So just how many chickens should you have in your new chicken house?  Generally, most people get about two dozen chickens.  Also, the most popular types are day-old chicks; however, pullets (young female chickens) are also available to order and you don’t have to worry about keeping them warm like you do for the baby chicks.

Another thing to consider is the sex of the chicks.  When your order chicks you can get them “straight run”, which means that you will receive half as hens and have as roosters.  Also, your local feed store that sells chicks give you an idea which chicks make better “layers” while others may make better meat chicks.  If you’re lucky, they have some breeds that are good in both categories.

If you are looking for good eggs and a possible meat chicken you may want to try the Rhode Island Red breed.  If it’s just eggs you’re after, Bantams/Silkies are want you want. The egg is a little smaller, but production is good.

On the average, one chicken can produce four to six eggs each week.  However, production drops dramatically after the first year.

How much room will they need?

Your chicken house plans should include a large enough area for nesting boxes, roosts, water and feed.  A good rule of thumb is three square feet for each bird.  You want to give your flock enough room to minimize disease and minimize the chickens from attacking or eating each other.  For the flooring, wood shavings works well, and straw is very popular.

Chickens like to sleep on their roosts, so it is good to make them about two or three feet from the ground level, giving each bird about a one-foot space.There are lots of opinions and plans for nesting boxes on the net.  We found that nesting boxes that are about one-foot square worked well.  These should also be off the ground level, about one or two feet from the flooring.  You can get away with about 10 nests for two dozen chickens.  Mounting the nesting boxes on a rear or side wall works best and you can line them with wood shavings or hay.  When you mount the nests, keep in mind an access door for easy egg retrieval.  We cover our nests with some wire to keep other chickens from roosting over the nests. If you put it on an angle, which should keep them off from above the nests.

One tricky area is ventilation.  You should have enough ventilation without being too drafty.  Also, the area around the chicken house should be well drained.

Of course you want to have a play area attached to your chicken area.  The chicken run should be as large as your property allows, but be careful with predators.  If this is an issue, you should consider covering your play area with chicken wire.  Also include some shaded area so that the chickens are not always exposed to the sun or the elements.A good chicken house is raised off the ground level on concrete blocks or other supports.  This will minimize any visits from mice, rats or even snakes.  If you do experience difficulties with predators, you can simply bring your chickens inside a garage or other structure at night.

You don’t necessarily need a drain inside the chicken house; you can always slope the floor toward the door so that you can have adequate drainage for routine maintenance, such as disinfecting the chicken house.

Remember, a good chicken house will protect your flock from injuring themselves, and it protects them from the elements and possible predators.  Keep that in mind when you’re planning.  Anyone ready for a nice 3-egg omelet?