Whether you are buying or building a wooden chicken coop, there is one important caveat to keep in mind:

Wood for the chicken coop should not be of the treated variety that is supposed to prevent moisture or rot.

Arsenic compounds are used in the treatment process and will poison your birds if they decide to peck a little. Although it sounds tempting, cedar and other aromatic woods are not good for the same reason for snacking. Any pine wood used should be well seasoned and free of clumps of sap.

On top of that, wooden chicken coops are a great option for you and your birds, especially when it comes to expense. Wood is cheap. It can be cut, shaped, bent, painted, and otherwise manipulated to suit your needs.

If you decide to paint it with shellac, do not use anything with toxic materials, particularly lead-based applications. With proper care, solid wood structures can last for generations.

Particle or pressboard of any kind should be used with care, as they tend to absorb a lot of moisture (something you can’t do when you’re dealing with chickens) and are prone to warping and even cracking.

Buying or building a wooden chicken coop is a decision you will have to make. How skilled are you in carpentry? Wooden chicken coop plans are available online for free and for sale. Most plans are easy to follow, requiring only basic tools like a hammer, saw, and drill.

Or, you can go online and find some great ready-to-use wooden chicken coops starting at around $350, good enough for four birds. And, in addition to being fully functional, they are also very cute!

Of course, just like for human houses, there are builders who will make a custom wooden chicken coop right down to the choice of hardware used for the latches and hinges.

For wooden chicken coops, as with any chicken coop, you need to consider the number of birds you want to keep, living space, roots, nest boxes, ease of cleaning, control and safety of your flock, ventilation and air conditioning. heat.

As a chicken farmer, you want something that will keep your flock safe and happy, and something that you and others will find appealing, something that might even bring a little nostalgia to your surroundings.

All of that, along with a basket full of fresh eggs, will certainly make having a small wooden chicken coop worth your while.