Getting The Most Out Of Hen House Plans

Hen house design plans are great for prospective chicken farmers. Why? Because they allow you to own a chicken coop without the added expense of buying a brand new coop. These chicken coop plans are most of the times layed out clearly and can be followed step by step to make a high quality chicken house regardless of your previous coop building experience. But before getting started, there are some things that are really important and you should definitely take them into account to get the most out your hen house designs.

How Big Should Your Coop Be?

It is obvious, the size of your chicken coop will be dependent upon the number of chickens you are planning to keep. So first of all you will have to determine how many chicken you want to keep in your coo in the future. By making this decision you can build a coop large enough to house all of your hens and you can be sure that they feel comfortable and stay healthy. So if you currently own 10 chicken, but plan to have 15 in the near future, you should build a coop that has enough room for 15 birds.

Dangerous Predators

Without a doubt, having chicken is a lot of fun, but you will also attract predators. Chickens can be easy prey to animals such as racoons, skunks, and other rodents. So how to protect your birds? I highly recommend building a wire mesh fence around the chicken house. The fence should run at least one foot deep into the ground, In this way you will prevent animals from digging underneath.

Cleaning Your Hen House

You need to be aware that having a coop requires maintenance and upkeep. You most likely know that chicken are known to be mess. They are leaving their droppings everywhere and they will be spreading the nesting material allo over the coop.

So make sure that your chicken designs allow you easy access so you can clean the mess easily. It is even better if you have several access points. This will make cleaning a lot easier. A good way to protect the coop from flooding is by using an elevated floor with a slight slope.

Important: Climate Control

I do not know where you live, but if there is a strong climate, you need to keep climate control in mind. It is very important that the chicken coopis well ventilated to allow air flow throughout the coop during the hot summer months. If you have cold winters, the coop needs to keep your hens warm during cold months. Otherwise your chickens will get sick. The best ways to control the air flow is to build your coop with a door and windows.

Where To Locate Your Hen House

If you plan to build a fixed structure, you need to find a place in your yard that won’t compromise too much space. The coop should not be located near trees. Trees might block the sunlight. And chickens need sunlight. There are also certain laws that need to be followed, so check with your local Also, your local laws local ordinances before building.

Other Important Essentials

Be aware that keeping chickens involves more than just building a coop. Your hens will need nesting boxes, roosts, and feeders. Each chicken needs about 4 square feet of space. You also need space to accommodate the nesting boxes and feeders. You also have to be able to access the coop easily to collect the eggs. This is why the nesting boxes should be in an area that allows you to access the eggs.
It is obviousl that you will be saving a lot of money by building a chicken coop yourself. If you plan to make a chicken coop, make sure to take the above tips into consideration!

Best Hen House Plans

You can find really great hen house plans at Make A Chicken Coop. I highly recommend you go there now. Alternatively you can read my review of the best Chickem Coop Blueprints.

Chicken Coop Plans

Build A Chicken Coop