Several years ago our kids were in teacher's class where each spring they would hatch several chickens, and give the small chicks out to willing families who would keep the chickens as long as they wanted. At the time we lived in town, and I wasn't clear on whether it was OK to keep a chicken, but I decided ignorance was bliss, and never looked it up, and just decided to keep one.

Well, eventually, you need to house a chicken somewhere, and of course a chicken coop is the answer. So, here's a selection of things to keep in mind when you are building chicken coop to house your little egg laying friends.

1) Appearance - Since this was in town, it needed to be somewhat attractive and inconspicuous ( as much as possible). It needed to be mounted up and with some clearance so that the lawn could be mowed and edged around it. High bushes can form a natural barrier to neighboring homes.

2) Protection from the elements - Thunderstorms, high winds, and depending on your area snowstorms are real issues, not to mention the heat of the summer. You may want to situate it under trees, reducing both sunload and direct rain. The bushes or trees can act as a natural windbreak.

3) Size - How many hens are you wanting to keep. A typical coop might be built to handle 6 hens, but it will vary. You may need somewhere around four square feet for each hen if they are allowed to roam, or at least twice that much if they stay in the coop.

4) Nesting Box - Above the ground, but below the perch, it needs to be away from the main activity area so the hens feel safe and secure enough to lay their eggs.

5) Protection from predators - Everyone wants a piece of the chickens or their eggs. Raccoons, squirrels, rats, wolves and hawks are just a few of the critters you want to keep away. Be sure the sides have a fine enough mesh to keep them at bay.

6) Perches - Providing even a simple perch keeps the chickens spread out, making the cleanup a little easier.

These are just a few ideas, and you can find more complete chicken coop plans to help you buid a chicken coop in several books at Amazon. Probably the most popular is "Fresh Air Poultry Houses", but you can find a few sets of plans for under $5 there as well.