There are a number of websites offering free chicken house plans for the backyard chicken farmer.  For the most part, these free chicken house plans are structurally sound and suitable for poultry habitation.  While building from free chicken house plans will save you a lot of money, you need to make sure that you choose the one best suited to your flock’s needs.  Here are some guidelines to help you choose which free chicken house plans to execute.

Free Chicken House Plans Tips

1.     Know beforehand how many chickens you intend to house.  If you are particular about having a set number of eggs to be harvested per week, you will need to figure out how many chickens you need.  As you may already know, a chicken lays one egg a day, at an average of five eggs a week.  So, if you want thirty eggs a week, you will need at least six laying hens.
2.    Allocate adequate space for each hen.  Poultry raisers recommend three to four square feet per chicken.  This will provide them with enough room to move about and lay eggs without getting in each other’s spaces.  Chickens that are housed in cramped quarters do not lay as much eggs.  Thus, for six laying hens, you need about a chicken house that is about 24 square feet.
3.    Choose the type of structure that is compatible with your available space.  Obviously, you need to fit in within your backyard– choosing free chicken house plans for a rectangle coop won’t work if you have free space that is irregularly shaped.
4.    Make sure that the materials you use as compatible with your current conditions.  A wooden chicken house may not be such a good idea if you are building it in an area with extreme temperatures.  Also, while a dirt floor may be required for certain poultry raising practices such as the Deep Litter Method, it is ill-advised if the chicken house is set on ground with poor drainage.
5.    Choose materials that are safe for chickens and poultry.  Treated wood can make chickens sick, as does certain aromatic woods like cedar and sandalwood.  While you don’t necessarily have to buy expensive materials, you do need to use quality ones.
6.    Make sure that your plans include adequate lighting and ventilation.  Chickens needs at least 10 hours of light on a daily basis.  And when ventilation is inadequate, your poultry can develop respiratory problems.  Provide for good air circulation and sources of natural light.  Open windows and large vents in the ceiling can be easily incorporated in free chicken house plans.