Building a chicken coop is a relatively simple task with a good plan. Problems only occur when you build a coop without understanding the requirements of your chickens or without understanding City Ordinances and rules and regulations.

Your backyard chicken coop design will probably not be the same as your neighbor's. There are many factors to consider such as the layout of your backyard, whether you need a mobile chicken coop, or perhaps a free range chicken coop.

Tips for choosing the right design include matching the variety of chickens you wish to house with the design of your backyard coop. Chickens bred purely for their egg laying characteristics are smaller than poultry that is bred for meat, or hybrid varieties that are multi-purpose.

You must also give thought to the number of chickens you wish to house. This will probably fall under the realms of City Ordinances and will be something you need to confirm. Give some...