Building your coop

The coop is a safe and sheltered house where the hens can lay their eggs and rest at night. There is usually a run attached to the outside of the coop where chickens can move around freely. This consists of a covered, fenced area that will provide protection for the chickens from any predators that may be lurking in the bushes or overhead e.g. foxes, cats, hawks etc.

Under the coop
Courtesy of Frank Keane

Making your own chicken coop and run instead of buying one allows you much more flexibility as you can tailor it to your own requirements. This is especially useful if you have limited space. Ideally, there should be 4 square feet of space per chicken.

The best location for a chicken coop is in a well-drained area of the garden that also provides protection from the wind.