How to Build a Chicken Coop

Building a chicken coop can be a rewarding weekend project. This guide will teach you how to build a chicken coop, step by step, with pictures. It is designed to be cost-effective. It has everything you need, including materials, measurements, a cut list, 2D elevations, and detailed assembly instructions.

Size and Dimensions

Size and Dimensions

Interior View

Interior View

Additional Chicken Coop Design Plans

Materials and Cut List

Expand Material List

Step 1: Preparing and Building the Foundation

The first step when building a chicken coop is choosing an appropriate site. Pick a level area a few feet from your house and your neighbor’s. Local ordinances often require chicken coops to be built at least 30 feet from dwellings. 

Prepare the chosen area by clearing vegetation and rock, then lay out the foundation. If the preferred area is not level, grade the site to have a relatively level ground to work on.

Using the illustration below as a reference, measure and mark out the ground, then dig trenches at least 8 inches  ″ wide and 12 inches  ′ deep. This chicken coop is not large, so you don’t need deep trenches.

Next, fill the trenches to ground level with concrete. Ensure the concrete itself is also level, and let it cure. Curing times vary from one brand to another, read the packing for recommended curing times. 

Once the concrete foundation has dried, lay standard-sized bricks across it, using mortar to bind them. You will need about 36 bricks for this step. 

Preparing and Building the Foundation
Foundation for chicken coop

Step 2: Assembling the Coop’s Main Frame

To assemble the main frame, you will need six 2″ x 3″ boards cut to 3′ 9″ and four 2″ x 3″ boards cut to 5′ 9″ for the top and bottom beams, four 2 “x2″ beards cut to 4′, three 2″ x 2″ cut to 3′ 7″, and two 2″ x 3″ cut to 11″ for the studs, three 2″ x 3″ boards cut to 3′ 9” and two 2 “x3″ boards cut to 2′ 9” for the floor joists.

Fasten the beams to the bottom rails using 3-inch ″ wood screws, then use a speed square or framing square to check the corners to ensure they are 90°.

Use the illustration below as a guide for this step.

Assembling the Coop’s Main Frame
Assembling the coop’s frame

Step 3: Assembling the Floor and Walls

Cut thirteen 1″ x 4″ boards to 3′ to use as floorboards and install them. Use the diagram below as a reference. 

Next, cut 2″ x 2″ lumber – one board to 2′ 9″ and two boards to 2′ 4 ¾” – to use as sheathing rails for the front and left walls. Install the boards using the diagram below as a guide.

After installing the boards, use a framing square to check the corners to ensure they are 90°.

Assembling the Floor and Walls
Framing the walls

Step 4: Assembling the Nesting Box Frame

Nesting boxes are a critical component of any chicken coop and offer a place for your girls to lay eggs. 

For assembling the nesting box frame, you’ll need 2″ x 2″ and 1 “x4″. Using 2″ x 2″ lumber, cut two boards to 3′ and two boards to 9″ to use as front girts, two boards to 1′ 1 ¼”, and four boards to 10 ½” for side girts. Install the boards, guided by the diagram below. 

From 1″ x 4″ lumber, cut ten boards to 1′ 1 ½” and secure them using 1 ½” wood screws to create the nesting box floor. Next, prepare two girts 1′ 3 ¼” long and two girts 8 ¼” long from 2″ x 2″ board. Install them on the front frame and the side wall. 

Using the illustration below as a reference, provide a slope for the nesting box lid. You will need two boards cut to 1′ 1¼” long.

Assembling the Nesting Box Frame
Constructing the nesting boxes

Step 5: Installing Sheathing for the Side Wall 

Cut eleven 1″ x 4″ boards to 1′ 4″ length and install them to cover the left wall as shown in the diagram below. Next, cut eleven 1″ x 4″ boards to 1′ 4″ length and install them to create the proper wall sheathing, using the diagram below as reference.

Use 1½-inch wood screws to fasten all the wall sheathing boards in this step.

Installing Sheathing for the Side Wall
Sidewall sheathing

Step 6: Assembling the Roof Frame

You will need 2″ x 3″ boards cut to size to assemble the roof frame. For the rafters, cut four boards to 2′ 10 ½”. 

Next, cut a 2′ 9″ board from 2″ x 3″ lumber to use as a ridge board. 

Using 3-inch ″ and 5-inch ″ wood screws, connect the beam to create the roof frame using the diagram below as your guide.

Assembling the Roof Frame
Coop’s roof framing

Step 7: Installing the Front Wall Sheathing

Cut eight 1″ x 4″ boards to 3′ 8 ½” length and six 1″ x 4″ boards to 1′ 6 ½” length for the front wall. Using the illustration below as a reference, install the sheathing by fastening the boards with 1½-inch wood screws. Once all the boards are secure, cut the top edges to fit the rafters.

Next, cut one board 3 ¼” x 1′ 9 ¼” from 1″ x 4″ lumber and install it at the bottom of the door opening as shown in the diagram.

Installing the Front Wall Sheathing
Front wall sheathing

Step 8: Installing Back Wall Sheathing

For the back wall, you will need ten 1″ x 4″ boards cut to 3′ 10 ½” length and three 1″ x 4″ boards cut to 2′ 11 ¼” length. Using the diagram below as a guide, secure the boards with 1½-inch wood screws, then cut them to fit the rafters.

Next, cut one board to 1′ 5 ½” length for the door header and three boards to  3 ¼” length for the door bottom, from 1″ x 4″ lumber. Secure the boards with 1½-inch wood screws.

For the door, cut a 1′ ½” x 1′ 2″ plane from a  ⅝” plywood sheet and use 2″ x 3″ boards to make the chicken door guides. You need two boards cut 2′ 4 ¾” for the guides. 

Using the diagram below as a reference, cut the recesses to allow the door to slide up. 

Installing Back Wall Sheathing
Back wall sheathing

Step 9: Installing Nesting Boxes Sheathing

Sheathing the nesting box takes only 1″ x 4″ boards. You want to create a robust surface that will hold eggs in place and stand the test of time. 

Cut eleven boards  1′ long and six 1′ 5 ¼” long from 1″ x 4″ lumber, and install them guided by the diagram below. Cut the top edges of the planks to fit the frame girts. 

Next, cut six boards 1′ 1 ½” long and install them to partition the nesting box, as shown in the diagram below. The topmost board in each partition is trimmed to fit the slope of the nesting box lid.

You will be using 1½-inch wood screws in this step.

Installing Nesting Box Sheathing
Nesting boxes sheathing

Step 10: Installing the roof

Roofing a chicken coop can be challenging since you may need a ladder and the help of another person

For the roof sheathing, you need twenty 1″ x 4″ boards cut to a length of 4′. After cutting the boards, use the diagram below as a reference and fasten the boards with 1½-inch wood screws.

Next, cut four boards 3′ 4″ long and three boards 1′ ½” long for the nesting box lid top and bottom, respectively. Join the boards to cover the nesting box and trim the edges of the bottom girts to fit the nesting box slope angle. 

Installing the roof
Installing the roof sheathing

Step 11: Installing the Coop’s Corrugated Roofing

After installing the roof sheathing, the next step is to install corrugated roofing. A 4′ x 6′ chicken coop is relatively small, requiring only two pieces of corrugated roofing panels, each 3′ ¼” x 4′ ¾”. You will also need one piece of corrugated roofing panel measuring  1′ 3″ x 3′ 4¾” to cover the nesting box lid. 

Place the roofing panels properly and fasten them with ½-inch sheet metal screws with a neoprene washer. With the corrugated roofing panels in place, crown the roof with a metal roof ridge cap  4′ ¾” long. A ridge cap prevents rainwater and snow from entering the chicken coop, which would deteriorate its structural integrity.

Once you finish the roof, connect the nesting box lid to the side wall with the help of two 3″ x 3″ tee hinges. Hinges allow the lid to swing, which makes egg harvesting hassle-free

Use the diagram below as a reference for this step. 

Installing the Coop's Corrugated Roofing
Corrugated roofing panels installation

Step 12: Assembling and Installing the Front Door

A chicken coop doesn’t require a complicated door. Even so, the door needs to be sturdy enough to deter predators. 

To build the door frame, you will need two boards 1′ 9″ long for horizontal girts and one board 2′ 5 ½” for the cross brace. Next, cut six boards 2′ 4 ¼” long for the exterior siding. The boards should be 1″ x 4″. 

Join the door frame and fasten the exterior siding using 1½-inch wood screws. 

Once you have assembled the door, install two 3″ door hinges, affixing them with six 1-inch ″ wood screws. Attach a 6″ door handle and a 3″ slide bolt to finish the installation.

Use the illustration below as a reference.

Assembling and Installing the Front Door
Building the door frame

Step 13: Assembling and Installing Aviary’s Door

The aviary’s door is relatively easy to build. To get started, cut two 2″ x 3″ boards to 3′ 6 ½” to use as vertical girts and two 2″ x 3″ boards to 1′ 4 ¼” to use as horizontal girts. From 2 “x3″ lumber, cut one more board 3′ 4 ¾” to use as a cross brace. 

Assemble the boards with 5-inch  ″ wood screws to build the aviary’s door frame.

Next, install two 3″ door hinges using 1-inch wood screws, then attach a 6″ door pull and 3″ surface bolt to finish the installation. 

Use the diagram below as a reference for this step. 

Assembling and Installing Aviary’s Door
Aviary’s door assembly

Step 14: Assemble the Chicken Ladder

To build a ladder for your birds, you will need three 1″ x 2″ boards cut 11″ and two boards 2′-6 “cut from 1″ x 6″ lumber. Assemble the ladder by joining the beams using 1½-inch wood screws. 

Use the diagrams below as a reference when assembling and positioning the ladder.

Assemble the Chicken Ladder
Building a chicken ladder

Step 15: Install Mesh Wall

You are almost done with the exterior of your coop. 

Using the diagram below as a guide, cover the wall with a ¼” wire mesh and secure it into place using an industrial stapler. You will need about 45 square feet of wire mesh for this coop.

Install Mesh Wall
Covering coop’s run with mesh wall

Step 16: Assembling the Roost

The roosting bar is an essential component of any chicken coop, and it provides a comfortable place for your chickens to perch when resting and sleeping at night.

Considering that you need to provide 12 inches of roosting space per chicken, you must assemble two roosts to suit a flock of six birds. 

From a 2″ x 2″ lumber, cut two boards  3′ long and install them between the front and back walls using the illustration below as a guide. 

Assembling the Roost
Roosting bar installation

Step 17: Assembling a Lever to Open the Door

You should install a dooropening lever l to enjoy convenience when opening the coop.

Install a clamp at the ridge board above the coop’s door to improvise a lever. Next, drill a hole in the front wall under the door, and pull a rope through the hole. Connect this rope with the chicken coop door and the other end to the handle. 

For proper installation, use the diagram below as a guide. You can lubricate the grooves with soap for better glide.

assembling a lever to open the door
Door opening lever assembly

Decorate Your Chicken Coop

Congratulations! You have built your chickens a safe, cozy place they can call home. You can finish it using your favorite paint, stain, or clear wood preservative.

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