Things to Consider When Building a Secure Chicken Coop

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Data shows that about 25,000 family farms in the U.S. raise chickens. However, a significant number are at risk of losing chickens due to unsecured chicken coops. Building a safe, effective coop is essential in protecting your chickens against predators like fox, raccoons, weasels, coyotes, hawks, and owls.

What To Consider Before Building a Chicken Coop

Several factors should be taken into account before building a secure and comfortable coop. The following tips will help ensure a robust structure that will keep predators away from your chickens and be of service for a long time.

Have a Unique Plan that Fits Your Needs

There are several universal concerns a farmer should weigh before settling on a chicken coop plan.

The most important consideration is capacity. Your coop should be able to comfortably and safely hold the number and types of chickens you plan to keep. The required space for your birds will depend on various factors. Generally, if your birds can access an outdoor run, it’s advised to provide at least 2 to 3 square feet of space per bird inside the coop and about 4 square feet per bird within the run. The more space you provide, the better. Cramped birds spread diseases faster and are more aggressive, often pecking at each other.

You should also choose a coop design that suits your accessibility needs, from cleaning, to feeding, to collecting eggs.

Choose Proper Elevation

Choosing the right elevation for your chicken coop is one of the most effective ways to guarantee your birds' safety. Snakes, cats, dogs, raccoons, and coyotes are the most common threats to backyard chickens.

Some snakes that prey on chicks tend to access the coop through openings in the walls and from ground level. Therefore, to ensure no predator can break in from underneath, raise the coop at least 8 to 12 inches above the ground.

If you have a low-raised platform, a dirt floor with wire underneath will help deter digging predators. Having the right elevation also helps prevent wood rot. Most farmers build chicken coop legs using pressure-treated lumber to help mitigate lumber failure.

Ensure Enough Ventilation

Proper ventilation is critical for the comfort and security of a chicken coop. A well-ventilated chicken coop brings in enough fresh air to stop potentially fatal respiratory diseases such as Newcastle or Bird Flu from spreading.

It also helps keep the chicken coop cool during hot weather. This is especially important since modern-day chickens are more susceptible to high heat than cold. Still, heat waves and cold snaps can be dangerous to your birds. Therefore, ensure enough ventilation at all heights in the chicken coop, blowing cooling drafts over the chickens on hot days while closing off the coop on cold days to prevent freezing.

Choose Safe, Cool Location

Despite selecting the right amount of ventilation for your chicken coop, the site of the coop should be safe and cool. This location should also balance with other needs and requirements you may have on your property.

Shade is very important when selecting the best spot for a chicken coop. Keeping the structure out of direct sunlight helps prevent overheating. However, the coop should not be located directly under a tree since it'll be easily accessible to predators. Trees make it easier for hawks to hunt the flock while providing a good hiding spot for ground predators.

Also consider accessibility while choosing a location. Most owners keep a flock for five years, regularly visiting the coop to feed the chickens, pick eggs, and do some cleaning and maintenance. A location far from the house can be inconvenient for such regular tasks.

Nesting Boxes and Roosts Should be Safe and Comfortable

Nesting boxes and roosts, used for laying eggs and for sleeping, are typically the most used part of a chicken coop. Therefore, it’s important to make sure they are comfortable and in a preferred location. Nesting boxes need to be filled with something soft like straw or wood shavings, with the roosts typically at the highest place in the coop.

Your roost should ideally have 10 inches of space per bird, with one nesting box serving three hens. Roosting poles should be two to three feet high. If higher, provide a way for the chickens to get up to them, such as a plank.

If there is room, try keeping the feed inside the coop. It will stay dry, and also help deter predators from trying to enter the run at night in search of food.

Choose the Right Flooring

There are plenty of choices for coop flooring. However, some options are preferred, like wood, rubber and concrete. Often, plain unfinished plywood with a deep layer of wood shavings is the most recommended material for the floor. Plywood is inexpensive, durable, and easy to cut for windows and ventilation.

However, wood can rot easily and create a home for mites. Some farmers use rolled linoleum on top of the wood since it's easier to clean and replace.

Use Proper Fencing to Keep Predators Out

Poultry owners can choose between several fencing solutions for their enclosure. While some materials are selected for price and ease of installation, the most effective options provide long-term safety and security.

Plastic mesh may be good as an overhead enclosure, but will fail as a barrier for predators, as it can be easily chewed.

Despite its name, chicken wire is not a safe option against predators. It can prevent escape, but will not deter animals from chewing or tearing through the light-weight metal to get to your flock. Plus, if the wire is not galvanized, rust will set in and quickly break down.

Hardware cloth, also known as woven wire fence, is your best bet for a fence that will not fail. A zinc coating will help prevent the wire from rusting, and the welded or woven mesh construction will prevent unwanted animals from pushing through the tight weave. The up-front cost is higher for this fencing material, but it will last much longer and require a lot less maintenance.

To assure aggressive predators can’t enter the run, be sure to bury the metal fencing 6 inches or more, and install to a height of 4-6 feet, depending on the type of animals you are trying to keep out.

Aerial protection will further protect your flock from above. Chicken wire or plastic mesh may be good options to keep owls, hawks and other large birds away from your chicks.

In addition to a fortified enclosure, a guardian dog is always a good idea.

Guard dog Sookie on duty at Mossygoat Farm.

How to Maintain the Strength and Security of Your Chicken Coop

Once you've built the chicken coop, keep a close eye on its safety and strength to ensure your chickens are protected. You can do so in the following ways:

Regularly Inspect the Floor and Runs

Solid wooden floors help prevent predators from accessing the chicken coop from below. Inspect them on a regular basis to ensure there is no rot that might provide an entry point for determined predators.

Also, check the runs regularly to ensure the enclosure is not compromised which could expose gaps, potentially leading to escape or unwanted predators.

Lock Doors and Windows at Night

Racoons may be cute, but they are smart and crafty and can wreak havoc on a coop.

It’s hard to believe, but determined predators like raccoons can find their way through simple locks and barrel bolts. It’s been said that if a five-year-old child can open a lock, so can a raccoon. Therefore, securely lock doors and windows at night using gate latches and slide doors with padlocks to keep your chickens safe.

How Much Does a Chicken Coop Cost?

Essential considerations for an effective enclosure are that it needs to be warm, dry, and secure. Providing the estimated cost of a chicken coop is difficult because of the custom nature of most structures. Owners build chicken coops based on their unique needs, size, and special features. The building itself can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, depending on how large and elaborate the design is.

The fenced-in perimeter of your chicken coop can be calculated by determining the linear feet of the run. Factors such as gate access, type of fencing material, posts and braces, and labor should be considered. Red Brand fence offers a free online calculator to help plan your project.

Source Your Materials from Trusted Suppliers

Ultimately, the effectiveness of your chicken enclosure will depend on its design and the quality of materials you use for the job. Contact a fencing professional today and learn which materials will ensure the safety and security of your chickens.

Author Bio:

Dain Rakestraw is the Director of Marketing and Client Services at Red Brand, a line of premium agricultural fencing products known as the most recognized brand of agricultural fencing in the United States. Since 1889 Red Brand has provided the market with a range of popular products, including field fence, horse fence, barbed wire, welded wire, tools and more.