Learn how to build a chicken coop in 4 easy steps. whether you're rural or urban, these tips will help you get started. now updated with even more tips! whether you're rural or urban, these tips will help you get started. now updated with even more tips!. Allow 2 to 3 square feet per chicken for the coop, and at least 4 square feet per chicken for the outside run. winter only coop: this coop is used to keep chickens inside during the winter months. since it is unlikely that the chickens will be allowed outside during sad months, allow between 7 and 10 square feet per chicken.. Wherever you would use chicken wire - window areas for ventilation, around the bottom, to make the run - use hardware cloth instead. some raccoons will just rip open chicken wire and enter at will. hardware cloth (the finer mesh the better) is much more expensive but much more of a deterrent..
An afternoon putting chicken wire on everything, shingling our roof, attaching the run to the coop, and the final product looks like this. if you’re interested in learning more about keeping backyard hens, my favorite resource is “raising happy, healthy chickens…naturally”. In this design, a ramp lets the chickens move freely between the coop and the run, while stacked double barn doors provide easy access to both spaces for cleaning. the walls of this coop were built tall enough to accommodate an off-the-shelf screen door from the home center.. Step 1 using set-out paint, mark out area for run, allowing 2m squared per bird you intend to keep. mark positions of posts, with 1 post in each corner and set equally along sides no further than 2m apart. mark 850mm in from 1 corner for gate post. step 2 dig a 300 x 300mm trench around.
