Self Sufficiency
21 Chicken Coop Designs and Ideas Your Homestead Needs

Home Animals 21 Chicken Coop Designs and Ideas Your Homestead Needs
Need some inspiration for your chicken coop designs and ideas? You’ll love these. Every good homsteader knows you’ll need your own chicken coop to house all those fresh eggs and raise those little chicks to grow up big and strong! Whether you raise chickens for food or for fun, you’ll want to keep them somewhere safe, warm, protected from elements and the wild. These chicken coops do juts that, and then some! We’ve rounded up the best ideas on the web, from sustainable to functional, to downright awesome!
Your Homestead Is Going To Love These Chicken Coop Designs & Ideas
Great Find: Build an Attractive and Affordable Backyard Coop!
Much like a miniature version of your own home, your birds will need a chicken coop tailored specifically to the needs of your flock and your space. You’ll need to determine how many chickens you can comfortably house, whether you will need a large or small chicken coop, and what style best suits your space and your personal preferences. We’ve compiled some of the most creative chicken coop designs and have also included some fantastic chicken coop ideas for the inside of your chickens home. If you need a little help deciding some of the basics about which type of coop fits your needs best, head over here for some advice.
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21 Awesome Chicken Coops:
1. Chicken Coop Cottage
via Mom Caster
For a little country whimsy, give your chickens a cozy cottage home complete with winding vines and stone pathway to the doorstep.
2. Beer Can Shingles
via Tree Hugger
Protect your chicken coop from the effects of weather, recycle cans in different way and drink up for the benefit of your flock. Cheers to chickens!
3. Bright and Cheery Chicken Shed
via Tattood Housewife
Add a splash of color in your backyard with a shed-style chicken coop. Use a white trim and some plants to create a classic look that will make the structure pop!
4. From Clunker to Clucker
via Alternet
Have a beat up vehicle taking up space in your backyard or know someone trying to get rid of one?
5. Cob-Made Chicken Coop
via The City Chicken
Cob is a traditional English housing material made from clay, straw, and sand – it’s as strong as concrete and made from completely sustainable materials. Add in some colorful tiles and custom-sized windows to give your chicken coop a unique look.
6. Chicken Coop on the Shire
via My Pet Chicken
Your brood will live like Bilbo Baggins in this fun and functional chicken coop modeled after Hobbit homes.
7. Fully-“Furnished” Chicken Coop
via The City Chicken
If you have a piece of furniture you no longer have a use for or just find a great deal on a chest of drawers or armoire at a garage sale, upcycle it into a home for your chickens!
8. Living Roof Coop
via The Poultry Guide
This is the perfect solution for those with limited yard space who want it all! Urban farmers rejoice – you can have your small chicken coop and a miniature garden all in one place.
9. Fully-Functional Chicken Coop
via Blue Sky Fest
This chicken coop plan is designed for easy access to your hens and their eggs no matter where they are in the coop.
10. Pottery-Barn Inspired Chicken Coop
Photo via The Art of Doing Stuff
This chicken coop was built by the folks at The Art of Doing Stuff, and what a lovely coop indeed! Learn about how they built it, and all the cool ins and outs of this beautiful homemade coop here.
11. Galactic Hen House
via The Poultry Guide
Give your chickens an out of this world home in this rocket-ship shaped house that fits 9 chickens total.
12. Hens on Wheels
via Seattle Chicken Coops
Use this portable chicken coop design to save your yard from the destruction a stable chicken coop can cause to your lawn. Instead of cleaning out your coop, just move it to the next plot of land and allow the droppings to act as natural fertilizer.
13. Upcycled Water Tank Chicken Coop
via Recycle Art
To create a completely upcycled coop convert an old water storage container into a chicken coop with pallet wood and add a few branches for perching.
14. Luxurious Lighting
via How to Build a Chicken Coop Manual
When in doubt, add a chandelier for a touch of luxury – even chickens deserve a little of the good life.
15. Telephone Booth Chicken Coop
via Tardis Builders
Use an old telephone booth or paint your hen house and add square windows with chicken wire to mimic a booth and attach an open air coop to one of the sides.
16. Underground Coop
via Backyard Chickens
Keep your flock better protected from predators in this home that is partially underground. Also, the low-lying roof creates an excellent opportunity to grow a living roof.
17. Build the Perfect Nesting Boxes
via Houzz
Design the perfect nesting boxes for your chickens. Create extra perch space in a small coop by installing a branch in front of the nesting box. Also note the steep angle of the ‘roof’ on the nesting boxes to prevent the chickens from using this space as their personal restroom and making less mess for you.
18. Chicken Camper
via mnn
This coop was made with completely recycled pallet wood and a sheet of tin metal for the top. Keeping your coop elevated discourages predators and eliminates the back-ache from cleaning a coop that sits lower to the ground.
19. The Easy A-Frame
via Wikipedia
Easy to build, easy to clean, easy to maintain – the A-frame wins the convenience award…easily.
20. Book & Cluck Nook
via Living the Country Life
Create a space for you (or your little ones) and your chickens to relax in together. Install a screen door between the sitting space and the nesting space so the chickens don’t make a mess of the sitting space.
21. Chicken Tipi
the Poultry Guide
This may not be the most practical option for a permanent residence for your chickens, but it’s the perfect temporary shelter from the elements while your chickens roam in a large open space.
22. Aquaponic Chicken Coop
image via reddit
This all in one chicken coop is a homesteader’s dream come true! The roof is a self sustaining garden, and the eggs lay themselves. This compact unit could sustain an entire family!
Want to build your own chicken coop? Click Here to Download Plans.
Watch this video and build this $50 chicken coop by Off-Grid With Doug and Stacy
What’s your chicken coop look like? Let us know in the comments below.
Read this next: If You Have A Chicken Coop Do Not Do This
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NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.
The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.
The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.
“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”
The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller
This Article Was Originally Posted On dailycaller.com Read the Original Article here
Self Sufficiency
How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar
The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!
This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.
So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?
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Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know
Why Make Sauerkraut?
Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Tools Needed:
- knife
- bowl
- mason jar
- smaller jar
- rubber band
Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients
Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.
You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.
Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.
Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips
Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.
Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt
Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.
TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.
RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Step 4: Massage the Cabbage
Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.
TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.
Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar
Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.
IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.
Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar
You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.
Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.
Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band
Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.
Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily
Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.
Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures
After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.
NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.
You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.
Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut
- Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
- Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
- If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.
Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!
So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.
What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!
Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!
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Self Sufficiency
9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!
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In this article:
Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!
Tomato
Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.
Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.
Eggplant
Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?
Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.
Beets
Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.
If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.
Spinach
Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!
Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.
Pea
Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.
Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.
Carrot
There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.
They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.
Radish
A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.
Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.
Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.
Asparagus
Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!
Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.
All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!
So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!
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