We’ve compiled a list of the best free chicken coop plans from across the internet. Scroll through below and pick out a design that’s best for your backyard or urban poultry needs.
There a variety of different coop styles to choose from.
There are triangular, A-frame coops that are easily portable. There are colorful, shed hen houses, a chicken tractor farm that is pulled by a trailer hitch around the yard, there are elevated hutches with corrugated pergolas, stately chicken palaces, whimsical hotels, and extra-long hoop coops.
Many builders take inspiration from a variety of different builds before customizing a coop that best meets their needs.
From our research compiling this list of the best coop project plans, we’ve discovered builders prioritize ventilation, rugged predator-deterrent fencing, and building as big as possible to house extra chicks.
These hen houses are primarily designed to maintain female chickens- keeping them secure and safe from weather and predators. The blueprints frequently include nesting boxes, dropping boards, and enclosed runs where the chickens spend time during the day.
82 Chicken Coop Plans
1. The A-Frame Chicken & Hen Design
Building a chicken coop to keep chickens doesn’t have to be a complicated matter or take days to complete.
Just take a look at this easy chicken coop design provided by Anna White which shows you how to build a small hen coop.
A great feature of this homesteading coop is that it’s portable so that you can move it around your backyard. It will cost you less than $100, and you can have it ready in a couple of hours.
2. The Chicken Run Shed Design
This shed-style chicken coop is perfect for protecting your hens and keeping predators away.
The builder advises that you first determine the type of foundation on which you’re going to build. He recommends pier blocks with 4x4s on the top as the easiest solution.
The design of the coop features a chicken door with a ramp, a sloping roof, a nesting box on the side of the structure, and a window for ventilation. If you like this style, and have some horses on your farm, consider building a DIY horse shelter!
3. The Cozy Roosting Build
Are you wondering how to build a cozy, well-sheltered coop for your chicken? Then you can take a look at these hen house plans.
This raised chicken coop has a slanted roof, a door, a nesting box on the inside, and a ramp for the hens.
However, the plans are advanced and complicated so they might not be suitable for a novice builder. But if you have help from your friends, nothing is impossible.
4. The Free Backyard Design
When it comes to coops, they should be sturdy, well-protected, and well-ventilated and this free chicken coop plans will help you build such one.
This backyard chicken coop has a full floor so that predators can’t get to the hens, it’s weather-resistant and easy to clean. Moreover, you can take it apart and fix it if it gets damaged.
And you don’t need any special materials or skills to build it, just a basic understanding of woodworking.
5. The Kerr Center Tractor Idea
If you want your chickens to have access to fresh air and sunlight and forage the land for food, you need a chicken tractor.
This Kerr Center coop features an enclosed nesting area, a sunshade cloth, a ramp, and a chicken run. Another thing that makes chicken tractors so attractive is that they are mobile, so you can move them around with ease.
To keep the chickens from hungry predators, the builder recommends welded wire.
6. The Large Backyard Build
This large chicken structure measures 8′ x 12′ with a 4′ x 8′ chicken coop.
Some of the most impressive features of this big coop are the vinyl flooring, the pop door, the beautiful nesting box, the vents, and the corrugated Tuflex panels covering the roof.
The builder recommends that you put full hardware cloth underneath the frame to prevent foxes and coyotes from digging underneath. There are illustrations and step-by-step instructions, so this is suitable even for novices.
7. The Easy Backyard Poultry Design
This pretty backyard chicken coop features a roof with asphalt shingles, window shutters, and a nesting box on the side.
The builder advises that you use weather-resistant lumber for the coop and that you take accurate measurements before you start cutting the wood.
You can adjust the design to suit your backyard, but you have to follow the provided instructions carefully. Also, there are plans how to build a chicken coop nest that you can check.
8. The Extra Large Amish House Build
If want to raise 20-30 chickens in your backyard, then you need a large chicken house just like this one.
It has a large front door, side windows, a gable roof, and nesting boxes on the sidewall.
Moreover, the design features an 8 x 10 chicken coop run where your hens can dig the ground. The builder recommends cedar as a building material because it’s weather and rot-resistant.
9. The DIY Hatchery Build
Are you looking for cool ideas for chicken coops? Then you have to see this DIY hatchery.
It has guillotine-style doors so that you can let the chickens out, tongue and grove sidings, and a poop hammock which makes cleaning the coop house easier than ever.
But the instructions are on the thin side, so it’s better if you do know how to build a chicken coop.
10. The Palace Design
This fancy chicken coop house measures 12x 6 feet, and it’s perfect for 5-7 hens.
It has a sloped floor for water drainage, access doors so that you can gather the eggs quickly, and a raised foundation to avoid flooding. Moreover, this elevated chicken coop is built sturdily to withstand tropical storms.
The builder recommends that you use Google SketchUp to modify the design to suit your backyard.
11. The Urban Hen Plan
If predators are an issue for you, then this raised hen coop is what you want. It lies on cedar posts, which are set in concrete, and it has an enclosed area beneath covered with 1/2″metal hardware cloth.
This backyard chicken coop also has a sloped roof, two doors (one for people, one for the chickens) and a small gate in the enclosed cage, which gives your hens access to the large chicken run.
12. The DIY Wood Pallet Project
A mini hen farm is a solution when you want a large chicken coop for your backyard. This one has a large chicken run surrounded by wire to keep your hens safe and a bungalow style coop with a nesting area where your chickens can sleep during the night.
The fantastic thing about this chicken coop design is that you need some pallets, chicken wire, and a metal roof and you’re good to go. Moreover, the nesting box has a hinged lid so that you can take the eggs without entering the coop.
13. The City Farm Ultra Decorative Plan
This small chicken coop is perfect for you if you want something easy to build over the weekend. And it has some amazing features including a clean out tray and a planter on the top, where you can grow vegetables or flowers.
Moreover, this simple chicken coop has a ramp so that your hens can climb inside and an easy to access chicken nesting box on the side.
14. The Farmer Kitty’s Plan
You can build this wood chick coop out of 2’x4’s and several sheets of plywood. This hen coop has two doors – one for you and one for the chicken.
The chicken door has a removable door panel, which is great because you can let your chicken out during the day and keep them inside during the night. What’s more, you can use this poultry coop as a calf hutch in times of need.
15. The Coq au Vin Windowed Design
This fancy chicken house with a run is perfect for a large backyard. It has the usual coop features including a built-in closet where you can keep poultry supplies (chicken feed, pine shavings, etc.)
The builder recommends that you attach 2ft hardware cloth to the 4x4s that you’re going to use to build the coop. You anchor the foundation with steel fence t-posts.
16. The Pallet Palace Awning Coop Build
This chicken coop with a large chicken run is built out of 22 standard oak pallets while the chicken run is made of 8′ garden timbers set in concrete.
What’s great about this free hen plan is that the builder offers useful instructions how to build nesting boxes for your chickens and how to decorate the interior of your chicken coop. The top of the chicken run here is covered with deer netting to prevent predators from carrying away your hens.
17. The Free Recycled Pallet Idea
If you have some old pallets, you can use this chicken coop plan to build a strong house for your hens and roosters. The design is simple, and you can use ply boards to panel the house from the inside and put up roosts.
There are also some ideas on how to make a chicken run, but make sure that you have someone to help you with the heavy lifting.
18. The Feather Factory Plan
What makes this chicken coop design unique is the fiberglass roof panels that filter the light and keep the building cool in summer. What’s more, this hen house has hatch windows and an opening in the roof for ventilation.
There’s also a pop door with a pulley so that you can open it from the gathering hatch. The builder also offers you some advice on how to place the roosts.
19. The Orange Ventilated Shanty
This poultry house design has some amazing features that will make life easy for you and your chickens. I’m talking about the removable roosts, the sweep doors, and the electricity for feeders and the lights.
Moreover, the builder shows you how to build an enclosed hallway from the coop to the chicken run. He advises that you install hardware cloth under the roofs to keep predators away.
20. The Permanent Hoop Plan
If you are on a tight budget and you’re wondering how to build a cheap chicken coop, you can try this design. It’s a very sturdy structure that will withstand even heavy snow, and you can permanently attach it to the ground.
Moreover, this hoop chicken coop has two strands of electric wire to keep animals away, and the instructions are detailed so that it won’t be too hard to build it in your backyard. But make sure that you have enough space since this is not a small chicken coop.
21. The Country Style Log Cabin Design
If you are in a mood for improvisations, you can try this log chicken coop design. The builder uses 2.5″ to 3.5″ logs in diameter, and the foundation for the coop measures 6′ x 6′.
It lies on concrete blocks so that your chickens can go under the coop to forage the land. This chicken hen coop also has a 1.5′ x 3′ egg access door and a 3’ x 2’ front door. To completely fox-proof this log hen house the builder wraps it in wire inside and out.
22. The Converted Swingset Coop Build
A swing-n-slide set might still have a useful application even when your children have grown up. For example, you can use this design to turn it into a large chicken coop with a run. The builder shows you everything step-by-step and gives you some cool ideas, including how to incorporate a camper’s pet cool adapter to keep the chickens warm in winter.
23. The Sunrise Chicks Run Style Design
If you want a chicken coop with a large chicken run, you can check these plans. Here the run measures 40′ x 60′ x 6′ and it’s covered at the bottom with 2″ reinforced chicken wire. Since you might need to mow the run from time to time, the design features double doors opposite the coop.
A chute connects the coop and the run, and the nesting boxes are put on shelves for easy cleaning.
24. The Attached South City Coop​ Build
What’s great about this hen coop is that it has an automatic pop door that opens and closes on a schedule. In addition to this, the x10 controller that the builder uses, allows him to control the pop door manually from his iPhone.
The coop measures 6′ x 3′ x 6′ with a 14′ x 3′ x 40″ run, and it provides natural light for your hens and plenty of ventilation thanks to the rear-wall and soffit vents.
25. The Stilted Chick Farm Design
When you don’t have a large backyard, but you still want to raise chicken this small coop will come in handy. It’s suitable for four hens with 32 sq/ft of space. The leg posts are made of rot-resistant cedar, and the builder uses r-13 batt insulation for the walls. The nesting box has a top-hinged lid, and the roof is removable to allow access to the inside of the coop.
26. The Wire Spool Nesting Box Idea
If you have some recycled wire spools, you can try building this chicken nesting box. The builder uses a five-foot biddy wire, but he recommends that you use a six-foot wire if you can find one. This chicken cage design is suitable for pigeons and small bantam chickens, but there aren’t detailed instructions of the building process, so you’ll have to improvise.
27. The Easy Egg Gather Coop Build
These free chicken coop plans are perfect if you want to build a hen house that allows you to gather the eggs, feed, and water the chicken without breaking a sweat. Moreover, the plans are available in a PDF file so that you can consult them during the building process.
This 4 x 6 hen coop can accommodate 10-12 chickens comfortably, and you don’t need any special tools – just a circular saw, a hammer, and nails.
28. The Hardscrabble Tin Roof Design
An impressive feature of this chicken coop pen is that the roof is hinged, which allows you to clean the inside of the coop and feed and water hens quickly.
Moreover, this cute house for chickens has a door at the bottom so that you can let birds out during the day. On the other hand, the top area of the coop can be closed off during the night thanks to a string attached to the ramp.
29. The Ultimate Coop Build
A big chicken coop like this will offer protection to your hens and a place for them to lay the eggs. It’s suitable for eight or more chickens, and there is even a place left for a storage area. The plans explain everything in detail, and you can download them in a PDF file. The builder recommends that you do your own research and make readjustments to the design to suit your local environment.
30. The Rustically Whimsical Build
This small coop requires nothing more than some basic carpentry skills, determination, and motivation. It’s made of recycled materials, and it’s designed to be open on three sides for maximum ventilation.
What gives this coop this unique look is the old paint-chipped windows, which opens to allow you access to the inside so that you can change the pine shavings. To predator-proof the coop, the builder has wrapped it in 1/2 x 1/2 inch hardware cloth.
31. The Super Large Coop Design
Building a large chicken coop with a run might seem a daunting task, but now you have these easy step-by-step plans and illustrations to help you. The design is for an 8×8 coop, a 10×8 chicken run, and a stackable nesting box with four compartments.
To make it simple for you to build this coop, the plans are available for download in PDF format, and there is a list of the necessary materials.
32. The Red Barn DIY Shed Plan
These DIY chicken plans will help you build an elegant chicken coop in no time. There are several designs available to you including an impressive condo coop that will make your neighbors green with envy. The builder recommends that you follow the provided instructions carefully and cut the exact dimensions.
33. The Free Downeast Thunder Farm Project
Are you looking for a fox-proof chicken house? Then check this impressive hen coop with a slanted steel roof. It measures 4’x 8’ – the size of a plywood piece to make the construction process easy and it has an 8’x 12’ chicken yard with deer netting on top and 2′ deep buried wire on the bottom.
Another excellent thing about this coop is that it has a locked egg box and a clean out door.
34. The Tractor Plan
A chicken tractor is a perfect choice for you if you want a mobile chicken coop. This one is made of standard size lumber and PVC pipes for the arches. You can find everything you need at the hardware store or Home Depot. The only special tool that you’ll need is a jigsaw. The builder recommends that you don’t use chicken wire to cover the arches but welded wire instead.
35. The 18 Coop Design
If you are searching for a chicken coop that can house 18 chicks comfortably, you’ve found the right design. This large 18 chicken coop comes with illustrative pictures, step-by-step instructions, and dimensions in decimals and fractions. The chicken cage measures 5′ x 5′, and the nesting boxes – 5′ x 1′ 10 1/2″.
36. The Small Plywood Build
These plans are for building a small chicken coop 8×8 in size, which is suitable for 15-20 hens. The chick house has a 12″ x 12″ cupola, 3/4″ plywood flooring, and a tilt-in window. The builder recommends that you place the coop in a well-drained area and that you plan windows which open to provide light and ventilation. The design also includes a storage area for your poultry supplies.
37. The Backyard Run Coop Idea
In just six steps you can have a small backyard chicken coop for 3-4 hens thanks to this plan. To build it, you need some chicken wire, 2x4s, and scrap wood. However, keep in mind that the instructions are not detailed and you’ll have to fill the gaps by yourself. The design also features a cupola, a shingled roof, and a custom-made door latch. Also, make sure that you build the walls tightly to prevent drafts.
38. The DIY Wood Pallet Coop Plan
There is no need to look for a chicken coop for sale when you can build one from recycled pallets. Depending on how many chickens you want to raise, you can tweak the design, just make sure that you build a solid base. If you wish to add character to your chicken coop or make it fancier, you can paint it.
39. The Narrow Style Baby Project
Are you wondering how to build outdoor chicken pens? Then these plans for a PVC hen run and coop are for you. The builder offers you three designs – old style, new style, and small, narrow portable poultry pen. He also shows you how to make PVC hinges. The plans are available for download.
40. The Extra Small Backyard Coop Plan
For two to four chickens, you can use this plan to build an easy chicken coop. What’s excellent about this hen house is that it has two doors – one small for ventilation and keeping the chickens inside during the night and one big for cleaning the house. The builder also includes instructions on how to make an optional vent door.
41. The Narrow Red Farm Coop Design
This modern chicken coop is made of recycled materials, and it’s completely predator-proofed. The design also features skylights, a ramp, roosting bars, and vinyl flooring. Another impressive thing is the DIY chicken feeder which will make feeding the chicken a piece of cake. The builder recommends that you cover the chicken run with sand because it will be easier to clean.
42. The Stilt Elevated House Build
This pretty chicken house is perfect for up to 12 chickens. It has a drop-down side allowing easy access to the inside of the house which is perfect because you can clean it with minimal efforts. Among the other fantastic features of this poultry house are the nesting box with an open-top, the basket hook to gather the eggs quickly, and the ramp for the chickens.
43. The Farm And Ranch Coop Design
This large modern hen coop is made out of oak lumber. It has a 6’ 4” x 2’ 6” door, a metal roof with Plexiglas skylights, six nesting boxes, and roosting poles. It’s an impressive construction, and you’ll need four rolls of poultry netting or rabbit wire to secure it against predators. The instructions are scanty, but there is a list of building materials and dimensions, so it’s suitable for an advanced builder.
44. The Upcycled Trampoline Shed Run Build
A portable chicken coop is perfect when you don’t want to keep your hens in one place. This mobile coop has a top that opens for gathering the eggs, wheels to move it around easily, and chicken wire around the side and the bottom for safety. What distinguishes this chicken coops from the others is that the builder uses an old trampoline to make a chicken run.
45. The Upcycled Outhouse Design
This unusual chicken coop looks stylish and fancy, and it will be a nice addition to any backyard. However, there are no detailed instructions regarding how to build this small chicken coop, so you’ll have to improvise and be creative.
46. The Upcycled Plastic Playhouse Coop Idea
If you love to recycle or transform unnecessary objects into useful ones, this chicken coop plan is perfect for you. Thanks to it, you can turn an old playhouse into a hen house. That’s probably one of the easiest chicken coops to make because you just have to cover the windows with chicken wire and install a nesting box. The builder also offers instructions on how to add a chicken run next to this pretty hen house.
47.The Harriet House Build
This 4 hen chicken coop measures 28″ x 40″, and it has an attached chicken run. The nesting box is on the outside for your convenience, and the frame of the coop is wrapped in wire mesh. To add character to this chicken coop, the builder covers the roof with asphalt shingles. The construction might seem simple at first, but it’s more suitable for advanced builders than novices.
48.The Under $50 Coop Design
If you want an easy and cheap chicken coop, this design might come in handy. The only thing that you need is an old crib that you’re going to fashion into a chicken house by covering the top, installing the chicken wire, and cutting a door for the hens. However, keep in mind that this is suitable for free-range chickens, which won’t spend all day locked inside.
49. The Portable Miniature Coop Plan Design
To make a chicken house that is cheap, secure, and portable you need this mini coop plan. It’s suitable for three-four hens, and you can build it for less than $100. You just need standard welded wire fencing and a plastic, barn-style doghouse. You’ll have to get hog rings and pliers. This construction is so light that you can pull it to a new spot every few days so that your hens can have fresh grass at their disposal.
50. The Flat Broke Tractor Build
A chicken tractor is a useful construction for keeping hens safe and providing shelter and water.
Moreover, since it’s mobile, you can move it around your backyard. This small chicken tractor can house five chickens comfortably, and you can use pallets and 2x4s to build it. The floor and the exterior walls are covered with 1/2″ plywood fixed with 4″ screws. For ventilation, there is a 4″ gap between the top of the wall and the roof, which is wrapped with hardware cloth for protection.
51. The Geodesic Dome House Project
If you are looking for a unique chicken coop, you can try this small geodesic dome coop. The dome is 50 cm high with a 30 cm triangular entrance and a ramp for the chicken.
It looks tiny in the picture, but it’s more spacious than you expect. This cheap hen pen is suitable for up to four chickens, and it’s raised 40cm off the ground to keep moisture away. It lies on a table-like structure, which allows you to lift the dome to collect the eggs and clean the inside.
52. The Recycled Dog House Coop Plan
If you don’t want to build a chicken coop from scratch, and you want something cheap and easy, try this unusual hen coop design. The builder uses a recycled dog house measuring 4ft by 3ft and 1x2s and 2x2s wood to make the frame for the chicken run.
He warns that the dog house should be propped on blocks for safety. You can choose whatever form you want for the run. There are clear instructions on how to transform the dog house into a chicken coop so that it won’t be hard even for a beginner.
53. The Urban Cube Design
What’s impressive about this urban chicken coop design is that it has an eco-roof where you can plant vegetables or flowers. The hen chicken coop has a slanted roof, windows covered with wire for protection, a chicken pop door, and a ramp.
The eco-roof has a rain chained installed. The builder provides plenty of instructions and pictures to make it easy for you to build this urban chicken coop, and he highly recommends Google SketchUp as a visualization tool.
54. The Church-Themed House Build
If you want something that will leave your neighbors with an open mouth, try this cool chicken coop design. It features a church-like coop with large doors on both sides, a plywood floor covered with vinyl, and six windows, including two rose windows. During winter, you can use the Plexiglas sheet slide to cover the windows and the sides. Another impressive thing is the automatic door locking mechanism and the fact that the chicken coop is a hybrid between stationary one and a mobile one.
55. The Choo Choo Coop Design
This mobile chicken coop looks so much like a steam train engine that your friends will want one for themselves. It even has wheels and an old stove pipe to complete the picture. Another impressive thing about this unique chicken coop is the chicken run with its arched roof and the nesting boxes, which are made from old cat litter tubes. The builder also provides some good tips on how to protect your chicken coop from predators.
56. The Upcycled Steel Swing Set Coop Plan
An old steel swing could turn into an A-frame chicken coop very quickly if you have the necessary skills, time, and a good plan to follow. This impressive metal hen house is covered in part with iron sheeting, so it will be it a challenge to move it when it’s finished. Keep that in mind and choose a nice place for it in your backyard.
57. The Blue & White Shed Build
This blue and gray trimmed chicken coop has shuttered windows and is decorated with hanging flowers. The builder says that she was looking to build a traditional shed type of coop with a basic door on one of the side and a slightly sloping roof.
The windows are upcycled and you might be able to source them from a local garage sale or church bazaar. For the framing, they employed 2 x 3s, which they said were more difficult to work with you and 2 x 4s.
Instructions include a comprehensive cut list to do the floor, the front wall, the side walls, the back wall, the roof framing, and the siding. Once it’s assembled, you’ll want to plug up the holes with wood filler and then sand it down in the direction of its grain with 120 grit sandpaper.
One experienced chicken herd suggested that the chicken flaps should open towards the inside of the coop so that you won’t have to go into it to close it.
58. The Traditional Shed Style Coop Design
This permanent hoop coop is marketed as an easy to build and inexpensive option. The backyard farmer comments that it took a while to get done because of snowy weather but that he ended up building a heavy-duty option built to withstand the test of time.
It’s engineered to be anchored to the ground and the builder used 2 electric wire strands looped around the perimeter to prevent predators from frightening the chickens.
A huddle box is also installed inside. The instruction plan is, thankfully, pretty robust and the materials list includes decking screws, cattle panels, double joist hangers, pipe insulation, heavy-duty ball watches, heavy-duty hinges, galvanized washers, hardware cloth and turf stakes.
59. The Permanent Hoop Coop Plan
This portable poultry pan is provided by PVCplans.com. It comes in a handy PDF that prints out to 8 pages. The guide covers the materials required and the assembly instructions. The builder uses 1″ Sch-40 PVC.
60. The Easy DIY Nest Plan
This easy DIY chicken coop plan is provided by Organicconsumers.org. In their introduction, they write that this free sample plan is for a hen house- it’s named Harriet’s House after one of the chickens the builders had.
Helpfully, the project plans outline how many birds it will hold- in this case, 4 to 5 birds with a pair of nest boxes, and an attached run. The assembled dimensions will be 40″ x 144″ while the coop itself is 28″ x 40″.
The instructions will walk you through how to assemble the base frame, attach its vertical legs to the base frame, attach the upper frame to its vertical legs, how to install the coop floor support, install the roof trusses, insert the coop floor, add the sidewall and back wall, supplement it with the plywood roof deck, build the ramp and even how to construct the removable slide-out perch.
61. The Kerr Center Tractor Plan
Instructions for this chicken tractor provides a full description and parts list. This particular style of build is especially secure but also portable, meaning that chickens will have complete access to fresh air and sunlight.
It will also enable them to scratch and forage the ground for food. If you build one of these expect to move it around routinely. It is a particularly healthy and humane alternative to traditional farming methods that can be unethically confining, some say. In their introduction, they pay homage to other styles of chicken coop kits, but this one was built completely from scratch.
On the inside of the shelter, there are nesting boxes that set a foot above the floor. You may be wondering how do you move such a heavy structure.
The way it’s done is by employing a Kawasaki Mule- it’s an off-road utility vehicle that uses a cable to hitch it up and tow it around. In terms of materials, you’ll need to buy some 2 x 4 lumber, gauge welded wire, eye bolts, eye screws, outdoor wood screws, medium hinges, strap hinges, plastic zip ties, and nylon cord.
62. The Large Coop Build
This large chicken coop design is provided by the Readystore.com. It measures 8′ x 12′, and the coop itself measures 4′ x 8′. They used hardware cloth to layer it beneath the framing apron to ensure that predators can’t dig up and under the coop. Zip ties bind the hardware cloth together. They used green sea corrugated Tuftex paneling for the roof.
63. The The Feather Factory Plan
The Feather Factory chicken coop was conceived in 2009 as a home for some backyard hens. The builder had several checks-a Rhode Island Red, a Black Australorp, a Silver Wyandotte, a Buff Orpington, and an Easter Egger.
Before he began building this novice woodworker listed out requirements that included aesthetics, security, ventilation, and drainage, unobtrusiveness, and construction materials. In particular, he wanted something that was attractive so it wouldn’t annoy the neighbors and he wanted it properly secured with a 4-foot chain-link fence to protect it from his cats and dogs as well as wildlife predators.
He used smoke gray fiberglass roof panels, which they say were are one of the more expensive purchases for this project. On the interior, there is a feeder, water as well as nesting boxes.
One error that he made, he says, that because the roosters were not effectively planned, he didn’t install a poop board, which means they defecate over the feeder. Another bit of advice, if you can make your coop bigger, you might want to consider doing that. When he started he didn’t realize that eventually he would want to buy more chickens than he currently has.
64. The 8 x 8 Layer Plywood Coop Project
This small chicken house measures 8′ x 8′ and can accommodate 15 to 20 hens. This complete manual provides some perspective on building a small scale poultry house. Indeed, some of the initial construction criteria included adequate protection from predators, theft, injury, and bad weather.
They write that because poultry needs a draft-free and dry area, installing opening and closing windows for ventilation it was imperative. As well, you should always build your coop in a well-drained area up high to ensure that it isn’t plagued by extended periods of water saturation and dampness.
They also say you might want to consider installing a cement floor to prevent snakes, rodents and other pesky predators from digging under the walls and up through the floors. Some other requirements include perches and nests- the manual says that for each perch day there should be 6 to 10 inches of perch space. And for every 4 to 5 flock of females, there should be one nest.
Another handy bit of wisdom they passed along is that if you’re trying to produce eggs you need to have a source of light. Most poultry houses that are small will have one light located directly above the watering and feeding area. They also advise that quality air movement will vent in oxygen helping to decrease carbon dioxide, ammonia and excessive moisture in the air.
65. The Yellow & Green Deer Netting Coop Plan
This yellow and green chicken coop project is fortified, the builder says, like Fort Knox. It’s engineered to withstand the predation of critters like bobcats, foxes, hawks, bears, eagles, raccoons, weasels, rats and coyotes.
It has some unique and prominent features- a 4′ x 8′ footprint with a chicken yard that measures 8′ x 12′. Deer netting runs along the top of the chicken run and there is a locking door on the outside for egg collection.
As well, for enhanced predator deterrence, the chicken coop is electrified to power a motion-detecting sensor flood light. In addition, the electrical wiring helps provide heating in the form of a winter water heating pad. Because the builder lives in a snowy climate, Maine, the roof is slanted to make snow removal easier.
66. The A-Frame Coop Design
This ‘A’ frame chicken coop creates a triangular structure made of wood that costs under $100. The builder says that it was an easy to build and portable option- a brooding cabinet that helps protect their flock from eagles and hawks in Alaska. They move the A-frame around the yard to help fertilize it.
The upper portion includes the nesting box and is roughly 10 ft.² with the 40 ft.² of run beneath it. One commenter says that raccoons are capable of tearing through the chicken wire- they recommend using welded wire, which is more expensive but definitely more durable.
Another commenter says that they don’t actually heat there a chicken coop- they find that their chickens actually grow thick feather layers in colder temperatures and huddle for warmth to adapt. Yet another builder comments that they have constructed something similar and modified it to include a waterer, feeder, PVC ladder, and a bottom coop door to enable chickens to free range.
67. The Log Cabin Coop Build
This log cabin chicken coop is certainly rustic. It hails from South Carolina. It sits on cinder blocks and the instructions walk you through creating this foundation layout.
Because they live in the woods, they were especially keen to protect their poultry from owls, dogs, coyotes, and foxes that run amok in the area. The interior is coated with durable wiring stapled every 1 to 2 in.².
The door is custom-built, upcycled from some leftover home construction lumber. The run is framed with logs that are over 6 feet high- this means you don’t have to hunch over when you enter into it. After constructing it, they bought some six-week-old hens from a local Georgia area farmer. They ended up with three heritage breeds, two of each.
68. The 1895 Coop Design
This large and spacious chicken farm house harkens back to the 19th century with a traditional build. It’s built using a circular saw, jigsaw, hammer, electric screwdriver, level, metal shears, and wire cutters.
This build is inspired by a famous Kentucky home that had a resplendent chicken house and brooder house on the property. The plans re-create it and preserve its ease of use and maintenance with protective wire screening and drop through perches that are totally enmeshed in their own style of protective wire.
69. The Small Backyard Coop Build
This small backyard DIY chicken coop is great if you don’t have a lot of space. The woodworker says that the initial building criteria included the capacity to accommodate 2 to 4 chickens at a time, ease of assembly, and he also wanted it to be able to double as a transport carrier.
The city builder makes clear that this is predominately engineered for urban areas where there aren’t as many predators.
Because it is so small and portable the security features are not very robust. In this instance, because the wire is not dug 6 to 12 inches into the ground, which would prevent it from being mobile, it also means that predators can dig under and potentially main the poultry. In addition, since the chickens mainly spend time inside the coop at night and free-range during the day, the run area is really not designed to be a functional space for 4 chickens at a time.
70. The Sunrise Chicks Coop Design
The Sunrise chicks coop is a pretty large structure- it hails from Mississippi and includes a 40′ x 60′ run. They use welded wire and reinforced the bottom 2 feet with chicken wire.
A chute connects the coop to the run and this door can be open during the day and then at nighttime secured. On the inside, nest boxes are situated on shelves designed for easy cleanup removal. The roosts themselves are also easily removable so you can clean them.
One consideration, the builder says that he wishes he had made an even bigger than he did considering how much fun he has cultivating chickens. He ended up with 24 chickens living inside of this coop.
71. The Elevated Farmer Shed Idea
Home Garden Design Plan provides instruction plans titled ‘how to build a chicken coop’. This comprehensive guide will walk you through building an 18-chicken capacity coop with a 5′ x 5′ cage and 18′ x 7′ x 8′ building area.
You’ll need to buy a variety of differently shaped lumber including 4′ x 4’s and 2′ x 4’s. The instructions will help you build the perches for the chickens, construct the vents, assemble the cage’s building beams, create a floor system, design a ramp and install wire mesh.
72. The Medium-Sized Coq au Vin Build
This handsome elevated coop is painted a light blueberry blue with attractive wood shingling. The builders live in a suburban area and created it to accommodate six Pullets. They tried to scavenge as much wood as possible, but ultimately they ended up spending around $1,500 to make it visually pleasing to pacify wary neighbors.
73. The $50 Coop Design
If you’re looking for ‘how to build a chicken coop for under $50′, the Weed ’em And Reap website has you covered. The builders write that they love cultivating chickens, especially because they eat such a small amount every day and on average they will produce around a single egg every day of the year.
This means that you can create your own food, taking control of the cultivation process to ensure that everything is organic and free range. In addition, they write that allowing your chickens to free range means that they will not develop as many diseases since they are outside in the fresh air and they also eat a lot more bugs. Interestingly, they say that the more bugs they eat the more Omega-3’s are in each egg.
And finally, it also means that you won’t have to purchase as much feed for them because they are full of all the insects they have foraged. One other consideration is that they say that regular chicken feed is inundated with genetically modified organisms that can make chicken sick.
The herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides used on GMOs along with the antibiotics is genuinely unhealthy for the chickens, and ultimately the eggs that you are consuming. So they upcycled a crib their baby had grown out of and created a simple little design to house their flock.
74. The Mint Green Cedar Shingled Coop Plan
This decorative mint-green chicken coop was built for the purposes of organic food sustainability and to minimize their carbon footprint. It’s elevated 20 inches above ground so that their hens would have a shaded spot to rest during sunny weather as well as to deter predators.
They say that assembling and correctly aligning the doorframes and windows was a little bit tricky-they use two by twos to frame its walls. The metallic roofing was an inexpensive option that they found fairly simple to install and highly waterproof to boot.
Cedar shingles are used for the exterior walls and furring strips that are painted white over the molding around the doors, windows and base. A final fancy touch was the white picket fence that skirts the chicken run.
75. The Real Housewives DIY Coop Project
The real housewives of Riverton Provide construction plans for this elevated light blue chicken shed with shingles. Use two by twos and two by threes to create a roosting bar as well as a ramp to help the chickens get in and out of the coop.
76. The Real Housewives DIY Coop Plan
This Chicken brooding cabinet functions as a bird pet cage. This gorgeous brooding box has a lightbulb on its interior to keep the chicks warm, clean up drawer, and optional shelving. A Commenter says that as an urban henhouse she’s used to seing unattractive, unsightly builds- this is clearly different.
77. The Small Upright Yellow & White Coop Plan
This yellow and white chicken coop with an attached shingled run cost a little under thousand dollars for these inexperienced backyard farmers to build. The dimensions for the coop, the nesting box, the legs and the pen are all helpfully listed out.
Commentators love the yellow and white trim with the added on the flower boxes. Other commenters chimed in to say that they love the design and additionally enjoy sitting in their backyard and watching their chickens, as opposed to watching gruesome late-night television.
78. The Curtained & Functional Coop Design
This fun, rustic chicken coop is marketed as an especially a functional option. The builder says they situated it in a shady area beneath some trees because the summer months get especially brutal in her area. Interestingly, they included a sandy area around the perimeter, as opposed to mulching it, this helps to detect the paw prints of predators.
The coop is also decorated with some picture frames on its back that have been painted over in a white, providing an additional decorative aspect. As well, there are three doors- one to collect the eggs, another on the front and another on the side. The final unique aspect here is the builder’s use of a branch as a curtain rod.
79. The Bluegrass Coop Build
This bluegrass hen coop from Backyardchickens.com was built for a suburban property to house a small flock. It sits on a 5′ x 10′ base with attached welded wire designed to prevent tunneling predators.
It features a double nest box, a pergola-style trellis roof and a green paint trim that attractively contrasts with the natural color of the wood. They say it took about three weeks to build- and they had to rush a bit because their chicks were outgrowing their brooder.
Commenters were impressed by the meticulous planning and the adorable chickens, with some saying they would modify the blueprint to expand its footprint for a bigger flock.
80. The Red, White & Blue Coop Idea
This triangular red white and blue coupe is a patriotic addition- it has an A-frame style with and underneath area that is 8′ x 6′.
A hook on the front accommodates a hanging lantern and a red latching door is a colorful complement to the white painted wood. The builders say it cost around $250 because they use new materials- though if you are comfortable recycling or upcycling spare wood you can probably drive the cost down a bit.
Additionally, because they used hardware cloth instead of employing chicken wire, this added to the expense. But it made it more secure against predators like raccoons that are able to stick their pesky arms through chicken wire holes. They also employed Valspar outdoor paint and also say that the ladder is often an immaterial addition and can also be tricky to clean.
81. The Eggcelsior Plywood Coop Plan
The Eggcelsior is a chicken coop build that comes from Texas. Resourcefully, the woodworker was able to scoop up some free lumber off of Craigslist. The flooring uses three-quarter-inch plywood that was doubled and had overlapping seams.
The porch area makes it look like a old western saloon with faux windows covered by chicken wire. To protect against mildew and rot, the flooring used a water ceiling, fibrous roofing compound to seal it.
For a touch of humor, the builders added a small chalkboard that demands a payment rate for chickens to stay in this hotel-themed chicken coop. One egg will get you a night’s rest, while five eggs will pay for a weekly stay. This is one of the more creative themed backyard chicken coops that we’ve seen in the commenters are in love with it.
82. The Homestead Redhead Coop Plan
Our last blueprint is this uber-functional pallet build with a corrugated tin roof. It was built as a simple solution to house some chicks that had been living with pigs. Some forest sticks were used as roosts and upcycled metal roofing forms the ceiling.
Chicken Breed List
Check out our chicken breed list below- we outlined the different breeds, their weekly egg-laying frequency, their cold resistance, and the color of the eggs they lay. This will be helpful when you select the types of poultry you house in your coop. This list is adapted from mypetchicken.com.
| Chicken Breed | Egg Laying Frequency | Cold Resistant? | What Is The Egg Color? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ameraucana | 3/week | Yes | Light Blue |
| Ancona | 5/week | Yes | White |
| Andalusian | 3/week | No | White |
| Antwerp Belgian Bantam | 2/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Appenzeller Spitzhauben | 3/week | Yes | White |
| Araucana | 3/week | Yes | Light Blue |
| Aseel | 1/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Australorp | 5/week | Yes | Brown |
| Barnevelder | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Belgian Bearded d'Uccle Bantam | 2/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Booted Bantam | 2/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Brahma | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Buckeye | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Campine | 3/week | Yes | White |
| Catalana | 4/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Chantecler | 4/week | Yes | Brown |
| Cochin | 2/week | Yes | Brown |
| Cornish | 1/week | Yes | Light Brown |
| Crevecoeur | 2/week | No | White |
| Cubalaya | 4/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Delaware | 4/week | Yes | Brown |
| Dominique | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Dorking | 3/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Easter Eggers | 4/week | Yes | Green/Blue/Pink/Multi |
| Favaucana | 5/week | Yes | Sage Green |
| Faverolles | 4/week | Yes | Light Brown |
| Fayoumi | 2/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Hamburg | 4/week | Yes | White |
| Holland | 3/week | Yes | White |
| Houdan | 2/week | No | White |
| Japanese Bantam | 1/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Java | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Jersey Giant | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| La Fleche | 3/week | No | White |
| Lakenvelder | 3/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Langshan | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Legbar | 4/week | Yes | Light Blue |
| Leghorn (Non-White) | 3/week | No | White |
| Leghorn (White) | 4/week | Yes | White |
| Malay | 1/week | No | Light Brown |
| Marans | 3/week | Yes | Chocolate |
| Minorca | 4/week | No | White |
| Modern Game | 1/week | No | White |
| Naked Neck (Turken) | 2/week | Yes | Light Brown |
| New Hampshire Red | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Old English Game | 2/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Olive Egger - MPC | 3/week | Yes | Olive Green |
| Orpington | 3/week | Yes | Brown |
| Penedesenca | 3/week | No | Chocolate |
| Phoenix | 1/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Plymouth Rock | 4/week | Yes | Brown |
| Polish | 2/week | No | White |
| Redcap | 3/week | Yes | White |
| Rhode Island | 5/week | Yes | Brown |
| Rosecomb Bantam | 1/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Russian Orloff | 2/week | Yes | Light Brown |
| Sebright Bantam | 1/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
| Sicilian Buttercup | 2/week | No | White |
| Silkie Bantam | 3/week | Yes | Cream or Tinted |
| Star | 5/week | Yes | Brown |
| Sultan | 1/week | No | White |
| Sumatra | 1/week | Yes | White |
| Sussex | 4/week | Yes | Light Brown |
| Welsummer | 4/week | Yes | Chocolate |
| White Faced Black Spanish | 3/week | No | White |
| Wyandotte | 4/week | Yes | Brown |
| Yokohama | 1/week | No | Cream or Tinted |
Summary
That’s our complete coop list. If you end up building one of these, let us know in the comment section and we’ll feature your post on our site!
Hi, my name’s Elena Coolidge. I’m a DIY enthusiast who loves building fun woodworking plans. These DIY plans are fun hobby projects for enthusiasts or even more advanced builders that want to build things like bunk beds, end tables or even a duck box!
