When you get ready to buy a pre-built chicken coop you might think that any creativity will have be your own, but the truth is that you can find tons of chicken coop ideas online. Perhaps you have a few ideas for your chicken coops but you don’t know how to translate that into an actual structure. That is when you find the right coop design that uses your ideas combined with the functionality your chickens need.
There are many factors that will go into your decision to make or buy a house for your chickens. You will look at your needs as a chicken farmer as well as what materials will be best for the climate in your region, nocturnal predators and even where your property sits.
Luckily for you someone else has already thought of these things and provided you with many chicken coop ideas from which to choose. You can start by checking Evelyn’s Pinterest page, which has lots of cool ideas, pictures etc.:
Follow Evelyn Vincent’s board Chicken Coops on Pinterest.
You can also watch Becky’s video, where she shows few very basic coop ideas/designs:
Other source for ideas – chicken coop plans
If you’ve been looking for ideas to build your ideal chicken coop you have probably come across a ton of websites offering chicken coop plans. The good news is that you can find both free and premium plans, but the bad news is that many of the free options don’t give you all the information you need.
In most cases – premium plans come with a building guide for that specific plan, that includes:
- Detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to build your coop.
- A comprehensive list of the tools and materials you will need to build the coop from the ground up.
- Color diagrams that you can follow and track your progress.
Without each of these boxes ticked off any beginner will have a hard time building even the simplest coop. It doesn’t matter if a guide is free, if it doesn’t provide you with much help, right?
Other options to consider – price & materials
One of the first decisions you will have to make about your chicken coop is whether you will build it or buy it pre-made. There are positives and negatives of both decisions, but ultimately it will come down to your price and ability.
You can find chicken coops for just a few hundred bucks in a range of sizes at Amazon or your local home improvement store. Keep in mind though that many of the pre-made chicken coops still require some assembly so you should be prepared to dust off your power tools and put them to good use.
The cost of making your chicken coop ideas a reality from the ground up might be slightly higher, but it will also teach you what you need to know in order to make repairs as they are needed. You will have to factor in the cost of materials to build the coop plus the tools that will help you assemble it and depending on the size of your coop, the cost of labor.
As much as you love your chickens the truth is that they do not require a mansion with all the bells and whistles, and even if decide they do deserve it you can save money on your materials by building with re-purposed wood. Many homeowners will use wood from an old playhouse or shed that is no longer in use but has usable wood, or they will find recycled materials for sale and use them. As long as the wood is free from rot, warping and discoloration that could indicate weakness, you should consider it as a cheaper alternative to new lumber. You can also use re-purposed materials for the nesting boxes and filling, as well as any decorative touches you want to add.
Things like chicken wire and locks should be purchased new to ensure the safety of your chickens. If you would like to paint your wood there are options you can explore to reduce the cost including using unpopular colors found in the sales aisle.
Start writing down any chicken coop ideas you have, whether it is about the style of the hen house or the color or shape because you will almost certainly be able to find what you’re looking for.