Chicken tractor at finished stage:

Opening the tractor door:

Nest box being ready to be placed on tractor coop:

Nest box placed on tractor coop:

Building the frame:

Total cost of the whole project

4 pieces of 10′ corrugated roofing – $50.00
3 – 2 x 6 x 8′ for framing – $10.50
7 – 2 x 4 x 8′ – $17.50
4 – 1 x 2 x 8′ wire cleats – $3.20
1/2 sheet of 1/2″ plywood – $5.00 ($10.00 if you have to buy a full sheet)
Stucco netting – 16′ @ .18 – $3.00 [$28.00 for a full roll (150')]
1 piece of 4″ x 4″ flashing – ridge cap – $8.00
1 piece metal corner trim – $4.00
1 pair 3″ x 3″ door hinges – $3.50
2 gate latches – $2.00
misc. screws, nails, etc. – $15.00 (Will be some left over)
3 feet of 4″ PVC pipe @ .80 – feeder – $2.40 ($8.00 for a 10′ piece)
2 – 4″ PVC elbows – feeder – $5.00
1 – 4″ PVC cap – feeder – $1.50
3 gallon metal waterer – $30.00

The whole project came out to $160.60, and this is only because the coop builder decided not to spend time looking for spare parts. $160.60 is still a very good deal for a chicken coop of its size. Want to build a coop just like this? Check out how to with this guide.

– Pictures taken from Azeglin of BackYardChickens.com

Before you go to work on your chicken coop, you may want to consider the design of the chicken coop. I recommend taking out a piece of paper and pencil and begin to draw a rough sketch of what you want your chicken coop to look like. Do you want a large chicken coop, a small chicken coop, or a specially designed chicken coop? It’s also suggested to measure out your backyard and draw your chicken coop according to these dimensions. You don’t want to begin the building process and then realize that the coop may be to big for your yard.

I also recommend thinking of how the chicken coop will look on the outside. If you have neighbors nearby, they may not find a big shed in your backyard aesthetically pleasing. However, if you decorate the coop in some way or do some interesting carpenter work on it, the coop may actually draw a neighbors eye in a pleasant way. Having nice windows installed in the coop is one quick way of making your coop look beautiful.

As you consider how your chicken coop will look, check out this guide that shows you how to build a chicken coop in many different styles. The guide includes pictures and will go a long way in making sure your coop looks awesome.

Is there a connection between the cut in living expenses and rising obesity rates? Of course there is. More people have turned to the low cost of fast food as meals. While it is cheaper, fast food can be horrible for your health if eaten on a regular basis. So, what is a way to eat healthy at a low cost?

Raising your own chickens can be the answer to these problems. Chickens do not cost much to purchase, and the purchase is a one time cost because the chickens and hens will reproduce on their own giving you more chickens and hens. For meals, you can eat the eggs the chickens produce, giving you a healthy breakfast/lunch/dinner regularly. Eggs are only about 70 calories each and contain a great amount of protein. You can use the chickens feces as fertilizer and grow your own vegetable garden. You can also eat the chicken meat which also contains protein and is very healthy for you. The advantages to all of this is that the food is healthy, cheap, and organic.

However, you cannot let chickens roam wild in your backyard. They need shelter, and shelter can be provided in the form of a chicken coop. Chicken coops can be made professionally or home-made. Home-made chicken coops are essentially the same as professionally made chicken coops, cost less, and can be made with materials found around your garage. Want to raise your own chickens? Want to eat virtually free meals every day? Learn how to build chicken coops with the use of this guide.

Remember how I said chickens crave sunlight? Check out 3:42, which shows one up on the window sill basking in the sunlight. And at 3:24, check out the correct placement of the feeder, which is set at a great level.

The first group of people believe that chickens need to be protected from the outdoors. These people are convinced that drafts and other outdoor conditions cause illness among the chicken population. Consequently, these people build coops that provide a large amount of shelter for the chickens, almost like a Caribbean resort. They control the wind, temperature, light, and all other elements.

A second group believes that a coop that replicates the outdoors is the most successful set-up. They believe the previous set-up is harmful for the chicken, leading to a less healthy chicken population. As a result, their coops usually contain large amounts of ventilation and little protection from the elements. Essentially, the coop exists to group the chickens together.

These two contrasting ideas can be confusing for someone who is new to chicken coops. What type of coop will lead to the most healthy and happy chickens? The answer to this and all your other questions can be answered in this guide.