When I saw this back yard chicken coop I thought what a great design in such a small space. This chicken coop belongs to a couple that live in Los Angeles, California. So if they can raise a few chickens in a city like that anyone can and a small chicken coop like this could be an excellent low maintenance source of food in an emergency.
Having a couple of hens and a rooster in a small chicken coop like this would make a great start at stepping up food production if you were looking at a prolonged emergency situation of little or rationed food. I don’t know about you but I think I would would enjoy a little chicken or egg to mix into my emergency stash of beans and rice after most of my canned food has been eaten. In the case that you have to raise more chickens than this small coop and pen can handle I would recommend adding a roll of chicken wire and some long wooden stakes to your emergency supplies. Unless you plan on letting them run free in your yard so that your neighbors and every other hungry critter can take them.
Most hens produce one egg every few days, but some special egg laying breeds can produce as many as 300 eggs a year. Chicken eggs take about 21 days to fully develop and hatch. In most commercial farms chickens are butchered at 6 weeks, but free range farms usually wait about 14 weeks.
The picture above shows what I like so much about this chicken coop design. Notice the nesting box with the easy access hinged lid. This will make cleaning the nesting box out and gathering the eggs so much easier. Also I thought the top of this coop was a really good idea. They put a water proof mat down with rock and soil with drainage holes on the top of this coop. This could serve two purposes. First the soil and rock will help shade and cool the coop in hot weather, and second this would make a great little garden. Maybe for herbs or something.
I found these pictures at BackYardChickens.com stop by there if you want to find out more about chickens or to get some more great back yard chicken coop designs.
May 4th, 2009 at 1:57 am
Hi, interesting post. I have been pondering this issue,so thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely be coming back to your posts.
KrisBelucci Says:June 2nd, 2009 at 8:59 am
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AndrewBoldman Says:June 4th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
da best. Keep it going! Thank you
Hen House PLans Says:March 3rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
interesting post. I hope you keep on writing such interesting articles