Small Chicken Coop - Building Chicken Coops

There’s no reason why you can’t keep your own chickens even if you only have a small back garden. A small chicken coop will give you an opportunity to raise a couple of chickens which will still provide you with newly laid eggs daily. Providing you can allow enough space for each chicken in the coop and chicken run, your chickens will not become stressed and will happily produce eggs.

At least four square feet for each bird in the coop is necessary and probably three times that per bird in the run itself. Also ensure that the height of the coop is sufficient to allow the birds to roost off the ground without hitting their heads on the ceiling. Once these points have been considered, a small chicken coop will require exactly the same care and attention to detail as any other sized coop.

Basically a small chicken coop is just a scaled down design of one that houses a whole flock.
Although the coop is smaller it’s still necessary to allow enough doorway space for access to clean and maintain the interior, and also of course for egg collecting.

If you include a nesting box in the coop it will encourage the chicken/s to lay their eggs there instead of all over their living quarters.

The coop must still be well ventilated so a small window preferably south facing is necessary. Bad ventilation will cause the ammonia and dampness to build up in the coop and cause disease to flourish. Chickens can survive a certain amount of cold, but dampness can lead to many problems.

Insulation, particularly in colder climates, is a must. A well insulated chicken coop with keep the chickens warm and encourage egg laying.

The position of the coop is important as you don’t want it too much in the open as to suffer from bad weather conditions, but it also needs to be where it will get the most sunlight. Chickens hate to be too cold or too hot, so if you want healthy birds these are all important points to consider.

Make sure the coop is accessible all the way round the exterior so that maintenance is not a problem. This is an important point, because if something needs repairing access if vital.

The safety of your chickens is your number one priority, and depending upon where you live, it might be a good idea to cover the top of your chicken run with heavy mesh to deter flying predators. Ensuring the run and coop itself are secure is important.

If possible raise the coop itself slightly off of the ground to prevent damp and excess rain causing

problems. A damp atmosphere can cause health problems with chickens and measures to prevent this happening are well worth the effort.
Keeping your own chickens can be very rewarding, so no matter where you live, or how much space you have, remember that small chicken coops can still give you the opportunity to keep a couple of chickens and give you a fresh supply of eggs.

And if you want to buy ready-made chicken coops, check out these coops below. Click on the image to get more details.

	Chicken Coop, Portable, for 3 to 5 hens Sale Price: $499.00
	Designed for the backyard and urban farmer, the Portable Chicken Coop is an affordable and space efficient home for your backyard chickens. Modeled on the classic chicken ark that has served British hen-keepers for decades, the coop provides a healthy, predator-proof home for up to 3 medium laying hens or 5 Bantams...

	Solar Nite Eyes - Predator Protection System List Price: $39.27 Sale Price: $19.55
	The concept is simple, but it WORKS! Predators believe the flash to be the eye of another animal and feel threatened, so they stay away. Multiple unit locations are most effective. Units are completely sealed, protecting against moisture and are high/low temperature resistant...

	Farm Innovators TC-3 Cold Weather Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet - On at 35-Degrees/Off at 45-Degrees List Price: $18.99 Sale Price: $9.79 Used From: $12.40
	The Thermo Cube is a unique, patented electrical device that plugs into a standard 15 amp electrical outlet and turns power on automatically according to outside air temperature, saving money by using power only when temperatures require heating or cooling...

	Large Chicken Coop, Portable, for 5 to 7 Hens Sale Price: $799.00
	Our large portable chicken coop is designed for the backyard and urban farmer. It is an affordable and space efficient home for your backyard chickens. Modeled on the classic chicken ark that has served British hen-keepers for decades, the coop provides a healthy, predator-proof home for up to 5 medium laying hens or 7 Bantams...

	Hanging Poultry & Gamebird Feeder with Feed Pan, 30 Lb Galvanized Steel List Price: $27.99 Sale Price: $15.00 Used From: $19.37
	Product description

	Chicken Coop Chorus Hallmark Ornament Sale Price: $58.95 Used From: $49.99
	Chicken Coop magic ornament

	HJB-112F Chicken Coop Large Cedar Backyard Poultry Cage Hen House Nest Box NEW List Price: $589.99 Sale Price: $394.98
	Chicken Coop HJB112-F Specifications and Features Material: cedar wood. Size: 100"x40"x59" inches. Lockable outside door. Pull out drawer for easy cleaning. Ventilation slots in the side walls...