Building a house is more than just a few boards nailed together and wrap them with chicken wire. Well, you can do, but it will be interesting and not very comfortable for your chickens. You want a cooperative that look good, especially if you live in town. You can buy a premade cage, but you’ll still do all the work. These cooperatives are simply overpriced supplies with some instructions. You can build your own barn yard for a fraction of the cost. There are many styles to choose from, or, if you are very creative, you can design your own. Some things to keep in mind: How many chickens do you want: You must ensure that the cooperative will be large enough to accommodate all your chickens. What is your court: Do you take all the barn yard, or just a small corner. How do you want to go: There are plans ranging from basic wood and chicken wire, to the most luxurious of cooperatives that will make your neighbors think you’ve added a guest house. After you settle on a design and built the basic structure, you move inside. Inside you need good lighting and ventilation. You have to insulate the coop to guard against the elements and make sure there are no holes for predators or other animals from entering. Hen nesting boxes should be well on the ground with a ramp leading to easier access. Chicken perches should all be level, but higher than the nest boxes when you build barn yard. Now that all the key elements are in place, you can decorate or paint any way you want.