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Growing their own food.
Generating their own power.
Using green technology.
And the latest idea in city residences: backyard chicken coops.
Now, where are those plans? When you go looking for how to build a simple chicken coop, you will be surprised at the variety and styles of coops offered.
In fact, you may be extremely surprised to find that some coops have never ever been tested on real chickens! Amazing.
Others are so big that they could be an eyesore in your backyard.
Or they will hold way more chickens than is allowed by your city bylaws.
(Note: check the city bylaws!) Take some time to look carefully at your yard before you start grabbing a coop plan and your hammer.
Look at where the sun is at different times of the day, over the seasons.
Does a likely spot have some shade as well as sun? Could you have chicken runs angled over to different areas of your gardens, easily? And without having to step in chicken poop all the time? Is there a strong fence that is high enough to keep out some common predators like coyotes? A gate that locks to keep out inquisitive people and neighborhood kids or teenagers? Are you aware of the possible chicken predators that may live around your neighborhood? If you have a ravine or park nearby, there are likely to be coyotes, skunks, and maybe raccoons.
In our neighborhood, we have all of these predators, and they can be very determined! Your small backyard chicken coop needs to be built to prevent these animals from bothering your hens.
It needs to be a very safe coop for your hens.
What do you need to learn about before you build a small chicken coop? You will need to decide on a chicken breed.
Different breeds have quite different temperaments: if you are a beginner, make sure you get a breed that is known to be nicely-tempered, pleasant, easy-going, as well as a good egg layer.
Buff Orpingtons or Plymouth Rocks are great choices.
Obviously if your children are going to be handling the hens, it will be very important to have hens which are gentle and happy to be handled.
If you are a beginner in backyard flocks, you will want to start with just 2 or 3 hens, perhaps.
That may mean you will build a small chicken coop now, and then build a larger one or add-on at a later date.
The link below will give you many different plans to help you over the years, as your expertise - and your flock - grows.
Some plans are very simple, and many can be built in just one weekend.
An attractive backyard chicken coop does not have to look like a mansion, but it does need to be practical and useful, meet the needs of the hens - and also be do-able by you! Another thing you will need to learn is about how to clean and store the wonderful fresh eggs you gather.
Gather them twice a day, by the way.
That way, your hens will not be dropping poop on the ones still in the nest box.
Eggs have a natural antibiotic 'bloom' on the outside that keeps them sterile on the inside; do not wash that off in cold running water.
Use a dry wipe instead, or the sandy side of a [dry] cleaning sponge, if the egg is dirty or marked.
Did you know that stores can label the eggs "fresh" if they are less than 45 days old? An amazing fact! Your very fresh eggs should be placed in a refrigerator to keep them safe, even though you could leave them in a cool dark place for a day or so.
For more information on how to build a simple chicken coop, great ideas and plans, check out the link below.
Free bonus material is available as well: easy to read books on chickens, eggs, care and feeding, warm or cold climates and your chickens, health care, and more.
And remember - 100% money-back guarantee! You cannot lose - head on over and get started this weekend.
Take the time to study up about plans and chicken information, so that you will end up with something you can be very proud of.
These days, being a do-it-yourself'er is the best way of living.
Free eggs, free fertilizer, free weeders and bug-eaters, friendly pets: backyard chicken flocks provide you with all this and more.
Start your research now.
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