Building a chicken coop from scratch may sound daunting, especially for first-time DIYers like us, but the satisfaction of having a secure and cozy space for our feathered friends made every step worth it. In this post, we’ll walk you through the process of how we built our own chicken coop and run, from start to finish.
The Materials We Used
Before diving into the building process, let’s go over the supplies we used. Here’s a quick list:
Power Tools
- Drill & bits
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Dremel
Lumber
- 6 – 4×8 plywood sheets (we used pressure-treated plywood)
- 10 – 2x4x12 boards
- 12 – 2x4x16 boards
Roofing
- Shingles
- Roofing nails
- Tar paper
- Drip edge
Other Supplies
- Vinyl flooring (for the floor)
- U-tacks or a staple gun
- Exterior screws (1″, 1.5″, 2″, 3″, 4″)
- Cinder blocks
- Windows (we used old ones we had lying around)
- Caulk
- Hardware cloth (for predator protection)
- Door hardware (hinges, locks)
- Exterior latex/gloss paint
Step 1: Cutting the Lumber
The first part of our project was to make all the necessary cuts. Here’s how we did it:
- Plywood: We kept most of the plywood uncut except for one piece, which was divided in half to form the front and back of the coop.
- 2x4s: We ordered mostly 12′ and 16′ boards, and cut them ourselves. For the walls and floor, we cut eight 8′ pieces and sixteen 4′ pieces. The roof was made up of one 9′ piece and six 3′ pieces that we cut at an angle using a t-square.
Step 2: Framing the Floor and Sides
Our coop measures 8 feet long, 4 feet high (not including the roof), and 4 feet wide—these dimensions made sense since plywood sheets are 4×8, and it just seemed like the most straightforward approach.
To build the floor frame, we used two 8′ pieces of 2x4s and four 46″ pieces. We connected these using screws and drilled the plywood onto the frame. For the sides, we framed them similarly, with the “beams” facing inward. This process took about an hour—Nate held the pieces steady, and I drilled in the screws.
Step 3: Building the Floor
Once we had the floor framed, we placed it on a foundation of cinder blocks (which we found on Craigslist). Even though we used pressure-treated wood, we didn’t want any part of the coop touching the ground to limit moisture exposure.
Next, we covered the floor with vinyl flooring, which we had cut to size at Home Depot. We secured it with tacks, though a staple gun would have worked better. The vinyl helps make cleaning easier, which we appreciated later!
Step 4: Building the Sides
The sides were framed just like the floor, but with some additional support beams. Once we had the sides in place, we screwed them into the floor frame. We also added a few horizontal 2x4s to help hold everything together.
Step 5: Roof Construction – Part 1
Living in New England, we knew the importance of a pitched roof to prevent snow buildup in the winter. I didn’t want to worry about the roof caving in under heavy snow, so we built the roof with a pitch high enough to allow me to stand up straight inside the coop (I’m 5′ tall).
While installing the roof rafters, we ran into some challenges. Since this was our first time building with wood, our measurements and cuts were a little off, but we made it work by installing a back piece of plywood for additional support. We also used hardware cloth on the front and back of the roof to allow ventilation and protect against predators.
Step 6: Roof Construction – Part 2
Once the rafters were up, it was time to put the roof plywood in place. This step was tricky, especially with just the two of us, but we managed. A third person would have made it easier, but we made do by using a ladder and a bit of creativity.
Step 7: Installing the Roof Shingles
We decided to shingle the roof ourselves, with absolutely no prior experience. We managed to snag about 20 packages of shingles for free from a local seller on Facebook Marketplace. With some additional drip edge and tar paper, Nate and I were ready to tackle the roof.
After watching a few YouTube tutorials, Nate took the lead on the shingles, and by the time I got back from running errands, half the roof was already done! The shingling took him about two hours, and it turned out great—no leaks, no issues, just a solid, secure roof.
Step 8: Adding Windows
Installing windows was another DIY challenge. I measured the old windows we had lying around and cut holes in the plywood to fit them. I sealed everything with silicone caulk to prevent leaks and drafts, ensuring the windows were securely attached.
Step 9: Building the Doors and Ramps
The door installation was pretty straightforward. We used a piece of plywood and attached it with door hinges, making sure it could open and close easily. For the chickens to access their roosting bars, we built two ramps—one inside the coop and one outside.
The ramps weren’t strictly necessary, but we added them for convenience, especially for our chicken Angela, who had balance issues as a chick. The ramps made it easier for her to get up to the roosting bars.
Step 10: Painting the Coop
Once the structure was finished, it was time to paint. We went with a whimsical, light-hearted color scheme inside, using leftover paint we had from previous projects. While I don’t recommend using light colors inside a chicken coop (chickens can be messy), we love how it turned out.
Step 11: Adding the Chickens
Finally, after the paint dried, we added shavings to the floor, then switched to washed construction sand. The sand made cleaning so much easier, and we’ve been using it ever since. As our chicks grew, we added a nesting box, and once they reached 20 weeks, they started laying eggs.
Important Things to Remember
Building a chicken coop requires some knowledge and careful planning. Here are a few things we learned along the way:
- Ventilation: Proper ventilation is essential to prevent humidity and frostbite. Make sure your ventilation is above the roosts and not directly on your chickens.
- Drafts: Seal up any gaps to prevent drafts. Drafts can cause health problems for your chickens.
- Predator-Proofing: Chicken wire is not sufficient for keeping predators out—use hardware cloth instead.
- Winterizing: Depending on your location, you may need to winterize your coop. We used plastic sheeting to keep our run warm during colder months.
Final Thoughts
Building our own chicken coop was a rewarding experience that taught us a lot about woodworking, patience, and the importance of creating a safe and comfortable environment for our chickens. While there were definitely challenges along the way, the sense of accomplishment and the joy of seeing our chickens thrive in their new home made it all worth it.
If you’re thinking about building your own coop, we hope this guide helps! Happy building!
This plan is a contribution by [Not_Tasha]. Project Via Instructables – Get the PDF Instructions here.
Joseph Hudson has been raising chickens for over 15 years. In 2018, he completed the Agriculture & Natural Resources program at Mt. San Antonio College. He currently raises over 1400 chickens on his 7.5-hectare farm. He keeps sharing his experience on raising healthy and happy chickens on Chicken Scratch The Foundry.
