Simple Chicken Coops

Building simple chicken coops for your backyard is an easy project with many benefits. Most people just want a simple coop they can take care of and move around easily.

This type of coop is called a chicken tractor. It is portable and can be wheeled around your yard.

Building a Chicken Coop official site

Some of the drawbacks of a traditional chicken coop you might face are that you might not want something permanent in your yard. Also, free ranging for the chickens may not be an option. You may live in an urban area with a very small garden or yard to work with. Or, your neighbors may not appreciate your free- range chickens in their yard scratching up their plants.

This is where a portable structure of a chicken tractor becomes a better option. Some of the features of a quality chicken tractor are that it is lightweight and moveable. They have an indoor nesting box and a place for chickens to roost at night.

There are infinite varieties of portable simple chicken coops you could choose from. Mail-order coops, buying online from dealers or visiting a livestock supply store is one way to go. Or you can build your own coop.

The best advice for building the chicken tractor is to keep the design basic. You will be moving it around often, every couple of days so you want it to be easy to move. If you add too many amenities and options it will just weigh down the tractor and make it hard to lift. Another feature of this design is that the chickens will till your yard with their scratching. Chickens waste will be toxic to the grass over time however, so it is important to move the tractor around.

A good size for the chicken tractor is about six feet tall, seven feet long and only 3 feet wide. This is so you stay balanced when you move the tractor. It is a good idea to place handles about two feet long on one end, and wheels on the same end. This way you just roll it like a wheel barrow to the next area. It really helps the grass from becoming worn down. Chickens will eat and scratch the grass until its gone!

Building simple chicken coops like this one also saves the neighbors bother and hassle. You can move the tractor to a secure location at night also. The perch and roosting area should be protected for night use with a latching door. You will also want to suspend the feeder and drinker from a chain so you can lift and hook it to the side for nighttime. Hanging them also keep them level and don't leave a ring on your grass.

Materials for the simple chicken coops will include washers that hold the screws in place between the wire and the wood. This makes it easy to remove the wire whenever you want. It is also a good idea to use a arc shape for the roof so the rain runs off easily and won't splash you as you tilt and wheel the chicken coop. This type of coop is best for a small breed of chicken such as Bantam chickens. You can fit about 5 chickens comfortably inside the roosting area. Remember not to overcrowd the chickens and to keep the simple chicken coops cleaned every day.

A portable coop is the best option for a person who wants to raise chickens for personal use. You will benefit from a clean and tilled yard, organic eggs and an easy to maintain chicken hutch. Keeping it simple with a natural wood stain blends the coop into your backyard elements. If roaming dogs or predators are a problem, be sure to install deterrent such as a motion triggered flashing light. You will be glad you invested a little time in building your own chicken coop.