If you are looking to build a backyard chicken coop, you must consider a few limitations that might put your project on hold. Being inquisitive and questionable about building your first coop could save you a lot of unforeseen hassle in the future. It is not worth your time and money that would be vested into a project, just to realize that the local officials do not allow such a structure in your area.

If you live in a rural or country type setting, most likely a structure such as a chicken coop would generally be allowed. But if you live in a suburban setting, you might be limited as to how many chickens you can have. It is best to check with the authorities having jurisdiction over this before moving forward with any such project. You might also want to take into consideration the location of your neighbors. Having a rooster waking the neighborhood at 4:00 am in the morning could cause friction.

Now that we have tried to cover all the legalities to build a backyard chicken coop, lets start building it! When considering the size of you coop and how many hens you are planning to have, keep in mind, the rule of thumb that a chicken needs for space is about 2 -4 square feet inside the hen house and a space of 4-5 square feet inside the exterior pen or run as it is sometimes called. You should probably keep the run enclosed to help keep the chickens safe from any harmful predators. Not to mention it gives them cover from the sun if you live in an extremely warm environment.

One thought that you might want to consider before designing a structure, is the ease of access that you may need. Making the roof of the hen house removable will make it easier for you to gather the eggs if you a planning to design a small hen house. Also the accessibility of keeping the coop clean and laying new bedding when needed.

Mobility could be a factor in the size of your coop. If you are looking to perhaps move your coop from time to time, you might consider on building a smaller coop seeing that it might be easier to move or relocate. This will also judge how many hens you are going to be able to keep. Unless you build multiple coops that are small in size so they can be easily relocated.

When you start to build a backyard chicken coop, involve your family. Let them be a part of the creation. Especially if you have little kids. The enjoyment that they will get out of it as well as you, will be worth the time spent for many years. Caring for the chickens and gathering the eggs will also teach them responsibility and a sense of dependence. Not relying on anyone but themselves for food, can have a positive affect on someone.

When you decide to build a backyard chicken coop, there are many sizes and designs that you can choose from. The benefits of having a chicken coop will make you glad that you took the time to build one once your project is completed. If you are interested in more designs, don't hesitate to take a look at chicken coop floor plans for your chicken coop needs.