Hopefully you’ve been doing well! If you recall last time we discussed the different factors you should think about when trying to determine the type of chicken coop you want to build. This is important because before you go ahead with the building process you will want to be sure you’re getting some key factors right so you build what is required to meet your needs.

Today I’d like to talk a little more specifically about the building materials for your chicken coop. This is going to make a big impact on how much money you spend on the chicken coop in total so understanding the different types of materials will be vital to making an informed decision.

We’ll go over this in much greater detail in Building A Chicken Coop, but here is some of the basics to get you started.

Many individuals do have a tendency to think you need a lot of expensive materials to successfully build a chicken coop, however this is not the case at all. Chicken coops can be made from a variety of different materials including such things as an old shed, scrap lumber, PVC pipes, 50 gallon barrels, or other recycled materials you may have around the house already.

Usually wood is the most common material used to build the chicken coop however it’s also the priciest, so you’ll have to weight the pros versus the cons. If you want your chicken coop to last for years and years to come, it may be a good idea to invest in a wooden coop to ensure that it does withstand various climate changes.

Keep in mind with this though that wood varieties will also vary in price and that will influence your decision, so looking at the different types of wood is also important.

If you are thinking about just building a smaller coop, you might even be able to get away with using recycled timber instead. Asking around for scrap pieces of wood can also be one way to locate some materials to use, but bear in mind if you’re going to go this route there is a higher chance you’ll have to pull some nails and may wind up with a chicken coop that isn’t exactly matching. If you’re really looking for the absolute most cost effective method though, then it’s likely something that you will want to think about and consider.

Many times you can save over half the price of the coop just by looking carefully for building materials that will meet your needs effectively.

So, before you rush out to buy whatever you think you need for building supplies, give some careful consideration to this first. It’s important that you have a firm understanding about building materials for your chicken house before you even get going. In some cases it can get hard to start with a certain type of material and then switch over halfway through, even between the different types of woods, therefore getting it all figured out before you begin will be your best bet.

Now that we’ve covered the types of chicken coops you can build and the different building supplies that you should think about, it’s time to look at what you should be doing in order to maintain the structural integrity of your chicken coop.

One problem that many people do run into is that they build their chicken coop and do a decent job at it, but the only problem is that the way they have built it does not stand up over the long run.

Gaining a better understanding of the construction process and exactly what’s needed to build a coop that lasts and will ensure that the money you spend is worth it.

Proper Landscaping

Before starting to build the coop, you need to make sure the land you want to build on is level and landscaped properly. You have two options here, you can either landscape an area of land that you really want to build the chicken coop on or you can look for a piece of land that will already work well to build on without having to landscape at all.

The latter option is going to be cheaper than the former, but again this will come down to your personal preference.

By doing this first though, you’ll build a chicken coop that lasts for a longer period of time since it’ll have a more sturdy foundation that you built it upon.

Spend Money On The Base Structure

Next, one area that you will want to invest a little more on is the structural base. In the building plans in the book you’ll see exactly what types of materials are going to be best for this so it makes the decision easy.

Choosing to forgo and opt for very cheap building materials here could come back to haunt you in the long run. There are still definitely cheap options that you can certainly consider and that will work well, but there still are limits. Knowing which cost-effective materials stand the test of time will help.

Make Good Use of Windows

Windows are a critical element within the chicken coop because they are going to allow for enough light so your chickens continue to lay eggs as they should. When they are not getting enough light, that’s when you’re more likely to run into problems, so making use of windows in the coop not only helps ensure the chickens stay happy over the long haul, but can also reduce your building costs if you’re using proper materials.

It’s important that you consider the structural design with the windows though because placing them in the wrong position on the coop could cause the walls to be less sturdy, so again, having a proper plan to guide you is critical.

Choose Your Feeders Wisely

Finally, you should choose your feeder position wisely. When the feeders are at an incorrect height level the chickens will either not be able to get to their food comfortably, or they may start to scatter the food all around the floor.

When that happens they’re bound to start picking at the floor and potentially other areas of the house, which could lead to damage over time.

By taking the time to properly plan your chicken coop so it lasts over the years you will prevent yourself from having to spend more money down the road fixing up issues that you come into.