Popular Hen House Plans

Are you planning to build a hen house in your backyard? There are so many hen house plans to choose from you may feel overwhelmed at which one to go with. Choosing the right plan is an important first step in your project.

There are several popular hen house plans available. The process you use to pick the best one for your project should include answering some important questions before you get started.

Click here for popular Do-It-Yourself hen house plans.

Here is what you need to determine before you chose a hen house plan.

How much space do you have to raise chickens?

Although they are relatively small birds, chickens need enough space to live happily and produce eggs well.

• Each hen needs about 4 square feet indoors on the floor, ample space to share on the roost at night, and enough laying boxes to lay eggs in.
  
• Plus, chickens need about 10 square feet each to move about freely in the chicken run.
  
• By providing enough space, you will avoid illness in the chickens, overly dirty shavings or bedding, and territorial problems.

When in doubt, choose a hen house plan that is larger than you think you will need. Luckily, hen house plans often allow for expansion with add-on rooms and also lengthening the run. Be sure your property allows for the plan you chose!

How many chickens do you want to have?

• Each chicken needs adequate space, feed, and health maintenance and so on. Be sure you plan for all of these expense, time and hen house space factors when you are choosing your plan.
  
• Also, hens who are laying productively will produce 2-4 eggs per week. Multiply that by a lot of hens and you may have more eggs than you can use!
  
• Be sure to choose a hen house plan that explains exactly how many chickens it will comfortably accommodate.

 What climate do you live in?

Planning for your climate changes is an important aspect for choosing a hen house plan.

• Proper insulation and ventilation is needed in all hen houses, but the degree of materials can vary greatly based on your climate.
  

Get this plan for building a hen house

• Also, if you have freezing temperatures you may need to invest in extra equipment for the hen house like water heaters and extra heat lamps.

Do you have a composting site?

• You will need a composting site on your property to dispose of the used litter or shavings/bedding from the hen house.
  
• If you are in an urban setting, plan to use an enclosed box that you can haul away to an approved composting dump.

What type of land do you have?

• Next, you will need to assess the type of soil you have before you start to build your hen house. You may need landscaping techniques that add to the stability of the hen house base.
  
• If you need to level earth, or build a concrete base for your hen house be sure you follow a hen house plan that includes these methods.

Do I want to be able to move my hen house?

• If you want to be mobile, you should find a hen house plan for a mobile coop. Many people who live in urban or suburb settings prefer this style because of the flexibility it offers.
  
• Also, if you move you can take the hen house with you!

By taking the time to explore hen house plans you will find your project gets off to the right start. Match your responses to the above questions to a hen house plan that offers everything you are looking for!

These are the plans I settled on:

They really worked for me and I got the chicken coop I wanted within my budget and my building skills. I highly recommend you check out Building a Chicken Coop.

Building a Chicken Coop is the ultimate guide to planning and building your own coop in your backyard. In includes drafts of plans, dimensions, materials lists and sources to everything you need to build a sustainable chicken coop.