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Home » Pets » Backyard Chickens Episode 5: Create a Class-A Coop

Backyard Chickens Episode 5: Create a Class-A Coop

6 Comments

What kind of henhouse should you build (or buy)?

Grab your hammer and nails (or your wallet and Craigslist). Whether you go with a prefab or build your own pullet palace, there are several things that every backyard coop needs to keep the flock on lock.

Designing or Buying a Coop

Chicken Coop Screencap

Why this matters

  • The right coop keeps your flock warm, clean and safe from predators that are looking for a chicken dinner.
  • Setting up a great coop = setting yourself up for convenient egg-collecting.
  • Making sure your hens have the right amount of room keeps them from taking the “pecking order” too far.

On a personal note

I went overboard when I had my first chicken coop built. My friends liked to joke how much each egg cost, with the cost per egg going down as we got more. Luckily that joke got old.

Ready to try?

  • Watch the episode to know what to look for in a coop. Then catch-up with the rest of our backyard chicken series here.
  • Get your gloves on and your pencil out for ideas on how to make your own chicken coop:
    -We’ve got a whole board full of our dream coops for “Pinspiration” (just don’t spend all day on there…)
    -BackyardChickens.com lets chicken aficionados post their coop building plans, and this is one of our favorite designs.
    -Youtube is a great place to find ideas as well, including this super easy-to-clean coop design.
  • Don’t want the hassle of building? We love the coops at MyPetChicken.com – they offer ample space (which definitely cannot be said for most of the pre-fab coops out there) and have some of the best prices around.

A Deeper Dig

Ever wonder what breed of chicken you’d be? Take the JenBTV quiz to find out!Clubhouse8553

Fresh Pick

Not all pre-fab coops are created equal, but this coop from My Pet Chicken is super-legit. We highly recommend opting for the hardware cloth floor paneling to keep rats out. ($449)

Did You Know?

You can figure out how old an egg is by putting it in water. Fresh eggs stay at the bottom while those not-so-fresh eggs will float (pssst…don’t eat the floaters).

 

Comments

  1. Fresh Eggs Daily says

    Great post. I built my first coop, have a commercial one now that I love. There’s the perfect one out there for every flock. Good pointers to get started.
    Lisa
    Fresh Eggs Daily

    Reply

  2. Kali says

    Also, always good to remind people, check what the laws are in your area. Some urban places allow chickens, but have minimum distances from houses and other buildings, which can also make a difference in what coop you get (and where you put it). Love seeing different coops!

    Reply

    • Jen Boulden says

      Kali – absolutely great point. We make that point in Episode #2, with a fact-filled Q&A session. Let us know what else we might have left out of that one in the comments so our chicken-crazy subscribers can benefit from your knowledge! xo – j

      Reply

  3. Tami Lyons says

    LOL I just love your bloopers, and thank you so much for all that you do in sharing with us. How is that Baby of yours? I have only seen your baby bump.. 🙂
    Hello from Niagara, Ontario, Canada

    Reply

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