Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Articles & Books From David Zook
Building Chicken Coops For Dummies (9781119543923) was previously published as Building Chicken Coops For Dummies (9780470598962). While this version features a new Dummies cover and design, the content is the same as the prior release and should not be considered a new or updated product. As the popularity of urban homesteading and sustainable living increases, it’s no wonder you’re in need of trusted, practical guidance on how to properly house the chickens you’re planning (or have already begun) to keep.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-22-2022
Chicken owners are a particularly self-reliant bunch. Chicken-keeping is meant to make you just a little more self-sufficient; why spend gobs of cash to do it? Maybe that helps explain why so many chicken folks build their own coops. To get started, you should familiarize yourself with chicken coop styles, the tools and building materials you need, and the carpentry skills to master.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
The style of chicken coop you build depends on many factors, including the size of your flock and the space limitations of your property. Chicken coops come in many shapes and sizes, but most fall under one of these popular categories:
A-frame: Generally among the smallest coops, the A-frame uses a minimum of materials and a space-saving design to house a flock of just a few birds.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
To put the pieces together on any chicken coop you choose to build, you need to feel comfortable performing the following basic actions before you start:
Measuring and marking materials: Be sure that you know how to read your tape measure accurately. You’ll also want to pay attention to how you mark a piece of lumber for cutting because an inaccurate or sloppy mark can make a big difference as you put pieces together.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
The tools you need to construct a chicken coop depend on the kind of coop you choose to build and the materials you decide to utilize, but you’ll almost certainly need these building basics:
Personal safety gear: Don’t forget work gloves, protective goggles, and hearing protection. They’re the most important items in your toolkit.
Article / Updated 03-26-2016
Building materials can vary widely when it comes to chicken coops because many people simply reuse materials they already have on-hand. But if you’re making out a shopping list for your chicken coop, these items will probably be on it:
Framing lumber: The skeleton of the coop is most often made up of 2x4s or 2x3s.