hen houses – Free Hen House Plans

Are you looking for free hen house plans?

If this is your first time raising chickens, then you are probably on a tight budget and have many questions that need answering, from how to care for your flock to the best type of chickens to raise. But there are many questions that people don’t think to ask and something as simple as using the wrong set of hen house plans can be the difference between it being a great experience and a total nightmare.

Most people choose to rear hens to supplement their grocery bill and to have a great supply of fresh eggs that are not only tasty but healthy for the whole family. By raising hens and farming your own eggs you are also doing your bit for the environment. I also bet that, like most new chicken farmers, you don’t want, or don’t have, a huge budget for this project.

If this sounds like you then you are probably looking for free hen house plans. That’s fair enough – by looking for hen house plans at all means you have taken the first important step.

Having a plan or a blueprint for your chicken coop is very important because it will guide you through your project. And there are many free hen house plans on the internet and in books. In fact there are so many that it would be easy to become overwhelmed by all the choices available, so how do you choose the one that is right for you?

The first thing to do is to assess your family’s needs and look at each plan individually, only keeping those that meet your needs. But if you haven’t done this before how will you know what you will need?

There are a few elements that you will have to look at.

1. Decide how many chickens you want to raise. If you are going to have more than six chickens then you are going to need to look at medium or large sized hen house plans. Any less than this then a small chicken coop is fine.
2. What the climate is like where you live. If the weather is unpredictable you need to chose hen house plans that have good weather protection so that the chickens will stay safe and warm.
3. Easy to clean and maintain. You also will need to make sure that the hen house plans that you look at have a layout that allows for easy cleaning and maintenance. This is very important not only for for the health and well being of your chooks, but also for your comfort. This is an essential part of caring for chickens as the overwhelming smell that can come from a badly maintained coop is very hazardous to the health of both the chickens and humans.

You also should keep in mind your intentions and a budget for raising your hens. If you want them as a hobby or as pets, and only need them to deliver a few eggs a day then you won’t need a massive barn-like coop. But if you really want them to concentrate on egg production, you will need loads of accessories like nesting boxes, roosts sand baths and so on, so make sure you choose hen house plans that provide for your needs, that will be easy to maintain and that will fit within your budget.

If you keep all of these things in mind, you should be getting a much clearer idea on the sort of coop you need and you can start really browsing the hen house plans that are available. Once you have chosen a plan, then the fun really starts!

Fortunately there are a great selection of hen house plans that contain all the essentials and with easy peasy step by step instructions. This makes building your own fantastic chicken coop a breeze – In fact I bet it even makes your neighbors jealous and your eggs taste better! http://www.henhouseplansonline.com

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandy_Kane

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Chicken Coop Construction Guidelines – 10 Tips On Constructing A Simple Backyard Coop

These chicken coop construction guidelines will provide tips on constructing a simple coop that can house a small flock of chickens and can be kept in the backyard.

1) Decide on the number of chickens you will have and what breed they are going to be. For a backyard poultry venture, eight to 10 chickens would be ideal. Of course, the space available will also have an impact on how many chickens you can care for.

2) Determine the location. Measure the space so that you’d know what size your coop would be. Consider the condition of the ground and the plants and other structures near and around it.

3) Have a budget plan. If you have limited funds, consider using recycled or used materials. Decide which tools and materials you’re going to purchase and which you are going to scavenge.

4) Select the designs and plans for constructing the coop. Choose the most appropriate plans for your type of location, the breed of your chickens and their number.

5) Map out a schedule. If you will build the coop yourself, make a detailed schedule plan that you will follow to the letter. This will help save time and prevent you from procrastinating.

6) Gather materials and tools. Make a list of the materials you will use for constructing the coop and the tools needed to build it. Try picking out used but serviceable materials to save money and borrow tools that you will need but don’t have the budget to purchase.

7) Start the foundation. The first part you need to build is the frame of the structure. Determine the dimensions and build the frame of your chicken house with the required measurements in mind.

Install the features that will be included in the structure. Necessary features include perching areas, nests for laying eggs, area for gathering litter, feeds and water containers, lighting, ventilation features (windows, holes, etc.) and covering or protective features.

9) Have an alternative location. If you are constructing a simple backyard coop, better have another option where you can keep your chickens when the weather is at its worst and you think your simple structure will not provide enough protection. An
1000
area where you can elevate the coop if there is threat of flooding should be one of your concerns.

10) Devise maintenance plans. You should have a regular schedule for cleaning and maintaining the coop. Have a specific time for replacing straw, cleaning the litter and putting feeds and water.

Chicken coop construction is not all about constructing and painting. Every aspect of your chickens’ needs should be addressed and specific and contingency plans should be made for each of these needs.

By: Dean James

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Learn how you can BUILD your own chicken coop using readily available materials and tools. Read our Diy Chicken Coop Guide Review and more information on how to construct a great coop at => www.diybuildchickencoop.com

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If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

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