Why would you want to go out and search for some chicken coop plans that suit your needs if you can pop down the local store and pick up a ready made coop. First of all, do you have five hundred dollars spare to blow on a ready made chicken coop? Most of us these days can't afford a night out let alone a fancy new chicken coop. Secondly, would you really be happy with someone else's idea sitting in your backyard or garden - I know I wouldn't.

So what are the alternatives? You can build your own chicken coop using only half the funds you would use buying a ready made coop. The wood can be second hand as long as it is not water damaged or rotting ( in matter of fact you can use any old bits of wood from your basement or shed ). Basic nails and screws will suffice in the building of the project. If you don't own any tools don't worry - pinch a couple of basic tools from your dad's or mate's toolbox.

First things first how many chickens do you plan to keep and raise? You need some sort of number before you even think about going out and choosing some chicken coop designs. The one thing that you must cover with looking after your chickens is space - space is a very important point to consider. Lack of space among your chickens will lead to very bad health and a low, unhealthy egg yield. A rule of thumb is that each chicken should have at least four square feet of space to live a healthy life.

Once you have sorted out how many chickens you can keep in a healthy environment try to find some chicken coop designs that will fit your needs exactly. If you cannot find a coop design that fits your needs exactly try to find one that will be just that little bit bigger ( you can always expand your project at a future date and if not you will always have that extra space ). Build a chicken coop yourself and you will get the opportunity to put your own touches to the project - remember this, the final chicken coop will be sitting in your garden for a long time to come.

You do not need to be a carpenter or qualified in any sort of trade to build a chicken coop. Find a chicken coop design that fits your needs as close as possible and enjoy the experience.