By standing chicken coops and chicken hen house kits are readily available online and at some models may be enticing to the beginner, they are also expensive. of plans, you can save money and rest assured that your structure will last.
Material Choices
When building your own coop, you are able to use any materials that will end the elements, plus the habitual pecking from your birds.
Here are a few ideas that have been used by DIY chicken house builders:
- Wood
- Plywood or OSB
- Tin
- Metal
- Aluminum
- Asphalt Roofing Shingles
Heavy gauge wire mesh is about the only thing that must be a must in order to protect your chickens.
Free from Codes
Without you live in a housing development enforces building code, you can custom design your own chicken hen house. There are lots of possibilities when you build your own coop such as these:
- Portable sheds
- Chicken tractors
- Arks
- Off-the-ground shelters
- Classic chicken house
- Lean-to
A Lean-to can eliminate one side altogether by building the structure. A bare a sloping roof and use a metal roof that will last for for. There are also plans that begin very small, but providing ideas and materials for expanding your flock as the need arises.
A Break Even Point
Most people do not enter into raising chickens as a costly hobby, but it can easily turn out that way, if you are countless spending, you can count on spending 1 per chicken in feed. This does not include the hours that are spent in cleaning and providing new bedding, as needed.
When buying a kit or a free standing unit, and you have the most expensive eggs on the planet.
Here are a few ways to shave off those start-up costs so you can realize potential income and contain the costs:
- Interior Space: Figure 4 square foot per bird, 1 nesting box for 2-3 chickens
- Use standard sized panels to eliminate waste or mistakes in cutting
- Buy inexpensive, thick OSB or wood panels for flooring
- Study different chicken house plans and select one that can utilize the building materials that you have on hand.
It does not matter what type of materials you use in constructing your chicken coop, as long as they are durable, stop the wind, and providing adequate shelter. The framing is the most important part and a good set of plans can lend several ideas on creating a solid, permanent structure.
Using recyclable materials, finding close out out sales, and scrap pieces of wood, can help you start your business or hobby for under $ 100. With good chicken coop plans and a little creativity, your chickens will be happy and healthy.
