| Keeping chickens is a great hobby that the whole | | | | down the New England weather board route. You |
| family can enjoy. Chickens make excellent pets and | | | | can combine traditional styles with modern features, |
| supply you with your very own free range eggs. It is | | | | remember that it needs to house your chickens and |
| a really rewarding pastime which will keep you | | | | they have basic needs. I found the following |
| fascinated particularly if you build a chicken coop | | | | calculations can be used as a guideline to determine |
| yourself. The problem is where do you start? Unless | | | | the number of birds for your coop: |
| you are a qualified carpenter I suggest you find | | | | Space Guidelines: |
| some detailed plans to follow. Look for plans that | | | | Very small breed - 1sq ft per chicken. |
| give you detailed blueprints with all measurements, so | | | | Medium breed 1.5 sq ft per chicken. |
| that you can get the lumber pre-cut at your local | | | | Large breed - 2 sq ft per chicken. |
| lumber yard or DIY store, this will not only save you | | | | I mounted mine on small legs to prevent rising damp |
| time but money as well - you won't have to reorder | | | | and stave off the cold. I built it with a hinged opening |
| more lumber when you cut it to the wrong size! | | | | roof covered in roofing felt. Our nesting box has an |
| Apart from the technicalities of physically building | | | | opening roof for easy access. The chicken coop can |
| your chicken coop you have to consider which | | | | be easily cleaned by opening the roof. The non-slip |
| materials are most suitable, they need to be safe | | | | hinged ramp is covered in felt and acts as a door |
| around the chickens and strong enough to keep | | | | which can be closed to keep the chickens in if |
| predators out, you don't want to go to all the trouble | | | | required. There are ventilation holes as well. Mine is |
| of building a chicken coop and looking after your | | | | suitable for up to 4 bantams or point of lay chickens. |
| chickens for them to die because of poorly chosen | | | | They're happy birds. I give them food and care. They |
| materials - your family would never forgive you. | | | | give me wonderful eggs and the male wakes me up |
| The design of your chicken coop can match your | | | | in the morning. Better than an alarm - but I don't |
| house, if your house is modern then why not build a | | | | know if my neighbors would agree with me. |
| futuristic chicken coop, or if traditional you could go | | | | |