How to Choose a Type of Chicken Coop

The type of coop you pick for your chickens depends on whether you're raising chickens for meat, eggs, or both. It also depends on how large a flock you're planning to keep.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken Coops
• Chicken Feed
• Chicken Feeders
• Chicken Waterers
• Chicken Wire
• Baby Chicks
• Chicken Dusting Powder

1. Build a barn or shed for a permanent structure that will house larger flocks and laying hens. It needs to be large enough for you to walk into and gather eggs.

2. Include an adjacent, outdoor, fenced-in run for hens that reside in a permanent structure.

3. Provide nests for laying hens. (See Related eHow "How to Care for Chickens.")

4. Build a small chicken tractor or a large, fenced-in, portable cage to be moved to different areas of your yard and garden for a smaller flock.

5. Use a chicken tractor for chickens you're raising for meat.

6. Clean the barn, run, tractor, or cage of waste every day.

Tips & Warnings

• Start out small and increase the size of your flock after you see whether this is a project your family would like to continue.

on 11/22/2005 Allow 6 square feet per small chicken. 8 square feet is needed per large or laying hen. The same square footage is needed for large-breed cocks. The coop roosting area needed for each is 8 to 10 inches by 12 inches. Do not place roosting perches on top of each other. If roosting above the nesting boxes, supply a droppings board. Allow 6 inches below each perch.