Why Have a Backyard Chicken Coop?

There are many reasons why people want to raise their own chickens, the main ones being the nutritional value and taste of the eggs, as well as the humane treatment of the chickens themselves. Before you build your own backyard chicken coop, check with local authorities to find out what regulations you must meet.?

There are many reasons why people want to raise their own chickens, the main ones being the nutritional value and taste of the eggs, as well as the humane treatment of the chickens themselves.

Before you build your own backyard chicken coop, check with local authorities to find out what regulations you must meet.?Many areas, even in major cities, will allow you to own a few hens, but most places ban roosters due to their early morning raucousness, so do find out in advance prior to bringing the chicks home.?

There are a few requirements that you must consider when building a backyard chicken coop.?These include ventilation, temperature, predator control and space per bird.?If you are planning to have just a few hens, you can build an economical coop by partnering with a local home improvement center and asking for reduced prices on damaged wood or scraps.?You don't need grade A lumber for a chicken coop, so keep it cheap and simple.?

A common rule of thumb for how much space you need in your coop is 10 square feet per bird, but you can get away with less space than that if you have only three or four birds, and if they have adequate outside space aside from the coop itself.?You will need to keep the coop clean, and make sure that there is sufficient ventilation.?Chickens can handle cold better than they can deal with stuffy air, so include windows in your coop that allow for good air circulation.

Once you eat home-grown eggs, you will never buy the commercially grown eggs sold in your local supermarket again.?So build yourself a backyard chicken coop and get ready to enjoy a little taste of nature.