Free Chicken Coop Blueprints

Are you looking for free chicken coop blueprints? If you want to raise chickens for eggs, and possibly even some organically raised meat for your family's meals, you'll need a chicken coop. Free plans for coops are abundant, but you need to know where to look.

Finding free blueprints in the purest definition isn't easy to do. Blueprints are created using CAD (computer aided drafting) by people who have been trained to do this type of work. These trained people do not usually offer their work for free, so the blueprints are not often found free either.

Fortunately, you do not need to have actual blueprints to build a backyard chicken coop. So, while you may not have a need for free chicken coop blueprints, you will need free plans for your backyard coop. Free plans can be found in abundance.

There are several great places online where you can find free chicken coop "blueprints" or plans. Some are better quality than others. There are also some plans that are more complex than others. The first thing you need to keep in mind is your skill level.

If you find a set of plans that looks great, but you don't understand how to read the plans, they are useless. However, it is easy to learn what you need to know. Often, just looking at clear pictures of chicken coops in various stages of construction will help you grasp how to go about your project. One perfect place to do this is BackYardChickens.com.

Don't overlook the expertise of friends! Chances are, you know someone who knows how to best handle a saw and hammer. Take advantage of this and ask plenty of questions until you feel comfortable. Of course, always be sure you are safe when taking on any type of project that involves tools. There is always a chance of injury if you don't take precautions--they don't call them accidents for nothing!

Here are some of the best places on the Web for free chicken coop plans to keep your backyard chickens safe and secure.

• North Dakota State University Extension Service: Here you will find a long list of printable PDF files. You'll find chicken coop plans of all sizes, free to print. Not all of these are clear to read since some of them are fairly old, but if you are looking for a large resource for plans, this is it. You'll even find plans for nest boxes.

• Virginia Cooperative Extension: This resource offers plans for a 20 x 20 house and a 8 x 8 house. These plans can also be easily printed but, unlike the plans from North Dakota State, they are clearer and not in PDF form.

• Thisstealth urban chicken coop has great plans that are easy to read. You can view coop drawings (the plans), a materials list, the coop assembly and more. Their finished coop is pink, but you can use any color you want to.

• This small chicken house is big enough for 15 to 20 hens. It isn't very detailed with building instructions, but it does give you a clear idea of what a good chicken coop should look like and how it should be put together.

• The Bantam Roost has some very basic plans with some very detailed instructions. This is a great place to learn from someone else's experience.

• The University of Tennessee has a few PDF chicken coop plans, as well as plans for any other type of out building you could dream of.

You probably noticed that many of the resources listed are from state University Extension Services. If you live in an agricultural area, there is a good possibility that you'll find free plans on your local Extension Service website.

You can also go into your local office and ask about chicken coop plans. However, if you go in person you will very likely have to pay a fee for the plans. This fee is small and may be well worth every penny. Still, it is good to keep in mind so you aren't taken by surprise.

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