GreenRoofChickenCoop.com offers plans for a chicken coop that were designed by an architect. We find this to be the perfect suburban coop. The plans are a little more expensive and the cost to build this coop can be a little more expensive. We also believe there are good reasons for both. Somewhat like the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for". Green Roof Chicken Coop offers some freebies with their chicken coop as well but the real value is in their plans. They take step-by-step plans to another level giving details on screw placement, detailed cut list and a shopping list to get you started right away.  They recommend kiln dried wood and marine grade plywood to make the longest lasting chicken coops. They recommend priming, painting and annual maintenance to support a long lasting coop. However, you can still build this coop with green wood and be diligent about priming, painting and annual maintenance. This chicken coop is great for 2-4 chickens and free ranging in the back yard.  The large gate makes it easy to rustle the chickens back into the coop after free ranging them. The elevated nest makes for great protection against predators. The nest is also well positioned and there is also easy access from the back of the coop. Meanwhile, the green roof is an obvious benefit and we think it looks great as well!

www.DiyChickenCoops.com is a great resource for chickens and chicken coops. If you want to know more about raising chickens, buying live chickens, do-it-yourself chicken feed or the economics of raising chickens, check out their website. It's great because they give away many great tips and it's a must read for people that are considering raising chickens for the first time. You might consider the health benefits of organic eggs, consider using the chicken waste as fertilizer and recognize that chickens help with bug control as they love to eat bugs.  When looking for the right chicken coop, DIY Chicken Coops point out the need for a clean chicken coop to keep out parasites like lice and ticks. You'll learn a little bit about a balanced diet for your chickens and it will get you thinking about what you may want to feed your chickens. Whether it's fish meal, grain or scrap potato peels, you'll want to find ways to make sure they get a balanced diet to maintain a healthy flock. As far as buying live chickens, it's just an overview of things to consider. I believe the writer assumes that you can find a hatchery, store or local farm to get some chickens. However, the writer gets you thinking about goals with your flock, whether you want eggs or meat, and what kind of breed you may want. Do you want a rooster? Do you want to produce your own chicks? It only takes 3 weeks once the fertilized egg has been laid.

Benefits from this website on chicken coops: