What was intended as my ‘temporary’ chicken coop has been on its last legs for about two years; never having been built as a permanent structure the floor is now rotting in several places, and the attached covered grazing area was crushed by a heavy snowfall years ago. With the opportunity to build a new coop from scratch I’ve become obsessed with building not just a good coop, but a great coop.
The question for me became: what makes a coop great? The more I pondered this question, the more I started seeing coops everywhere —
in farmer’s fields, on the web — and began looking at all the poultry houses I’ve ever visited with new eyes.
My search for answers led me to the poultry housing designs that have stood the test of time; designs like the mobile coop, poultry shed, chicken ark and hoop house. Then I looked to the other elements that can make or break a coop’s efficiency — elements like ventilation, location and access to the outdoors.
While I hoped there was a design out there that had everything I was looking for, I soon realized I wasn’t going to find the perfect plans in a book or online. What I learned was there is no such thing as a perfect coop, because no one else understands my site specifications and farming style.
To create my perfect design, I read extensively and checked with other farmers to see what they were doing for poultry housing, paying attention to any modifications they’ve made to increase efficiency. I took photos and cobbled together an idea of what I’d like to see in my coop, which in the end may not look like any other coop I’ve ever seen, but will be my perfect coop.
Read on to get the basics of what a good chicken coop should include, then cobble together your own design based on your specific needs.
Coop planning checklist
It’s true that pretty much every coop will have the same standard features like feeders and waterers, but the devil is in the details in how you choose to incorporate these elements.
1. Design
Choose the design you feel will best suit your location, application and farming style. Pay attention to how much ongoing labour will be involved, and feel free to modify a design to meet your needs.
2. Site
Look for a site with good drainage, in a sheltered area, and build with an east-facing door or window. Consider locations based on access to water and/or electricity.
3. Space
Allow approximately two square feet for every bird, but consider providing more than the minimum space required. The more room your birds have to escape cannibalism and prevent the spread of disease, the healthier they will be.
4. Electricity
Do yourself a favour and build your coop with electricity in mind, even if you think you won’t use it. Wire the walls and consider locating your coop in an area where you can access an electrical circuit. Electricity can be handy for brooding young birds, heating water, lighting, and electric fencing.
5. Ventilation
Manure stinks, but chicken manure in particular produces an eye watering amount of ammonia. A good coop will include sufficient cross-ventilation in its design. Be sure to cover any vents with wire mesh to keep out predators.
6. Roosts
Plan on having at least six inches of roost space for each bird, and stagger the boards roughly one foot apart. By using a two-inch piece of lumber you can put less strain on your birds’ feet and legs and make it easier for them to perch. Ensure your roost is the highest point in your coop or your birds could move to higher ground.
7. Nest boxes (for layers)
Build nest boxes roughly 12” by 12,” and allow one nest box for every five hens. Locate the boxes at least a foot off the ground and in a dark area of your coop. Plan ahead for exterior access so you won’t need to enter the coop to collect eggs.
8. Flooring
Cover floors with an easy-to-clean surface like vinyl; wood will absorb odours and can be challenging to sanitize. A cement floor is ideal as it can be hosed off after bedding is removed. Lay a droppings board beneath your roost to catch droppings left overnight.
9. Safety
Ensure any fencing is buried well below ground to fend off any burrowing predators and consider adding an electrical component. Check your coop carefully for any holes a predator could use to enter; for mobile coops consider how your birds will remain safe when located away from the farm.
10. Outdoor access
As with any livestock, birds are healthier when they aren’t kept cooped in a pen; consider how you will provide outdoor access for your broilers or layers, either as an attached run, or with moveable fencing.
- Amy Hogue