Size of Coop in Respect to Number of Chickens

You’ll discover that you can come across ideas and also plans for your wooden chicken house in practically each and every style and with every amenity out there. No matter the quantity of amenities, in case your chicken house is way too small, you’ll have serious consequences.

An important guideline to follow is always to learn the adequate square foot suggestions per bird. Normally, two to four square feet of space for each chicken is referred to as perfect. If you have a 4 by 6 foot chicken coop, you can easily house up twelve chickens but you don’t want to go over that number. One particular rule is that the more room you have for your chicken, the better.

On the other hand, you do not want to invest in excessive space and waste money on excessive materials by simply going overboard. Creating an 8 by 10 wooden chicken house for only a handful of chickens just isn’t the best use of money along with space.

Finally, in regards to size, the bird size is also one point to take into consideration. Bear in mind, baby chicks grow up. Bantam chickens are smaller and could do well in a smaller coop with only about 4 square feet of space in an outdoor run. Larger types which absolutely need two or more square feet of room inside the coop will in addition require about 10 feet of outdoor run space.

Negative Side Effects of an Inadequate Wooden Chicken House

If you do take the “less is more” approach or simply just have invested in more birds than you are able to realistically house, you may likely notice the adverse effects of lacking the recommended space. Birds that are too cramped won’t produce eggs at a normal or ideal rate. This could make your expense for egg production counterproductive and a waste of resources. You will also see not enough right space in your wooden chicken house can lead to the birds hurting one another, be it troublesome pecking of their roommates or all out cannibalism.

A coop that is too small for the quantity of chickens in it can also turn out to be a breeding ground for illness. The tight quarters enables virtually any illness in the chickens to spread more rapidly. Restricted spaces also can allow for a toxic level of fumes from the chicken waste to build up. This is itself is not safe or healthy for the birds.

Use Your Space Wisely

Whenever trying to match up the amount of chickens, breed to raise, and also size of the wooden chicken house you can either build or buy, keep in mind that is actually will not simply sit empty and that all of the room inside is not for the birds to roam around in.

Take the additions as well as needed amenities into consideration before you decide to spend money on birds. Such amenities that will need room in the coop consist of perches to rest and also sleep on, nesting boxes and feeding as well as watering supplies. Once you take all this into mind and supply your poultry with comfortable and adequate room to breathe and live with their coop mates, you will begin to see the benefits of your work and can take pleasure in owning healthy along with pleased chickens.

How big chicken coop you should have depends on the number of chickens you will be raising as well as you shouldn’t rely on small chicken coops to support just too many chickens. Without adequate room, chickens will be prone to health problems and they are furthermore not as likely to produce as many eggs, which in turn is the reason most of the people start raising chickens in the first place.

A chicken coop is necessary no matter the number of chickens you have. It will guard the chickens from predators and also from the elements and will supply them with a dry, secure place to roost and nest. Exactly where you position the coop is also important.

It must be up off the ground in an area together with enough drainage. This avoids dampness of the floor plus helps prevent pests from coming in. Numerous poultry farmers highly recommend the usage of a concrete floor in order to avoid moisture and provide a greater barrier against unwanted pests as well.

There are various designs for small chicken coops available online or even, if you choose, you possibly can design your own. With either choice, you’ll want to find out the requirements for the sufficient space for the chickens in order for them to get exercise and also have free movement. You must also understand the minimum requirements for the area necessary for them to nest and roost.

For perching, birds demand six to 10 inches of perch space each. Nest boxes have to be not less than fifteen inches high, fifteen inches wide by 11 1/8 inches deep. Provide a single nesting box for every three chickens. Small chicken coops must have exactly the same dimensions for perches and nesting boxes as do the larger coops.

Many people like to make their unique chicken coops as opposed to buy the ones that are pre-built for two reasons. First, they can decide on the features that they wish and put them in the positions and also sizes they need. Second, even small chicken coops can cost more than a 1000 dollars! For those who are curious about providing ease and comfort for just a few chickens, that is really a large price tag!

When you make your coop, you will discover much variety in plans on the internet that provide you with dimensions, step-by-step guidance, and the quantity of chickens the finished product will allow for. Since small chicken coops are often used in the backyard for anyone with little room, choosing a style that includes a run underneath house a great idea. This provides chickens access to the outdoors without the chance of predators endangering them.

An additional feature you may take into account along with your coop plan is in making one that is easily transportable. Small chicken coops can be transferred to different areas of the ground so that they get access to fresh grass and much more bugs once you move them to some new place.

When choosing housing for just a few chickens, understand that they still hold the same requirements as larger flocks such as fresh air, enough air flow, and also a lot of light as well as sufficient room for nesting as well as for perching. With various designs available, it is possible to choose one that is economical to make and that will meet the requirements of your chickens without your having to give up ease and comfort for money!

Regardless of whether you might be maintaining chickens in order to have a fresh new egg supply or perhaps to help you to get natural pest and weed control, a small chicken house is a effective and safe method to house your own flock. When you buy a pint-sized chicken house, have a look at these most faq’s.

How do you get access to the inside of the house?

Whenever you’re ready to select a small chicken house, ensure it really is created for you along with the chickens. Access eggs through small doors behind the nest boxes. When you need to clean, you will need a coop that lets you in through a full-sized door or even through a hinged roof. In case you have health issues that limit your mobility, decide on a style that permits you to access the nest boxes as well as the interior just as easily as possible.

How do i move my chicken coop?

One of the better options that come with using a small chicken house is it’s mobility. Coops which include added wheels along with handy transporting holders can be transferred right into a shady area in the summertime or even a wind-protected area in the winter. Additionally , it lets you transfer the house to ensure the chickens possess fresh grass and it provides the vegetation they ate recently an opportunity to re-grow. One specific style of coop, referred to as an ark, is simple to move. It usually houses between two and four chickens and doesn’t have a floor, that allows the chickens to walk directly on the grass. Buy ark-style houses through internet vendors or even, in case you are a DIY-er, try to find programs on the web as well as in books.

What exactly is the simplest way to completely clean my coop?

A small chicken house needs to be a piece of cake to completely clean, particularly in terms of bedding. Several chicken owners place chicken wire below the bedding of raised coops. This permits waste along with dirt to drop onto the ground. Clean up can be as straightforward as sweeping out the mess about once a week.

Some others choose what’s called the “deep litter” technique. Begin by adding 6-8″ of bedding to the coop’s floor. Every couple of days, stir the soiled bedding on top down to the bottom of the pile. The waste will decompose, making a compost mixture. Add fresh litter to the top as needed. Deep litter supporters state this process creates remarkably little odor as well as demands much less maintenance as compared to standard bedding.

Either technique you use, decide on a small chicken house which is made to make cleaning as effortless as it can be. Functions just like a hinged roof or perhaps a person-sized door enable you to clean without much hassle. Make sure to keep supplies handy, as well. As an example, hang a sweeper on a close by wall or perhaps maintain bedding in a close by shed or storage.

Do I have to put money into an elaborate chicken house?

Certainly not! Your chickens will not care if the small chicken house seems like an outhouse rather than the White House. Sure, there are plenty of elegant coop that is already put together, however it may break your piggy bank. For a part of the cost, it is possible to build your own. There is a wide range of programs available on websites plus chicken house books. Save much more cash by using recycled materials instead of new ones.

Your poultry house can be effortless to get into, easy to move, and simple to wash. As a bonus, it can be created at low costs enough to fulfill Ebenezer Scrooge. Even when you have never had the satisfaction of having a small chicken house, there is no better time for you to begin than now.

Simply by purchasing plans for chicken coops, you are able to build a poultry house that keeps the birds healthy and also protected from weather conditions and predators.

Listed below are three questions to ask yourself when looking for plans:

1. Does it keep your chickens healthy?

Many experts agree with the fact that it is much better to have a lot of space instead of too little. Chicken overcrowding can result in feather picking, low levels of egg laying, and also, in extreme cases, cannibalism. Along with this being certainly harmful to the chickens, additionally , it leads to reduced egg quantity and top quality for you.

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Plans for chicken coops should permit a minimum of four square feet of space for every chicken. The minimum space needed for a chicken will differ with variety, with larger chickens requiring to some degree more space. Consult a professional website or perhaps a book to discover how much space your variety needs in order to find coop plans that are sized properly.

Air flow is another necessary factor for healthy chickens. Without good air flow, the ammonia from their fecal matter accumulates, producing a nosehair-burning smell that will bother you as well as the chickens. Make sure the chicken coop design offers lots of fresh air for your flock.

2. Can it keep your chickens protected?

From digging foxes to slithering snakes, there are plenty of critters who will view your chicken coop as an all-they-can-eat smorgasbord. To keep your yard from turning into a nature documentary, make use of plans that include safety precautions. For instance, plans for chicken coops should include a fenced run. This can keep out a number of predators, such as dogs, raccoons, and, the arch-predator of chickens, foxes.

For most runs, regular wood as well as wire fences no less than 6 feet high is going to prevent predators. In case you have a determined carnivore, poultry keeping gurus suggest running wire mesh about twelve inches deep into the ground below the fence.

Think the conventional-sized chicken wire could keep your animals protected? Reconsider. Regular mesh is actually sufficient to allow raccoons to get their paws through to claw at the birds. Chicken keeping experts advise using one-half inch square mesh on fencing as well as window covers to prevent raccoons along with other critters from injuring the chickens.

Plans for chicken coops must also consist of one more predator-frustrating feature: a door that closes automatically at nightfall. Light sensors enable the door to roll up each morning and then close again right after dark.

3. Will it be easy for you to use?

Plans for chicken coops also needs to include options to make it effortless to wash the house and also harvest the eggs. Several chicken houses feature nest box doors where you can pick the eggs very easily. In case you are thinking about a smaller coop, it might sport a hinged roof that provides you full entry to the interior.

Larger coops usually have a people-sized entry that enables you to walk strait into the building for cleaning as well as maintenance.

Whichever plans for chicken coops you utilize, keep in mind that the house must keep your animals healthy and protected along with always be easy for you to use.

It is possible to compromise between the two and find plans for a chicken coop that offer fresh air and also a retreat where chickens are going to be protected from harsh conditions and also predators.

You do not have to choose strictly between those designs that keep chickens inside or turn all of them loose all day long. Rather, keep your essential features as the primary goal that will assist you raise healthy, satisfied chickens in a very safe environment.

A single style of raising chickens is recognized as “free-range” where chickens were typically held in an area that had absolutely no fence or even in a field that was large enough so that fencing wasn”t necessary. The definition of free-range has been changed with the term “pastured poultry” which describes chickens that are in pens that are moved every day to allow access to growing plants.

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When you seek out plans for a chicken coop, you will discover those that can be moved for pastured poultry if that’s the type of farming you choose to make use of for your poultry. While small coops which are built to support only a small amount of chickens can be moved by hand, in addition there are large transportable coops that must be shifted using a tractor.

Based on your local climate, you may, or may possibly not have suitable weather to keep chickens outside. You do not want to expose them to tough winter season weather as well as very warm summer season. ´

Because the idea behind raising pastured poultry is always to provide them with fresh air, green grass, and also new possibilities to find insects, placing them outdoors in extreme weather conditions is only going to defeat your purpose and put chickens in danger.

Plans for a chicken coop which is used for pastured poultry operations need to include information for wind proofing the coop. Transportable houses are prone to blow over in high wind as well as this may lead to catastrophic outcomes. Because heavier houses tend to be more windproof compared to lighter ones, either include sufficient features (for instance, nesting boxes) to provide sufficient weight to your chicken house or think of making use of stakes to hold securely in place.

When selecting from plans for a chicken coop that’s free-range, you will need to keep some things in your mind which might not be pointed out with the plan design. Chickens that are free-range are at additional threat from predators than those in confinement.

You simply must create an area for them to get protection from the danger of both daytime and also nighttime predators. Make sure you have doors and windows to access the inside with heavy screen coverings that can not very easily end up being broken.

Some other considerations you need to make when it comes to plans for a chicken coop would be the exposure the chickens will have to equally heat and cold. Heat is actually much more harmful than cold, particularly following the brooding period. You need to provide chickens with shady areas and fresh air as well as make certain they’ve got a lot of water containers that are often filled up with water that is clean.

Plans for a chicken coop can be found to build a free-range coop that will offer you every little thing your chickens require as long as you keep all of the needed functions planned to make sure you’ve what it takes to offer your chicken with a risk-free, comfy environment!

Step one in figuring out the design you should make is in assessing the experiences you’ve had as well as the complexity of the coop you can make. Chicken coop styles do not need to be complex yet in case you are handy using the saw along with hammer, you possibly can make a coop that will end up being both visually appealing and also functional.

In addition to the main framework, there are other features of the coop that you can as well make. Chicken coop plans may well not consist of the many parts required to build a practical along with comfy home for your own chickens in order to roost and you may need to customize it to some degree. For that reason, it’s essential to also think about what you will use in order to construct or to use as the following necessary features:

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Nesting Boxes. The suggested size for these is 15″ wide x 15″ high x 11-1/8″ deep with some changes allowed. Padding is a good option for the bottom of the boxes and you may as well place straw on top of the padding.

Roosts. This is ideally a 2″ by 4″ or 2″ by 2″ board. It’s also possible to make use of a tree branch that is somewhere between three and six inches in diameter. You may use a saw to round the edges of the board to provide chickens an even more natural roosting place. Whenever determining exactly where to place the roost inside your coop, keep droppings in mind. Place about 3 to 4 feet off the ground and also think of offering a walkway to the roost.

Feeders. Feel free to use an old bucket or perhaps buy ready-made feeders or this is something else that you could make. Chicken coop feeders as well as water containers may be highly-priced while you may get a five gallon bucket free of charge that actually works quite as well. They’re usually available from the deli where they get them filled up with cake frosting!

Almost anything that you need to use is something that you could make. Chicken coop accessories can be purchased however you can determine by your spending budget whether or not you would like to spend the money or save simply by doing it yourself.

A few other facts to consider once you make your own personal chicken coop include the location, elevation of the coop, your weather factors, and also the suggested dimensions for the amount of chickens you are going to keep. Usually, each and every chicken will require 3 to 4 square feet of space. Not offering sufficient room can result in illnesses for your chickens therefore you must never confine them to a smaller area.

Your local climate will certainly play a role in the style of coop you will be making. Chicken coop plans may well not offer sufficient air flow in hot areas or perhaps call for necessary insulation for colder climates therefore you should add these by yourself. Elevation of the coop may also assist in keeping out heavy rains that may result in flooding while helping it stay cooler during the summer time.

Lastly, you need to select the location of your chicken coop very carefully. In Urban areas, possibly you have strict requirements about how exactly close to the property line you can place your chicken coop. Together with careful planning, you are able to build a chicken coop that will be appealing and also provides all of the required features in order to raise healthy, satisfied chickens!

1. Do it yourself – You can get preassembled packages as well as hire a contractor to build a large chicken house, however budget-conscious chicken owners take on the task on their own. You can get plans to accommodate nearly size as well as budget. Try to find plans on the internet as well as in poultry-keeping books.

2. Go green – Instead of shopping the neighborhood home improvement store for brand new materials for your large chicken house, make use of recycled materials. Wood and also wire leftovers from long-finished house and garden projects can be included straight into your design and style. Do not limit the use of old materials to the coop itself. Make just like MacGyver and become imaginative with chicken house equipment, too. Use flowerpots for nests or even vinyl leftovers in order to line nest boxes as well as floors.

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It’s also possible to go green simply by transforming what you currently have right into a large chicken house. From the big dog run that’s been unused for a long time to the abandoned tool shed, you could possibly curently have all that’s necessary to build coop for your chickens.

3. Enlist Our mother earth – Reduce heating along with cooling costs for your large chicken house through the use of nature. For example, plant large trees on the southern side of your chicken house. Simply by selecting varieties that shed their leaves during the cold months, you are able to offer cooling shade during the summer time as well as warm sunlight in the winter.

You may also let Mother Nature reduce expenses by just inserting ventilation, like window or vents, on the southern plus eastern sides of your house. Because the wind is actually not as likely to blow from these directions, you are able to provide fresh new air. As a result the chickens receive the air flow they want without the draftiness they don’t. Also is the fact that southern-facing windows will help warm up the coop during the winter season.

4. Plan for the future – Perhaps you are the very pleased owner of a dozen birds, but how many are you going to have within three or five years? When you build a large chicken house, think about using a design that enables you to effortlessly expand its capacity. It is correct that this could possibly cost a bit more right now, however it can save you big bucks as time goes on when you choose to add more chickens to the flock.

5. Moving day – Whether or not the flock requirements a shadier spot or possibly a fresh new patch of grass, there’s a chance you’re looking for a large chicken house that goes where you would like it to. Although wheels are acceptable for moving a small coop, a larger house should be on skids. When you’re ready to move the house out to another part of the property, just hitch it to tractor or riding mower and pull it to the brand new location.

A large chicken house should not put you inside the poorhouse. From reusing building materials to wise building placement, a little planning you are able to help reduce expenses without having to sacrifice high quality. The end result? More happy birds plus a fatter wallet–and who does not want that?

Location, location, location

Do northern wind gusts blow across your property every winter season? Even though chickens are amazingly hardy, they are not invincible. Their feet, combs, and also wattles are especially vulnerable to frostbite. How do you build a chicken coop that keeps your chickens warm? One of many ways to winterize your bird house is to set up ceramic or red-light heat lamps, like those used to heat reptile cages. You might also plan to insulate the coop as well as windproof the run using a removable tarp.

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Does it reach a sweltering 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade? If that’s the case, how do you build a chicken coop that protects your flock? One particular heat-busting technique is to paint the roof white, reflecting the heat that makes hens less comfortable. You might also think of planting taller, chicken-safe plants on the south side of the coop to produce summer shade.

Size really does matter

Would you like several chickens to provide breakfast every day, or would you like to sell enough eggs to send your daughter to school? The amount of chickens in your yard is going to be a huge factor in coop size. For a 4-H project, a small ark-style coop is perfect, although a flock of Faverolles may need a larger house. If you need to know how do you build a chicken coop, make sure to take into account the variety of bird. A Jersey Giant, for example, will require more space compared to an Orpington Bantam.

Basic safety first

From the neighborhood pooch to native hawks, your chickens can be at the mercy of the local wild (or not-so-wild) life. So how do you build a chicken coop that guards your birds along with their eggs from foxes, raccoons, cats, rats, and hawks?  Start by protecting windows using a good-quality chicken wire. Several professional poultry keepers line the floor with wire too, which stops foxes from digging into the hen house from the ground underneath. Last but not least, discourage roaming predators simply by closing all doors along with windows every night.

Money matters

How do you build a chicken coop that is easy on the bank account? You will discover pre-built chicken coops at farm stores as well as on the internet. The thing is that they have a hefty price tag, and also they have to be delivered to your house, which usually increases the purchase price. Many of them furthermore call for at least some set up anyway, therefore it is most likely smarter–and a lot more economical–to build your own.

While you could visit the neighborhood hardware store to put on extra materials, it can save you cash by using recycled materials. With regards to the style you decide on, you could possibly re-use things such as concrete blocks, plywood, wire, roof shingles, as well as vinyl flooring remaining from your previous kitchen project. Don’t be shy about raiding the scrap piles of friends and family, either.

Woodshop 101

Even if your previous woodworking task was in 8th-grade shop class you can still create a basic hen house. By having an easy-to-follow plan along with common tools, the most unskilled carpenter can easily build a chicken coop in a couple of days or even less.

So how do you build a chicken coop? Simply by taking into account everything from climate to design along with materials to experience, you are able to build a home for your egg-laying friends.

When trying to find plans, you will discover that some tend to be more specifically precise compared to others on how to build. Chicken house plans should include step-by-step information that will take you from the beginning of the project where you can choose your materials all the way to the end where you’ll have a complete, adequate structure to house the number of chickens that you would like to keep. Deciding on the ones that offer you photos of the actual structure will often be the simplest to follow.

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A chicken house, or coop, is there to offer two fundamental needs. It provides the chickens a place to lay their eggs along with a shelter that will provide them with a secure retreat from predators as well as from harsh weather conditions. These types of aspects must be considered when figuring out which plans you will make use of to be able to correctly figure out how to build.

Chicken house plans may also offer you a chicken run which is the outside area where chickens can also enjoy time outside away from the coop. Whether the chicken run is totally enclosed or the chickens can run freely needs to be based on the types of predators that may be in close proximity along with other conditions within the area.

When you’re figuring out the sizes of your chicken house, you simply must allow a minimum of 4.5 square feet per chicken. Additionally , you will need to offer nest boxes with about one box per three chickens. A lot of people believe that they need a nest for every chicken yet even when there are many boxes available, chickens will certainly share the same boxes. You will also need to provide a perch for the chickens that is 3 to 4 feet off of the ground. Allow nine inches of perch length for every chicken.

You will discover different things to consider for chicken houses compared to other types of buildings when figuring out how to build. Chicken house designs have to be of the correct size and style to allow for the amount of chickens you should be comfortable and also to allow for straightforward cleanup. Ventilation and light will also be essential aspects so that you can provide chickens with necessary fresh air and also the maximum available sunlight. It’s also possible to choose to include an electric light to the coop.

Even the style and size of the door is definitely an essential function that you will have to know to take into account whenever deciding how to build. Chicken house plans are not usually concerned with this feature but when you put together your private home with a large door that opens inward, you’ll have easy access and cleaning the coop is going to be easier.

Getting each of the needs and sizes documented on paper in a plan is a crucial first step in how to build. Chicken house plans is often adjusted to meet your requirements as soon as you know very well what changes you simply must make. You can always include space for storage, light, a chicken hatchway, added ventilation, etc to existing plans. Additionally , you will need to bear in mind that feed and water containers will need to be executed as soon as the coop is done.

There are many designs available in addition to guides that will demonstrate how to build. Chicken house plans can offer you a starting point for designing your own custom built chicken house!

There are various designs of chicken coops offered that are pre-built or come partially assembled. On the other hand, not only are they really expensive, additionally they require you to pay for shipping and delivery to get them to you.

Click Here to Learn How to build Your Own Chicken Coop!

Unless you have a lot more money than you know what to do with, you’ll be better off simply finding the blueprints on how to build a chicken coop easily and quickly together with saving big money to use for other things.

Building a coop that is great looking is merely a matter of choice. In case you are raising chickens inside your backyard and have neighbors that might end up being offended by an unappealing structure, then maybe you have a better reason for being focused on the looks of your coop. One more reason to select a straightforward style instead of an complex one is your level of woodworking skills.

Unless you are very talented, you will need to follow an instruction manual that offers you easy step-by-step instructions and also does not demand the use of any kind of fancy tools.

The most crucial reason for building a chicken coop at all is for protecting your chickens. There are lots of predators within almost any area that would certainly like a fresh chicken dinner or that could steal eggs from the nests.

You may also have to be concerned with thieves of the two-legged variety if chickens are simply reachable. When trying to find instructions on how to build a chicken coop, search for one that supplies the most effective protection against predators as well as harsh weather.

Numerous of the plans you will discover on the internet will show you how to build a chicken coop that has a level floor. This particular is among the instructions that you should always ignore but particularly if your have cold weather.

Even though chickens can certainly handle the cold a lot better than they handle heat, they can not handle the combination of getting wet and also cold at the same time. This can be an invitation to health issues in your chickens.

You want a design that will eliminate puddling in the floor whether it is from wetness that is absorbed or even from spraying out the coop to wash it. Not only is a slanted floor recommended to ensure that water will run out and not puddle, using a slanted concrete floor is definitely an even better choice. Concrete floor will not take in moisture like wood and it will not rot as a result.

In case you are raising chickens to produce eggs, you need to learn how to build a chicken coop which includes nesting boxes along with a roost. Your plans must allow for a lot of room to supply your chickens with the room they require for laying their eggs. Just those that produce eggs will require boxes and roosts therefore if you’re raising chickens for meat or perhaps as pets, you will not have to include these types of features, further simplifying your design requirements.

To sum up, these are the things you should think about when searching for plans on how to build a chicken coop using the easy way:

- Choose a straightforward, square or rectangular framework instead of one with lots of angles.

- Only include the features that are necessary to the type of chickens you will be raising.

- Always allow for a slanted floor as well as sufficient air flow.

- Choose only the plans that are described easy, quick, and also simple.

- Choose only plans that provide you with the step-by-step instructions from start to finish.

Building a chicken coop does not have to be a monumental process once you stay with basic principles!