Are you ready to become more self-reliant and stop worrying about the stability of the global economy? If so, you are ready to become a backyard chicken farmer. Even if you are living on a budget, you can use discount or scrap materials to build the coop that you find plans for. Chicken coop size depends on the size of the flock, but the rest is all up to you, and your wallet.

Which Chicken Coop Design is Best for you?

When you begin to search the Internet for the chicken coop plans that you want, you need to consider a number of different things before you make any final decisions.

First you need to decide how many chickens you will have in your backyard flock, or how much space you have available to build your small chicken farm. (To help you determine how many chickens you need, plan for roughly one egg per chicken per day in peak laying season.)

You will need plans that will accommodate the number of hens that you need to house and you’ll also need to fit it into the designated area on your property. Keep in mind that more space will make your chickens more comfortable, which means they will lay better quality eggs and more of them; but also keep in mind that “space” is a relative term to a chicken, and realistically even a small area is enough to feed a family.

Hens need Light

Another important thing that you must consider when building your own chicken coop is adequate light.In order to stimulate egg laying, you need a suitable light source. The ideal chicken coop is built at a proper angle, facing toward the sun. If you are not able to build your coop with direct access to sunlight, you will need to supply a suitable non-natural lighting source. Keep in mind that you need at least one light per forty feet of space inside your coop.

Air and Ventilation are Important

You will also need to make sure that your coop is ventilated properly. you want your chickens to stay cool when the weather is warm. Ventilation makes it possible for perspiration to evaporate properly and escape the coop.

Finally, you need to think about predators and coop maintenance. you want a coop that will keep predators out, provide proper ventilation and light and be easy to keep neat and clean so your chickens stay happy and healthy. that sounds like a lot to think about, but really it’s a set of considerations that are easily addressed.

There are many sources for cheap and free chicken coop designs online, many of which are instantly downloadable. for a very minor investment, you can take all the guesswork out of the proposition and ensure that all your hen coop needs are met with a nicely designed set of chicken house plans.

See the rest here: Finding the Best Plans for Chicken Coop