comfort.

You can build a fancy coop or simply create one that is simply on a box shaped design. Regardless of your coop design styles, you need to observe standard requirements to build coop. One is the dimension of the coop, which is important in giving the chicken adequate space. Crowded environment to live can give opportunity for various ailments to occur in your chicken. 

The minimum space requirements for poultry will depend on the type of your chicken. Bantam chicken and quail will require a minimum space of 1 sq ft., layer hen and large chicken will need 2 sq. ft., Pheasant 5 sq. ft., ducks 3 sq. ft., and geese 6 sq. ft.

Vents are helpful when you build a chicken coop. It is ideal to place the vent on either the east or south side of the coop. This will protect the chicken from cool drafts by promoting appropriate flow of air into the coop. 

Building a chicken coop will also involve creating good coop insulation that will keep the chicken warm and comfortable during winter season. It is also beneficial during summer as well. It suggested that a 1.5 inch of Styrofoam sheet placed between the ceilings and the walls is ideal. Painting the walls with white paint also helps reflect the summer heat. Some prefer using aluminum roof while tall plants just around the coop will provide better shade for the coop.

The flooring of the chicken coop may be of different building materials. Packing down plain dirt to create a solid foundation is the cheapest flooring for a chicken coop. It is however most vulnerable to rodents digging from underground to get to their prey.

The safer and more expensive flooring for a chicken coop is concrete and it is the most sanitize type of flooring as well. Using wood as flooring is prone to rotting and rodents can possibly penetrate through it.

The roosts must not be too large or too small and must be made of metal or plastic.  The chicken nest must be at least 12 x 15 inches in length and 13 inches deep. Placing some litters is important to prevent the eggs to crack.

When building the chicken coop you need to build two-way doors. One is for you to fit in and the other should be big enough for your chicken to pass through. Many find building a chicken coop fun to do. You can always build coop easily using the right tools and a construction plan to keep everything in the proper order.

Did you find those tips on how to build a chicken coop useful? You can learn a lot more about Building A Chicken Coop On Your Own Here at http://www.buildingachickencoops.com

Moveable Chicken Coops - A Chicken House on Wheels

So... you've decided to take on the fun filled hobby of backyard chicken raising?

Excellent!

I'm sure by now you've bought a batch of baby chickens from your local pet store or expo center and brought them into your home with joy and excitement. Everyday you've fed them and played with them and enjoyed just watching them chirp and make a mess of themselves. For weeks you've sat there and watched them grow, but now you've realized that they are just too big to have inside your house in those empty milk cartons or fish aquariums that you were using to keep them in. You've figured it is time to build a chicken coop and I couldn't agree more.

The problem is...

You have a mesmerizingly, fully landscaped backyard in which you've poured in every last drop of sweat to grow and maintain and the last thing you want to do now is destroy your lawn by permanently building a chicken coop that will tarnish the aesthetics of your home and garden. At the same time, your small flock of chickens are growing and becoming way too large to keep indoors and since you've become quite attached to the little chicks by now, it would be much too painful to give them away. Well, the answer to your problems is quite simple...what you need is a Moveable Chicken Coop.

The Moveable Chicken Coop

Moveable chicken coops are like chicken coops on wheels. Literally. Though not so popular amongst the hardcore chicken breeders of the world which tend to build chicken coops of a large scale for hundreds of poultry and heavy egg layers, the moveable chicken coop was an invention my father created after a major storm, with hurricane like winds, hit our small town. After the storm knocked down some of our coconut trees and demolished most of our plants and livestock, my father needed to move the chicken coop to other parts of the yard in order to clean up the mess. Since it was an almost impossible task to actually lift up the coop with all its weight and relocate it elsewhere, my father came up with the genius idea of installing wheels to the bottom of the chicken coop so that it would be easily rolled to any destination in our yard. This idea was such a success in our everyday chicken raising lifestyle that from that moment on, every chicken coop we ever built was a moveable chicken coop.

Moveable Chicken Coop Perks

With moveable chicken coops, you will never have to worry about having a permanent structure in your backyard ever again. If you wish to keep your moveable chicken coop closer to your porch during the winter for easy access for feeding and cleaning, you can do so. If during the spring you would rather show off your beautiful sprouting garden to your friends and family without having your chicken coop in the way, tarnishing the beauty of your garden...no problem. Just simply roll your moveable chicken coop to another location in the yard where it's most fitting. Even if a major hurricane threatens your area, with a moveable chicken coop, you will easily be able to roll it to a safer position such as your garage if you have the space, or even inside your barn if you live in a farm house.

Wait!

Don't go slapping a pair of wheels on your chicken coop and assume to crown champion at the next chicken coop drag race. An efficient moveable chicken coop is designed with utmost care and planning. Learn how you can construct a well crafted moveable chicken coop here:
how to build a moveable chicken coop.

Dale Higgins has been raising chickens and poultry for over 20 years and is an expert in building chicken coops. You can visit his website here: http://www.mybackyardchickenfarm.com

The 4 Important Steps of How to Build a Chicken Coop

When you build a chicken coop, there are four main elements that you want to keep in mind. We will cover them in this article, and when you're finished you will be ready to move onto the next step, getting the plans and breaking out the power tools.

The first step we will cover is size. This has a direct effect on the number of birds you can hold and is often one of the first mistakes beginners make. After that you will be able to pick out the style that best suits your needs and the amount of space you have.

Once you have this information, you will want to look at building both a healthy and safe coop. More on that in a moment.

Lastly you will want to make sure that you build a nice looking hen house. But you may be surprised when you find out how important this step really is.

Some of you may already be itching to break out the power tools, so I will get started and show you how to build a chicken coop.

Step 1 - Picking the Right Size

You may be thinking that this is an understood part of building a chicken coop. You know where you want to put the chicken coop and you know how many chickens you want, isn't that enough? The answer is no. Just because you have a spot picked out, that doesn't mean it is the most ideal. You may also run into trouble if your desired hen house doesn't match the number of chickens you plan to get.

Each chicken requires at least 3 square feet of room inside of the chicken coop. As you can see, this will directly influence how many chickens you can hold, and where you can build your coop.

As you can imagine, if the chicken coop becomes too crowded, your hens will spend the majority of their time fighting for room rather than laying eggs. Since this is the reason, most people build chicken coops, it will waste both the money and time you've invested. So now is the perfect time to decide how many chickens you plan to raise.

In the event that there is too much room in the coop later you always have the options to add another hen or two.

Step 2 - Choosing the Right Type of Chicken Coop

As you already might know, there are two types of chicken coops. The first is portable, and is often referred to as a chicken tractor. The other is fixed and is usually built to hold more chickens. Let's look at the two types and you can get a better idea of what best suits your needs.

First we'll look at the portable ones. There are several benefits to building a portable chicken coop, besides being portable they are easier to maintain. Since you can move the coop around, maintenance is much easier. Instead of bringing the tools to the coop, you can bring the coop to your tools. Cleaning the coop is also easier with portable hen houses.

But there is a downside, and we need to cover that as well. If you build a portable chicken coop, don't expect it to last for a long time. Portable chicken coops are not nearly as stable as their fixed counterpart.

Fixed or static hen houses are much more stable than the portable ones, and a well built coop can last for many years. Of course you need to plan the location for your coop very carefully. Once it is finished, moving it will be a very time consuming process.

Here are some things to consider when you build a static roost. First, chickens need a lot of sunlight. Make sure to build the chicken coop so that it gets as much sun as it can each day. But you will also want provide your coop with protection from the other elements. Strong rain or wind can be a problem, that's why it is a good idea to build your coop under a group of trees or next to a larger building.

Another thing to keep in mind when you build a fixed hen house is that it shouldn't be built on low ground. Make sure to build it on the a higher part of your yard. If you get strong storms, your chicken coop could become flooded. If this happens, you learn what the expression "madder than a wet hen" means.

Step 3 - Keeping Your Coop Safe

One of the most important aspects of learning how to build a chicken coop is keeping your birds safe.

There are many different types of predators that will prey upon your hens if you aren't careful. This can be anything from the neighborhood cats and dogs to less likely threats such as rats. If you live in the country, you may also be at risk of attracting larger predators.

These can include foxes, coyotes and badgers. You will want to assure that you use strong enough fencing to keep the more determined wild animals out. Make sure to bury your fence deep enough in the ground to keep out animals that try to dig their way into the coop.

Don't forget the threat from above. Hawks will also prey upon chickens, so it might be necessary to cover your chicken's run with a roof or fencing.

Step 4 - Keeping Up Appearances

Learning how to build a chicken coop can be a really fun experience which also makes a great family project.

A well built chicken coop should be both healthy and comfortable for your chickens but also look nice. Nobody likes an eyesore, and if you don't take the time to finish out your coop, you might get complaints rather than compliments from your neighbors.

This would be a shame, since a chicken coop can add a unique element to your yard's landscaping. One that will have your neighbors talking for all of the right reason, and your family supplied with fresh eggs every morning for breakfast.

If you build your chicken coop in the city, you will want to check your city ordinances for any that regulate if and how you can build your coop.

Building a chicken coop isn't hard, as long as you put enough time and effort into following the right plans. Ready to get your hands on a set? Click here to learn how-to build a chicken coop and get your hands on some plans! Visit http://build-a-chicken-coop.iqbanq.com/ for more information.