Coop Design Considerations

Browsing through some of the information I’ve shared in the past on chicken coop design and builds, I remembered a few more items that may help you in building a chicken coop. You want to be armed with as much information as possible before building one to ensure it lasts a long time, protects your laying hens, and is money well spent (or in some cases, saved).

Let’s talk about saving money on building costs, without sacrificing quality…

In the building plans in my favorite chicken coop design book (see the link at right), you’ll see exactly what types of materials are going to be best. Choosing to forgo and opt for very cheap building materials could come back to haunt you in the future. There are still frugal options to consider that work well. Knowing which cost-effective materials stand the test of time will help. Chicken coops can be made from a variety of different materials including such items as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, 50 gallon barrels, or other recycled materials you may have available on your property already.

Wood is the most common material used to build a chicken coop and also the priciest, so you’ll have to weigh the pros versus the cons here. If you want your chicken coop to last for years and years it may be a good idea to invest in a wooden coop. Wood varieties vary in price and that will influence your decision as well.

If you are considering a small or mobile coop, you might even be able to get away with using recycled lumber.

Landscaping or Placement of the Coop

Before building the coop, make sure the land you want to build on is level and landscaped. You have two options here, you can either landscape an area of land that you really want to build the chicken coop on or you can look for a piece of land that will already work well to build on without having to landscape at all. The latter option is going to be cheaper than the former, but again this will come down to your personal preference and available space.

Lighting and Windows

Windows are a critical element within the chicken coop because they allow natural light which is the best for chicken health and productivity. When hens are not getting enough light you’re more likely to run into problems. It’s important that you consider the structural design when adding windows. Placing them in the wrong position on the coop could cause the walls to be less sturdy, so again, having a proper plan to guide you is critical.

I will add more as I think of each aspect of designing a chicken coop, or if you have questions don’t hesitate to ask in the comment form below.