You might think you’ve seen it all, but when you’re looking for the perfect backyard chicken coop for your brood of egg-laying birds, it’s easy to get lost in the various designs that stores will have in stock.
If you really don’t know what to look out for, there’s a chance that you’ll let the storekeeper sway you with words.
That is the reason why most people end up buying things they don’t really need.
The idea is to make a list of the things you think are important to consider in a chicken coop. And if you think that this is an easy endeavor, think again – you’ll soon discover that obtaining a chicken coop is actually an infinitely more difficult task than you initially thought it to be!
But don’t worry. With the right guidance, you can make this phase in creating your own personal backyard hatchery easier for both you and your chickens.
1. What do you need to remember?
First and foremost, the most important thing to consider is just how big your backyard chicken coop should be. Let’s face it; you don’t want to crowd your chickens inside a space that’s much too small for them.
This will lead to a lot of problems in sanitation and ventilation, and this in turn could result in your chickens getting sick, and that’s the last thing that you want. Get a chicken coop that isn’t too small. Bigger coops are ideal, so long as you can fit them in your backyard.
The next thing you want to take note of is just what kind of materials you will be using for your intended chicken coop. Does that sound like too much trouble for a house you’re going to be keeping chickens in?
That’s hardly the case! You need to remember that your geographical location’s local weather might not exactly agree with your chickens, so you want to keep them indoors when the weather goes bad.
But if your birdhouse is made of things that will easily fall apart from the assault of the elements or from attacks by local chicken predators, then it doesn’t take an expert to tell you that you might want to reconsider your choice, right?
2. Should you build your own, or buy a pre-made chicken coop?
Once you have a rough idea of what your coop should be like, it’s time to decide on whether or not you should buy a pre-made birdhouse or make your own from scratch. The difference isn’t that great, so this question is more or less relative to what you’d prefer.
The good thing about building your own coop is that you’ve got the home court advantage, so to speak. With exact measurements of your backyard, chicken coops that you build from scratch will be an exact fit in the space you have available.
The best thing about this option is that you have full control over what goes into your chicken coop, and how big you can make it.
If you decide to buy a pre-made coop, though, you’re saving yourself the trouble of having to build it yourself. While you might be less secure with a coop you bought from a store, you can rest knowing that it’s very hard to find a coop that will easily fall apart – these things aren’t made from Ikea. Just remember the notes you made on what you need, and you’ll be fine.
3. Don’t panic
Seriously, a backyard chicken coop isn’t something you should lose sleep over.
Just remember to consider everything before buying or making your own birdhouse, and you should be okay. If you’re still not sure, go to your local hatchery and ask the owners for more tips on hunting for the perfect chicken coop for your backyard.
