How to Find the Best Chicken House for Your Yard

If you are thinking about keeping chickens you'll want to start by planning a coop for them. There are lots of floor plans and layouts to choose from. This article will cover several of the different types of chicken coops and their uses.

It's simple to decide which type of chicken cage to use when you regard some details. Such as: Does it need to be moveable? How many chickens will it hold? How much space is available? All of these things are essential. For example if you only have a few chickens and want to have the freedom to move your cage, then a portable coop may be best for you.

Let's look at the small coop design first. Small coops work best with a miniumum number of chickens. Most small coops will accommodate two to six chickens. These coops are designed for people looking to produce chickens for personal enjoyment. Small pens are normally constructed like little playhouses or sheds with fencing all around. This keeps the hens for escaping into your neighbor's property.

Even though a midium sized chicken coop can hold two times the amount of hens as the small coop, it is not adequate for raising chickens for profit. If you want to raise a lot of chickens but still want the freedom of a moveable chicken pen, then it would be best to build several mid-sized coops.

Finally the large chicken pen designs. There are no limitations when it comes to the large pen. You simple make them as large as necessary to accommodate the number of hens you are raising. The standard for the run is 6 sq ft per hen, but enthusiasts advise 10 sq ft. This means that for twenty chickens, you should be sure that you have 200 sq ft of space outside of the coop's footage, for run space.

If you live in an urban area, a closed in portable chicken cage will probably be what works best for you. Closing in the pen area will prevent your chickens from becoming your neighbor's pests, as well as reduce the chances of them getting loose and getting hit by passing cars or neighborhood pets such as dogs or cats. However, if you have your home in the country this is not as big of an issue.

Find more information about chicken runs and coops at our website "Keeping Chickens with Duke" You will find resources for chicken coop plans, and buying pre-made chicken coops. Sign-up for our newsletter "Keeping Chickens" for information on raising chickens.