Building a Chicken Coop requires dedication and patience.
While it is something that should be done with deliberation and forethought, it should also be fun and engaging experience.
The most common story when it comes to Chicken Coops is how much people end up spending (often in excess of $300) to get/make a coop only to end up repenting their decisions later.
There are a multitude of decisions that need to be made before you can commit to an investment.
Read on and see if you have a "oops forgot that part" moment! What size will be right for you? Unlike a kennel, a Chicken Coop comes or can be made according to vastly different sizes as per the need of the owner.
The smallest size is usually the Chicken Ark and is typically suited for 2 or 4 birds.
Being the smallest these are also the cheapest.
All that is required to make these is some lumber and chicken wire.
If your poultry consists of a larger number of birds then a medium sized Chicken coop or a larger sized one will be suited.
Medium sized coops are ideally suited for 5 to 8 chickens while the larger, premium sized ones are designed for a poultry which has in excess of 10 birds.
Prices will vary by the size of the Chicken Coop.
Generally the cheapest are the Chicken Arks while Premium Chicken Coops with a run and nests will be considerably more expensive.
The look of your coop: This is almost so trivial that people will willingly ignore it until they see their coop face on.
If you are living in a city then remember to design your coop ahead of making it to see if it goes with your backyard or home and whether it fits your aesthetic sense or not.
Also an appealing coop will be the envy of your neighbors! Speaking of neighbors, you might want to consider placing the coop in a place where it does not distract or irritate them.
You can always ask for their opinion to make life much simpler later on.
Ventilation: A good Chicken Coop needs to be properly ventilated.
Chicken, like any other animals need good, clean air to breath.
You can achieve this by using wired grille for openings such as windows.
Also provide ample space in your coop so that your birds do not suffocate.
The minimum amount of space that is recommended for chicken is 4 square feet, so keep that in mind while designing your coop.
Insulation: Insulation is almost too important in parts where a cold draft is a problem.
You need to keep your chicken warm and cozy in those winter days.
Remember to insulate the walls of your chicken coop well.