How to Set up a Traditional Chicken House

Though raising chickens has been a tradition in rural communities, the practice quickly has gained momentum in more urban areas. The novice chicken farmer still will need to provide the flock with proper housing. Learn all the components to setting up a traditional chicken house, or coop, so that you can raise happy and healthy birds.

  1. Preparations

    • Before you even purchase your first chickens, make sure that you will be able to own and care for them. Check state and local laws, in addition to animal control, to learn of any regulations. This includes restrictions on the coop's location and size, and whether you can legally own chickens at all. Only after this can you consider finances. Though chickens are inexpensive when compared to other farm animals, you still will need to purchase building materials, feed and medications or veterinary visits.

    Purpose and Materials

    • The house must protect your chickens from cold wind, stifling sun, precipitation and predators. Coops traditionally are made of wood or plywood, with thicker material on the walls for insulation. The roof is comprised of sheet metal or PVC and shingles, and must be windproof and watertight. Heat lamps are used in cold, darker days for warmth and to encourage egg production. Building the coop on concrete blocks puts the shelter up off the cold ground and prevents predators, like coyotes, from digging underneath. Additionally, windows and ventilation release the smell of waste and allow air flow during hot summers. Keep in mind you will need a large, lockable door to clean the bedding and retrieve eggs. The chickens will appreciate a ramp from the coop to the outdoor run, which can be closed up at night.

    Location

    • While laws may dictate the placement of your coop, there are other considerations as well. Keep the shelter out of direct sunlight in a shaded, dry area. The top of a hill is preferable to a valley to avoid flooding. Placement near a building will provide a wind break, though the ground under the run should be grass or dirt rather than stone or pavement. Neighbors will better appreciate your chickens if they don't have to smell or hear the birds, and so you should keep the coop clean and as far away from their homes as possible.

    Space

    • The chickens must have a minimum of 4 square feet per bird if let out daily, and at least 10 square feet if housed only inside. This allows them enough room to move around freely though any additional space helps to reduce stress. Inside the coop, each nest box should be a minimum of 1 square feet for every 2 to 3 laying hens. Each chicken will also require one foot of roosting pole, or perch, to sleep. This resembles a tree branch to them and should be high off the floor. However, avoid placing nest boxes, feeders or waterers underneath as the chickens will go to the bathroom from the perch.

    The Run

    • The fenced outdoor run needs 3 to 6 square feet per bird. This allows chickens to scratch and forage for bugs. The side fences can be buried about a foot underground to protect from land predators. Depending on the wildlife in your area, the run also may need a fenced roof to protect your brood from flying predators, such as hawks. Additionally, rotating the location of your coop and run to different areas of the yard allows the land to recover from the chickens' scratching and pecking.