Build Your Own Chicken Coop and Save Cash
With the overall economy in a shambles and joblessness at record levels, a lot of people are choosing to raise their own hens. Chickens can provide a good source of eggs or meat and because they are inexpensive to feed, you can save a lot of money over store bought eggs. The one factor of owning chickens very often catches new owners by surprise is the cost of chicken coops. Pre-made units could cost thousands of dollars, an amount not many people are ready to pay. Thankfully, excellent chicken coop plans are available for anybody who is willing to construct their own.
Although chickens usually are not all that particular about their dwellings, there are some things that are a must when you are making a chicken coop. You cannot simply use a dog house or a larger shed; your coop will have to be more refined than that. If possible, you will have a design that keeps out the weather, as chickens are sensitive to cool weather. You should ensure that the dwelling is free of breezes. Preferably, you’ll want to have the structure away from the ground. This assists in keeping potential predators away, as numerous wild animals love to feast on chickens. Furthermore, raising the unit off of the ground will help you to collect droppings more readily, which can make your coop much easier to clean.
As long as you are fairly competent with woodworking tools, it’s not too hard to construct your own chicken coop. Construction uses materials that are commonly available at nearly any hardware or lumber store, and assembly usually can be finished in a short time, depending on the size and scope of the project. Unless you’re constructing a genuinely elaborate mansion for your chickens, it should be possible to construct your coop for less than $100, especially if you already have lots of scrap lumber available to you.
The sort of coop which you build is determined by the quantity of chickens you plan to have in addition to the amount of available property you have to devote to your project. The more sophisticated coops will include a fenced-in area outside the unit to allow the birds to roam around a little without being vulnerable to pets and other wildlife. It is even possible to build portable units in the event you might need to move your chickens on occasion.
Raising chickens isn’t for everybody; you must be willing to dedicate time and energy to looking after the birds regularly. Anybody who is a newcomer to raising chickens might be best advised to review local laws regarding ownership before purchasing birds, as many communities do not enable residents to raise chickens. You must also research the various breeds to ensure that you select one that is suited to your environment, as some birds are better suited to specific geographic areas.
Should you check around, you will find complete sets of plans which include a variety of different coop designs in addition to common advice for raising chickens, constructing incubators and navigating the different legal entanglements that could occasionally arise from chicken ownership. If you’re ready to put in the time and effort to construct a suitable chicken coop, you’ll find owning chickens to be a gratifying experience.
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Perry Monkhouse is an Internet marketer with a decade of expertise. He has written articles on a wide variety of topics of interest.
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