When your baby chickens have reached the age that they no longer need to be in the brooder, it is time to get them into their new home. You now need a chicken coop. Regardless of whether you plan on fencing them in or allow them to free range, you will need to provide a chicken coop for protection from the elements and predators.

Chicken Coop Basics

Chicken coops come in many different sizes and styles. If you plan on buying a pre-made chicken coop, you can expect to pay around $500 for a small chicken coop, to well over $3000 for a large one.

I highly recommend building a chicken coop yourself. A well built chicken coop, large enough for a few dozen chickens, can easily be made for $750 or less and a smaller coop can be made for less than $150.

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**If you live in the city or the suburbs, be sure to check with the local authorities regarding zoning. Many areas have rules regarding livestock, particularly poultry. In most rural areas, you should not have any problems.

Be sure to have a "roost" for your chickens inside the coop. You will need 6 - 12 inches of roosting space per bird. A roost can be a simple dowel or board 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Keep the roost about 2 1/2 - 3 feet off the floor of the coop.

Place or build nesting boxes inside the coop as well. Nesting boxes help to keep the eggs off the floor, away from the manure. I recommend a nesting box that is about 13 inches square. Have at least one nesting box for every 4-5 hens

If possible, place windows with screens in the coop. It will aid in providing sunlight in winter and ventilation in the summer. If you can't place windows in the coop, you will need to make sure that there is some type of vent near the roof of the coop to have airflow and to keep condensation down.

When it comes to chicken coops, there are many choices you need to make. One of the first things you need to make sure of when you build or buy a chicken coop, is that it is big enough to properly house your flock. You will need about 4 square foot of space per chicken. For example an 8X8 chicken coop will house approximately 16 chickens. If you have a large run or pasture for the chickens to use, the square feet need per bird can be cut to 2 square feet per chicken.

I also recommend that you do not get too big of a chicken coop for your needs, as the chickens will huddle together during the cold weather and a properly sized coop will help them stay warm.

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