Whether you're going to buy or build a wooden chicken coop, there's one major warning you need to keep in mind:
The wood for the coop should not be of the treated variety that is supposed to stave off moisture or rot.
Arsenic compounds are used in the treatment process and those will poison your birds should they decide to do a little pecking. Though it may sound enticing, cedar and other aromatic woods are not good for the same pecking reason. Any pine wood used should be well-seasoned and without any globs of sap.
Besides that, wooden chicken coops are a great option for you and your birds, especially when it comes to expenses. Wood is cheap. It can be cut, shaped, bent, painted, and otherwise manipulated to suit your needs.
Should you decide to shellac it or paint it, don't use anything with toxic materials, particularly lead-based applications. With proper care, solid wooden structures can last for generations.
Particle boards or pressed boards of any kind should be used with care as they tend to absorb a lot of moisture (a no-no when it comes to chickens) and are prone to warping and even breakage.
Buying or building a wooden coop is a decision you'll have to make. How skilled are you at carpentry? Wooden chicken coop plans are readily available online for free and for sale. Most of the plans are easy to follow and require only basic tools such as a hammer, a saw, and a drill.
Or, you can go online and find some superb little ready-made wooden coops starting at around $350 – good enough for four birds. And, aside from being totally functional, they're pretty darn cute, too!
Of course, just as for human homes, there are builders out there who will make a customized wooden chicken coop right down to the choice of hardware used for latches and hinges.
For wooden chicken coops, as with any coop, you have to consider the number of birds you want to keep, living space, roosts, nest boxes, ease of cleanliness, the control and security of your flock, ventilation, and warmth.
As a chicken rancher, you want something that will keep your flock safe and happy, and something that you and others will find appealing – something that may even lend a little nostalgia to your environs.
All that, along with a basket full of fresh eggs, will certainly make having a neat little wooden chicken coop well worthwhile.
