So, you’re planning to construct your personal hen coop.
Don’t panic. Take a deep breath!
In case you are involved that you simply received’t be capable to learn the coop plans and be too technical, you aren’t alone.
I can’t learn and execute constructing plans to avoid wasting my life, but I’ve constructed a complete of 8 coops to date, with extra to return. The chickens don’t care if the corners aren’t sq. or it isn’t the prettiest constructing on the town – it’s draft-free, dry, and retains them secure and heat.
The purpose is, don’t be intimidated. You are able to do this!
Beneath we now have 46 free DIY hen coop plans with easy step-by-step directions. We can even offer you some normal tips about coops to assist easy the trail for you.
The most important hurdle is getting over your fears or anxieties, so sit down, have a glass of wine or a cup of tea and skim on!
Our Alternative for All-In-One Computerized Hen Coop Door
Run Hen
- Works Rain or Shine so that you don’t need to allow them to out in inclement climate.
- Go forward and get these additional hours of sleep or go on trip, our door has you coated.
- Shield your Chickens from Predators with our self-locking function
Our Alternative of Treats for Our Chickens
Our Picks On Finest Hen Coops
Chapter 1
Step-by-Step Directions
What are the ‘Should Haves’ of a DIY Coop?
Earlier than we get to the plans, let’s check out what your coop should present in your hens.
The must-have listing is pretty brief however important:
- Ample house for the hens
- It retains chickens in and predators out.
- Air flow
- Draft free
- Straightforward to scrub and sanitize with good drainage
- Safety from the weather
Let’s have a look at every considered one of these in flip under.
How Huge Ought to Your Coop Be?
To reply this query, it’s a must to know what chickens you’re getting. Are they bantams or giant fowl? Are they thought-about normal dimension or extra-large resembling Jersey Giants?
If in case you have ordered a hatchery, they normally have a useful part within the catalog that gives you house necessities for chickens.
Basically, the next house necessities apply:
- Bantams – 2sq.ft./fowl within the coop, 4sq.ft/fowl within the run.
- Commonplace giant fowl – 4sq.ft/fowl within the coop, 8sq.ft within the run.
- Further-large birds – minimal ft/fowl within the coop, 8sq.ft within the run.
As a word within the plans under, we’ve assumed 3 sq. ft per hen.
A word of warning right here – these are minimal house necessities per fowl. In case you can construct greater, achieve this. You’ll probably get extra birds; this is named ‘hen math’ or ‘extra hens’ illness’!
The coop will be tall sufficient so that you can stroll into, or sufficiently small for the hens and nothing else, your selection.
My desire is a walk-in coop as a result of I don’t need to be leaning over to see what’s occurring contained in the coop or leaning in to ‘muck out’ often.
Measurement necessities within the coop are actually important for the birds’ well-being, particularly within the winter months. Your fairly, lovable hens will begin choosing and plucking at one another in the event that they don’t have enough room in shut confinement.
It may be ugly, so don’t skimp on house in your women.
It truly is vital that you’ve got an connected run space to your coop for additional house. In case you don’t have a run and need to hold your hens locked up on a regular basis, the confined house necessities might be considerably extra.
Benefits of Constructing your Personal Hen Coop
The best and most plentiful materials for coop constructing is wooden.
In case you determine to construct your personal coop, it can save you some huge cash by utilizing freely obtainable stuff, resembling wood pallets. Companies give pallets away free simply to eliminate them. So long as the wooden is heat-treated, it’s tremendous to construct with.
Constructing your personal coop additionally means you get the precise coop you need! One thing distinctive that completely meets your wants.
A phrase of warning right here – many web sites I visited researching this text advocated for utilizing hen wire to cowl home windows and likewise within the run space.
Hen wire is designed to maintain chickens in however is not going to hold predators out.
In case you are involved about holding predators out, I like to recommend studying our article all about computerized hen coop doorways.
It’s best to use wire mesh ({hardware} fabric) no bigger than ½ inch for at the least the underside three ft of the run. You may, if you want, use hen wire greater up.
Raccoons can and can chew via hen wire to get to your birds; {hardware} mesh will hold them out.
This is applicable to all openings, too – home windows and vents.
Utilizing something bigger than ½ inch invitations weasels and different small critters to go to your women…not one thing you need to occur.
Coop Air flow and Entry
Indubitably, air flow to the coop is important. In summer time, the vents will enable the hotter air out, holding the coop cooler, and in winter, it permits the nice and cozy, moist stale air out.
Moist air within the coop throughout the colder months will give your birds frostbite to the combs and wattles, particularly breeds with giant combs and wattles.
It’s the mixture of chilly and moisture on a heat comb that causes the issue.
As opposite as it would sound, air flow will launch the moisture from the coop.
A well-ventilated coop will scale back issues to an absolute minimal.
How huge a vent and the place to place it? The vent needs to be up close to the ceiling, effectively above the heads of your chickens (keep in mind, no drafts).
The overall rule of thumb is 1sq.ft of vent per 10sq.ft of ground house in colder climates.
In hotter areas, extra is healthier to take care of an ambient temperature within the coop. At temperatures over 90F, the chickens will begin to be careworn, which ends up in issues.
A window within the coop will ideally be south going through however will be positioned elsewhere besides the north aspect. The window will enable daylight into the coop and add additional air flow too.
Entry to the coop for you have to be a standard-sized door so that you simply don’t crack your head each time you enter.
Hen entry is by way of a ‘pop’ door. A pop door is just a gap reduce into the coop about 12 inches tall and 14 inches large. The additional width permits for 2 birds to cross within the doorway.
Oftentimes you should have a hen that likes to take a seat within the doorway, so the additional house permits others to return and go.
Location, Location, Location
Attempt to consider all of the issues which may restrict the desirability or accessibility of the coop.
Write your self a listing of fascinating issues for coop location:
- Dry floor, good drainage
- In a sunny spot however shaded from the noon warmth
- Simply accessible for you
- Considerably sheltered from dangerous climate – for instance, you wouldn’t need to place the coop on a excessive spot vulnerable to sturdy winds.
Earlier than you begin constructing your coop, go to your website space within the morning, afternoon, and night and see how the time of day impacts the world. Give it some thought for a couple of days earlier than deciding if the spot is best for you.
In case you dwell in an city setting, ensure the zoning legal guidelines assist you to put up a coop in your yard and hold chickens.
Sadly, many municipalities don’t enable chickens within the city or village or solely enable a sure variety of hens. There are more likely to be guidelines about the place you may place your coop additionally – such at the least of six ft from the neighbors’ fence.
It’s your duty to take a look at the principles and rules. Don’t need to wade via the village by-laws?
Ask your native code enforcement/zoning official; they need to have the ability that will help you.
Hen Furnishings: What to Embody Contained in the Coop
Fortunately, hens don’t require TV, web entry, or many of the issues we people deem mandatory. They do want some fundamental ‘furnishings’ although.
A roosting perch is important for them when they’re sufficiently old to perch. This perch supplies the sleeping space for the hens. They are going to snuggle collectively on the bar in winter and unfold out a bit throughout the hotter months.
Roosting perches ought to enable for 8-12 inches of house per fowl. Chickens sleep ‘flat-footed,’ so the perch needs to be between 2-4 inches large for his or her consolation.
The perfect peak from the ground needs to be 18-24 inches. Any greater and heavier hens run the danger of leg or foot harm when leaping down. Bantams appear to take pleasure in greater perches since they fly so effectively.
Consider carefully the place you’ll put your roost; birds poop over 70% of the entire day by day droppings at night time. In case you plan rigorously, you may simply incorporate one thing like ‘poop boards,’ poop hammock, or different methods to gather and take away the poop mountains.
Tip: don’t place your nest bins below the roost.
I exploit outdated discarded skilled baking trays – they’re stable steel trays about 18×24 inches that sit below the roosts. They’re simple to carry out and empty as mandatory.
Nest bins are the second necessity for hens. The golden rule is one nest field for each 3-4 hens, though they are going to normally have one favourite field, and all will need to use it!
Commonplace-sized birds will match properly right into a 12 x 12-inch field located about 12 inches off the ground. Nest bins needs to be positioned within the darkest a part of the coop since hens do like a bit of privateness when laying their eggs. If in case you have big birds resembling Jersey Giants, the nest field should be bigger to accommodate the hens. Bantams require a lot much less house – about 6 inches per field, however they’ll and can use the ‘huge women’ nest bins.
After all, you will have feeders and drinkers in your flock. The feeder will be hung within the coop, however go away the drinker outdoors in any other case;, it would contribute extra moisture to the coop’s air.
In case your chickens spend most of their time in confinement, chances are you’ll need to contemplate including a tub to their house. And after I say bathtub, I imply a mud bathing space.
Chickens take mud baths to regulate the oils on their our bodies and defend themselves from exterior parasites. In case your birds are in confinement, a mud tub is non-negotiable. Birds that dwell in enclosures are extra vulnerable to contracting parasites. Thus they want entry to a spot to take their day by day baths.
In case you don’t present one, they are going to undoubtedly attempt to make one, even whether it is amongst their droppings.
Mud baths additionally present a component of leisure in your chickens. In case you’ve ever seen a hen bathing themselves, you’ll discover they seem relaxed and content material. Consider a mud tub field as a spa in your chickens.
It doesn’t need to be giant, and all you want is a few dust, diatomaceous earth, or sand. You should utilize a mix of those parts to create a stunning dust tub in your chickens. They are going to adore it.
Hold the mud tub away from the roost and feed areas to stop extreme dropping from falling into it.
Hen Coop Plans
This small hen coop will home 2-3 chickens and prices below $150 to construct. It has 2 hinged doorways – one for entry to the principle space and the second to gather the nest field’s eggs. It’ll take you round one and a half days to construct.
This step-by-step instruction pack reveals you easy methods to construct a 4 × 6 hen coop that can home 10-12 hens. It has a big door for entry, an exterior nest field, and a pitched roof. It may be constructed on stilts, so it’s superb should you don’t need your coop to the touch the bottom.
This plan supplies you with actual dimensions to create a big hen coop for at the least 25 chickens. With opening home windows and a full-size door, it is a luxurious coop for bigger flocks. With 100 sq. ft of ground house, it’s one of many harder plans to construct.
Full with an in depth supplies listing, this plan consists of 3D sketches of the design and a real-life model in your comfort. This massive 128 sq. foot coop is less complicated to construct and might home greater than 25 chickens.
The Hen Mansion is effectively constructed and engaging wanting coop, full with a porch. The coop is 8 × 8 ft. with a 4 x 8 ft. porch connected. We’ve rated this as one of many harder builds as a result of it takes lots of effort and time, however the outcomes are nice.
This slim however tall coop is right for simply 1-6 chickens, however its peak permits an individual to get inside and clear it out. It’s simple, but barely extra on the costly aspect to construct. The roof is kind of simple to connect, although, because it is only one sloped aspect.
You may simply construct this square-shaped plan from recycled supplies, and it’s tall sufficient to stroll into. It’s 8 × 8 sq. ft and might home between 13-24 chickens. The Clutch Hutch has a sloping roof, which permits 6 ft of head peak on the entrance and 4 ft on the again.
In case you’re searching for a novel and different-shaped hen coop, this one is for you. It has a dropdown aspect to make cleansing simple. At 32 sq. ft, it gives you sufficient house for 12 chickens. The plan additionally consists of directions for including air flow to stop overheating.
This 96 sq. foot coop has each a full-size door and a hen door at both finish. The ramp cleverly doubles because the hen door. The plans embrace hand-sketched dimensions of varied elements and step-by-step pictures of it being constructed.
This coop was constructed to be like Fort Knox, holding out predators. It has a locked outdoors the door for egg assortment and a slanted metal roof. The plans embrace detailed pictures of the candy however sturdy-looking coop being constructed.
These 22 sq. foot coop plans come full with a video and step-by-step footage of the coop being constructed. It has shutter home windows with a wire mesh behind it. It could home 7-12 chickens and is comparatively low cost to construct.
This insulated hen coop is a dice form with an fascinating roof. There are home windows on each aspect of the coop and up on the high to let gentle in. The Egg Plant can home 7-12 chickens, though it’s fairly costly and tough to construct.
The Feather Manufacturing facility is 20 sq. ft and might home 7-12 chickens. It has a sloped overhanging roof and opening hatch home windows on either side of the coop. There’s even a gap within the roof for air flow functions.
The plan set comes with a really detailed supplies listing and step-by-step footage of the coop being constructed. Fowl Play is a big coop of 100 sq. ft that may home over 25 chickens. It’s additionally comparatively simple to construct for its dimension.
The unique coop of this plan set was constructed utilizing the supplies of an outdated storage. This drastically reduces prices. It has a fantastically formed roof with a number of home windows to let gentle in. It virtually seems to be like a tiny house! It’s superb for a big flock of chickens as it may well maintain over 25.
This plan will allow you to create a tiny, 8 sq. foot hen coop. It might make an excellent construct for a newbie hen keeper and has a country look to it. It’s simple and low cost to construct and would in all probability home 4 or fewer chickens.
Hen Haven is an opulent and enormous hen coop. It could home over 25 chickens and appears extra like a small annex. It’s 120 sq. ft, has two French doorways for entry, a sliding hen door, and sliding home windows match for an actual home.
This easy box-shaped design has been completed with cedar shakes to present it an attractive end. The nesting field is on the inside, with a hinged door to entry the eggs. It has air flow above the massive entrance door and candy house-like home windows.
This plan set takes you thru a gallery of images to finish the construct. It additionally features a small run space. At solely 10 sq. ft, it may well home 1-6 chickens. It’s of common value and issue to construct. It supplies a number of examples of how the coop will be completed on the outside.
Hope Hut is a 60 sq. foot box-shaped coop with a pitched roof. It could home 13-24 chickens, and it’s extraordinarily low cost to construct. The plan incorporates pure branches to make roosts for the birds. On the entrance wall, there may be additionally a big entry door and window.
This pretty coop seems to be like a postcard cottage. With flower bins below the home windows and a purple exterior, it might make an ideal coop for somebody who desires to lavish their chickens. It’s one of many largest coops we function. At 192 sq. ft, it may well simply home over 25 birds.
This lovely coop is a bit of labor of affection and would make an excellent plan for somebody who desires to create one thing additional particular. It’s raised 32 inches off the bottom to discourage predators and could be very purposeful in that you are able to do all of the cleansing, entry, and getting eggs with out going inside.
This monster of a coop has three rooms – two giant rooms at both finish and one small room as you first stroll in. Within the 160 sq. ft of ground house, you could possibly home over 25 chickens, so it’d make an ideal coop for a big flock.
The coop was constructed equally to a modular house. It was all constructed individually after which assembled in place. Monks Coop is simply 15 sq. ft, in order that it may well home solely 6 or fewer chickens, but it surely’s fairly simple and low cost to construct.
This 10 × 8-foot coop has a gable roof that may home between 13 and 24 chickens. The plans embrace detailed drawings of every aspect’s dimensions after which step-by-step pictures of the complete construct. Contemplating the scale, it’s one of many simpler giant coop plans to construct.
This massive coop will home at the least 25 chickens. At 96 sq. ft, it has a big door for entry, home windows on either side, and a small opening for the chickens with a ramp down. The roof is one steady slope which makes it very easy to placed on.
The Palace Hen Coop is a mixed coop and runs with an exterior nesting field. It has flap home windows that may be propped open and air flow holes across the high. The roof slopes from the entrance to the again, and there’s a small entry door. This coop is appropriate for 7-12 chickens.
The Pallet Palace was constructed utilizing 22 oak pallets. This makes the construct fast and environment friendly. The plans embrace detailed pictures of all of the steps from begin to end. It has 28 sq. ft of ground house and might home 7-12 chickens. It’s additionally extraordinarily low cost to construct should you can supply free pallets.
This hen coop is each fairly and purposeful. Constructed upon a stilted base, it has an exterior egg field with a hinged sloped roof. There are additionally 2 additional entry doorways and air flow alongside the highest of the entrance panel. This coop will home as much as 6 chickens.
This small coop is constructed up on stilts and has two hinged doorways. One opens downwards to take away the eggs, and one opens like a standard door for entry. At 16 sq. ft, you’ll be capable to hold a most of 6 chickens within the Riverton.
It is a mid-sized coop that can home between 13 and 24 chickens. It’s fairly cheap and straightforward to construct, in order that it might go well with a first-time hen keeper. It has a stable-type door that may be opened on the backside, the highest, or each.
Rural Rehatch is a surprising rustic-looking coop that’s 8 × 8 ft. It has a barely sloped roof and a big entrance door. This plan features a supplies listing, sketches, and pictures of the unique construct. It’ll home between 13-24 chickens and is comparatively simple to construct.
South Metropolis is a slim however lengthy coop which could go well with slim a backyard or yard. There are double doorways for entry and a aspect hatch for the chickens. This tiny 8 sq. foot coop might be large enough for as much as 6 chickens, though it’s fairly tough to construct.
This tiny coop could be superb for individuals who need to hold chickens however don’t have a lot out of doors house. At solely 8 sq. ft, you’ll be capable to hold a most of 6 chickens. The Southern Maine is among the best and least expensive plans obtainable.
This small hen coop seems to be like a bit of home within the nation. It has plant bins below the home windows and roofing tiles. The outside nesting field opens upwards to gather eggs. The entire coop is raised on stilts to permit loads of house beneath, which might be sectioned off as a run.
The Nest Egg is appropriate for a medium-sized flock of 13-24 chickens. It has a ground house of 38 sq. ft and has a full-sized entrance door. The exterior nesting field is double-tiered to benefit from the house. The coop can be insulated, which is right for cooler climates.
The unique coop that this plan relies on prices a mere $40 to construct. So, when you’ve got entry to a number of recycled supplies, it might be good for these on a price range. At solely 16 sq. ft, it would home a most of 6 chickens.
This small cube-shaped coop seems to be like a miniature cottage. The home windows are framed with little shutters, and there may be an exterior nesting field to permit for straightforward assortment of eggs. It’s solely 9 sq. ft and can home as much as 6 chickens.
This small hen home incorporates each a coop and a run. It has a small door for entry, and the underside of one of many sides opens as much as enable for straightforward cleansing. It’ll home as much as 6 chickens. Though it’s low cost to construct, it’s on the extra technical aspect to assemble.
This coop is ideal for a small flock of city chickens. It doesn’t take up a lot house, and it’s raised off the bottom to permit them to roam beneath too. It’ll home as much as 6 chickens, and it’s pretty cheap to construct.
The gable-roofed coop is of medium dimension and might home between 13-24 chickens. It’s fairly tough and costly to construct, however its end is high-quality and sturdy. The mainframe is constructed utilizing pallets – fairly a novel and fast technique to construct a coop.
The White Coop is among the smaller and simpler construct plans. It’s a quite simple triangular-shaped coop that requires a lot fewer supplies than most. It has a small entry door on the entrance for cleansing functions and for the chickens to roam out and in.
This Wichita Cabin Coop is a small, easy, and easy-to-use coop – excellent for a small yard flock. It’ll home as much as 6 chickens and one of many harder plans packs we function. It has an exterior nesting field and a slanted roof, which will get decrease towards the again.
This complete plan pack incorporates 34 detailed pages of directions. It has supplies lists, 3D elevations, diagrams of the framing, and step-by-step pictorial directions. Zelda can home as much as 20 chickens, and it’ll take 3-4 days to construct. The general value might be round $450.
It is a easy hen coop. It has supplies lists, 3D elevations, diagrams of the framing, and step-by-step pictorial directions. The Tangled Nest Coop can home as much as 5 giant hens, and it’ll take 3-4 days to construct. The general value might be round $300.
Shed Hen Coop Plan
This complete coop lays all of it out for you. It has supplies lists, 3D elevations, diagrams of the framing, and step-by-step pictorial directions. The Shed Hen Coop plan can home as much as 12 chickens, and it’ll take 3-4 days to construct. The general value might be round $450.
Our Alternative for All-In-One Computerized Hen Coop Door
Run Hen
- Works Rain or Shine so that you don’t need to allow them to out in inclement climate.
- Go forward and get these additional hours of sleep or go on trip, our door has you coated.
- Shield your Chickens from Predators with our self-locking function
Our Alternative of Treats for Our Chickens
Hen Coop Plans: Abstract
No matter you determine in your coop, it must be snug for each your hens and also you. Attempt to make sure that the coop design fits each you and them with ample house for the women and straightforward cleansing for you.
If I had one tip, it might be to make the coop barely bigger than you want!
This manner, you may add a couple of extra hens to your flock without having to construct one other coop.
Lastly, keep in mind you are able to do this!
I can’t learn constructing plans in any respect, but I’ve constructed a complete of 8 coops; don’t be intimidated!
Frequent Questions About DIY Hen Coop Plans
In case you are nonetheless not sure about utilizing DIY hen coop plans, you’ll have extra questions that want addressing. The next ought to assist offer you sufficient confidence to attempt one of many above plans.
Is It Cheaper to Construct Your Personal Hen Coop?
Normally, it will likely be cheaper to construct your personal hen coop. As a bonus, it turns into a lot simpler to regulate your price range and the options you need to embrace, as you received’t end up having to pay additional for one thing you don’t essentially want.
How Do You Make a Easy Hen Coop?
A easy hen coop can function the body from an outdated swing set with help steel over it. Then, add corrugated iron sheeting, capping, a door, and hen wire. Or take a look at the 44 DIY hen coop plans above, as they vary from easy to advanced.
How A lot Does It Price to Construct Your Personal Hen Coop?
On common, constructing your personal hen coop will value anyplace from $300 to $2,000. The value is determined by the scale, materials, types, and different components.
How Many Chickens Can You Put in a 4×8 Coop?
You may sometimes put about 10 to 11 chickens comfortably and safely in a 4×8 coop. That is based mostly on the concept that every hen wants about three to 4 sq. ft.
Is Elevating Chickens Cheaper Than Shopping for Eggs?
In case you solely purchase eggs once they’re low cost, elevating chickens is not going to be extra inexpensive. Nonetheless, should you all the time get recent eggs from the farmers market, you’ll probably lower your expenses.
Most significantly – have enjoyable in your new enterprise! Be sure that to ship us pictures of your new coop and go away feedback under…
Learn Bantam Chickens: Breeds, Egg Laying, Measurement and Care Information
Disclosure: We might earn affiliate commissions for gratis to you from the hyperlinks on this web page. This didn’t have an effect on our evaluation of merchandise. Discover full disclosure right here.
