DIY Urban Chicken Coop Building Tips & Tricks!
The number of city dwellers that raise chickens is small but is certainly growing, not only because raising chickens is fun; it is practically beneficial too.
Aside from the recreation, urban chicken breeders enjoy fresh eggs.
You can have chicken meat without all those chemicals and you can have a source of protein that is truly economical. And if you wonder how these breeders do it despite the limited space in their house or backyard, the answer lies in the urban coop.
Urban chicken coops are different from your regular chicken coops. They are smaller because cities limit the number of chickens that you can raise. Typically, chicken coops in the city can house up to five hens.
And because they are smaller, you must put enough thought on how you can optimize the space of the coop for it to provide protection, space, ventilation and a proper roosting place. You can build your own chicken coop, provided that you have:
- The skills
- The tools
- The materials
And you have considered a number of important things such as:
Your City Ordinance
Cities allow their residents to raise chickens on certain conditions. These conditions however, vary per city. Some jurisdictions dictate the proximity of the coop to your neighbor’s house; most prohibit raising roosters and most limit the number of hens that you can have. To know your city’s rules, you can visit their website or join a local forum wherein chicken raisers exchange ideas.
The Breed and Number of Chickens
There are chicken breeds that can lay up to seven eggs each week. If your city limits your number of hens to five which lay an average of five eggs each per week, you will have more than two dozens of fresh eggs every week.
Now that must be exciting. But also keep in mind that there are periods when the hens get stressed, making it impossible for them to lay eggs for weeks or months. The number of hens that you can have may also depend on how much available space you have. There are two good locations where you can put your urban coop and these are your roof and your backyard.
The Purpose of the Coop
The size of your urban chicken coop should serve the purpose it is built. It must provide protection, must have adequate space (at least 3 sq m per hen), must have ample lighting, must have easy access to water and food and must be easy to maintain.
Since you are going to get eggs from the coop, it must have enough room so that you can move around with ease. This way, you will also be able to clean the coop more efficiently.
The Right Plan
And because building a good urban coop depends on a good plan, search for a DIY urban coop plan. There are plenty of blueprints that you can get from the internet. You can also ask help from your neighbor who has the same hobby. Just do not forget to share the eggs after your urban coop is built.
Backyard chicken coops have become popular not only in the rural areas but major urban centers as well. Just like many other types of coops, a backyard coop is a sheltering place for your chickens and offers a safe retreat where your chickens can lay eggs.