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How To Build A Chicken Coop Easily In One Weekend

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Alford]Andrew Alford
Building Your Own Chicken Coop Can Be a Very Smart Decision
If youve made the decision to build your own chicken coop youre a part of a growing group of Americans who are saying "No" to economic downturns, and doing something positive for themselves, their family and their own nutrition. Raising chickens and harvesting your own eggs dates back to earlier simpler times, but its something that almost any do-it-yourselfer can do if they put their mind to it.
STEP ONE: The first step in building your own chicken coop is to study the procedures, which is what this article is about, and while it may not be comprehensive it should serve as a good starting point. By doing your homework, youll understand more about the breed and number of chickens youll need to satisfy your needs, as well as the chickens tolerances to temperature and environment.
STEP TWO: Be certain to check the zoning laws in your community, this will tell you the number of chickens you can have, whether a rooster is permitted, and whether youll need an inspector to sign off on your finished coop. Unless youre located far from any city and have ample acreage, zoning laws may be applicable, and its best to find out before you are forced to dissemble your creation.
STEP THREE: Next comes the design, choose a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing for you (and possibly your wife or significant other) but also functional for your chickens. There are multiple designs online as well as detailed books about choosing and constructing your chicken coop. Basically, youll want to design a chicken coop that is roofed, well ventilated and has ample space. Of course youll need to have nesting boxes and roosts allowing your chickens to nest and sleep, exercise, and other assorted chicken like activities.
STEP FOUR: How much space do you estimate youll need? Step four is very much part of the planning phase, and will depend on the breed and the number of hens you plan to house. Packing too many chickens into a small space is a recipe for disaster; theyll need space to move around, nest, peck the ground and of course lay their eggs, etc. While this recommended space will vary depending on the breed, approximately 4 sq. ft. per chicken has proved ample for my needs.
STEP FIVE: What is the climate in your area? While its not necessary to have an air-conditioned chicken coop, there is an optimal climate for a particular breed, and this will need to be considered prior to building and purchasing your chickens. If you live in a cold climate, youll need to ensure the inside not only has suitable ventilation, but also heating and insulation if required; this might include a heat lamp for young chickens, and/or a heating pad for your hens.
While chickens for the most part are easy to maintain, youll need to keep a watchful eye, and potentially make changes to their environment as the seasons change. Plan on supplying electrical power to your chicken coop to run the necessary heating, cooling, or monitoring devices you may require.
Once youve given adequate thought and planning to your new chicken coop, its time to set aside a weekend accomplish the task. Once your chicken coop is up and functional, and your hands used to their environment, youll soon be enjoying fresh eggs for breakfast, and possibly answers to share with family and friends.
Did you know the average American spends over $400 trying to build their chicken coop. It can take may of them 2 months or more to come up with something that quite honestly can be less than adequate for raising healthy chickens.
You may also be surprised to know that most people who decide to [http://buildanewchickencoop.com]build a chicken coop rush in to it totally blind and without any prior planning.
Andrew Alford has been building chicken coops for many years and it you want to save time and more importantly MONEY then learn [http://buildanewchickencoop.com/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop/]How To build a chicken coop the right way first time.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Build-A-Chicken-Coop-Easily-In-One-Weekend&id=6708266] How To Build A Chicken Coop Easily In One Weekend