🐔 Living the Simple Life: A Complete Guide to Building Your Backyard Chicken Coop
🐔 Living the Simple Life: A Complete Guide to Building Your Backyard Chicken Coop
“Fresh eggs, a connection to nature, and a return to life’s natural rhythm”
🏡 Why Are Americans Building Chicken Coops?
As of 2025, more and more Americans living the “Simple Life” are building small backyard chicken coops to raise hens and collect fresh eggs daily.
But this isn’t just a trendy hobby — it’s a meaningful part of a sustainable lifestyle.
✅ Fresh, organic eggs every morning
✅ Hands-on education for kids about life
✅ Improved self-sufficiency
✅ Mental wellness & reconnection with nature
📦 Beginner's Checklist (for 4–6 hens)
Category Item Description
🧱 Structure Wood / Fencing Must be weatherproof, sturdy, and suitable for summer & winter
🪵 Flooring Straw or wood shavings Absorbs waste and minimizes odor
🍳 Nesting boxes 2–3 boxes Located in a dark corner with soft bedding
🚪 Doors & Locks Secure hardware Protects against predators (raccoons, foxes, etc.)
💧 Water dispenser Automatic recommended Keeps water clean and always available
🐔 Feeder Elevated Prevents tipping and contamination
🌞 Sunlight & Shade Important! 6+ hours of sunlight per day, shade for hot weather
🔧 Step-by-Step: How to Build a Coop
① Choose the Right Location
Flat ground with good drainage
At least 30 feet from your home (for sound and smell)
Face the entrance east for morning sunlight
② Build the Frame
Use rot-resistant wood (cedar or fir)
Recommended size for 4–6 hens: 2m x 1.5m x 1.5m
③ Design the Interior
Nesting boxes in a dark, quiet area
Perches for sleeping — one per hen, plus a few extras
Flooring covered thickly with straw or wood shavings
④ Predator-Proof the Exterior
Bury fencing at least 8–12 inches underground
Use wire mesh with openings less than 1/2 inch
⑤ Set Up Food & Water
Use automatic waterers to keep water fresh
Refill feed once or twice daily, or install auto feeders
💡 Tips & Warnings
Chickens are social animals — keep at least 3 together
Minimum 6 hours of sunlight daily
Clean weekly, deep clean monthly
Prevent disease with clean water and dry bedding
📈 Chicken-Keeping Cost Estimate (4 hens)
Item Monthly Cost Notes
Feed ~$20 Organic feed; cheaper with auto systems
Bedding & Cleaning Supplies ~$10 Straw or shavings
Water & Electricity ~$5 Includes heated waterer in winter
Total ~$35/month 4 hens = ~90–100 eggs/month
🧘♀️ Chickens as Symbols of Simple Life
> “Chickens give us the gift of life every morning. Caring for them restores our sense of daily rhythm.”
– Caitlyn H., Simple Life practitioner, Austin, Texas
📌 Final Thoughts
Building a backyard chicken coop isn’t just about getting eggs —
it’s about learning how to live slowly, care for life, and rediscover gratitude.
To begin your Simple Life journey, all you need is a small patch of land and a few hens.
🐔 Recommended Hashtags
#SimpleLife #BackyardChickens #SustainableLiving #Homesteading
#UrbanFarming #ChickenCoop #EggsFromHome #SlowLiving
#SelfSufficiency #OffGridLife
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