15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (2024)

By: Author Vineta Jackson

Posted on - Last updated:

Home » Outdoor

Looking for inspiration on how to house your backyard flock? Check out these DIY chicken coop ideas with plans so you can build your own!

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (1)

Thinking of raising chickens, but don't know where to put them? A chicken house can range from a low cost DIY pallet chicken coop to an amazing chicken palace with all the bells and whistles!

At a minimum, you should plan to have a spot for nesting that's easily accessible for daily egg retrieval. There should also be an area for your chickens to roam that can be cleaned without a lot of fuss. The rest is up to you!

Many of these DIY coops have downloadable plans so you can build your own. If you know how to use a miter saw or circular saw, you can do this!

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (2)

Photo Credit:www.ana-white.com

Shed Chicken Coop

Shaped like a shed, this homemade chicken coop makes a cute addition to your backyard.

It has a nesting box and you can easily access the eggs from the hinged outside lid. Add a run and your chickens will be living in high style!

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (3)

Photo Credit:woodshopmike.com

DIY Chicken Coop

Your neighbors will be envious of this chicken coop, which features board and batten trim and an arched door. Get the plans to build your own!

Your chickens will be happy egg producers with the 6 foot run attached. There is room for 12 chickens with four nesting boxes.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (4)

Photo Credit:theinspiredworkshop.com

Large Chicken Coop

Here is another amazing DIY chicken coop that all the chickens will love to live in.

Featuring 5 nesting boxes and a dutch door for easy feeding without having to go inside, this one has it all. You can access the eggs from the outside and it can easily house up to 20 chickens.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (5)

Photo Credit:lehmanlane.net

DIY Chicken Coop & Run

This little coop looks like a farmhouse and it is so cute! It's functional as well with easy to reach nesting boxes and an outdoor chicken run perfect for 6-8 birds. It's elevated off the ground to provide extra space underneath for roaming.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (6)

Photo Credit:www.thecreativemom.com

Red Barn Chicken Coop

This coop is built to look like a traditional red barn. It has so many features, you'll have chickens producing more eggs than you can eat!

It is 32 square feet, big enough for up to 12 chickens, with a drop down side for easy cleaning, and easily accessible nesting boxes for gathering all the eggs.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (7)

Photo Credit:www.remodelaholic.com

Chicken Coop Made From Recycled Materials

This perfectly sized chicken coop fits in the corner of your yard and features a door for cleaning and a vented roof to keep your feathered friends from overheating. The attached run will give your girls plenty of room to roam.

This entire building was made almost entirely from recycled materials, proving that you don't have to spend a lot of money to give your chickens a nice home.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (8)

Photo Credit:www.instructables.com

Backyard Chicken Coop

Inspired by traditional Kansas style barns, this one can house up to five chickens with plenty of room to wander with the attached run.

This low cost DIY chicken coop was built for a whopping total of just $40, proving that you don't need to spend a fortune for a cute coop!

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (9)

Photo Credit:www.instructables.com

A-Frame Chicken Coop

Featuring a laying box, hinged doors for easy cleanout, and a roosting pole, this simple chicken coop has everything you need to house happy chickens.

The run underneath gives the chickens plenty of room to move around. According to this builder, your chickens don't need a ladder because they will jump anywhere they need to go but you can still add one if you want to.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (10)

Photo Credit:www.ana-white.com

DIY Chicken Pen

A raised garden bed and chicken pen all in one! This compact option is great for small yards.

A ramp leads down to the run below and the nesting boxes are easily accessible from the side. The bonus raised planter bed completes your little urban garden.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (11)

Photo Credit:www.backyardchickens.com

Chicken Coop with a Pergola Roof

This DIY chicken coop is entirely in the shade to keep the chickens from getting overheated. The nesting section has easy access for clean out and the large walk thru door makes feeding time easy.

Read more to see how to build your own!

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (12)

Photo Credit:www.backyardchickens.com

Chicken Coop with Large Run

This is a palace for chickens! It has a linoleum floor for easy cleaning and nesting boxes inside. You can house a lot of chickens with this setup.

Your chickens will be really happy with the size of this run. It is 40' x 60' and is 6 feet high. There is even access in case it need to be mowed.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (13)

Photo Credit:woodshopmike.com

Lean-to Chicken Coop

This budget-friendly chicken coop features four nesting boxes and a covered run. It's big enough for up to 16 chickens.

The board and batten detail gives this chicken house farmhouse charm and will look great in your backyard.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (14)

Photo Credit:www.ana-white.com

A Frame Chicken Coop

Small and mobile, this DIY chicken coop can be put anywhere. It's designed for 3-5 chickens and is perfect for small yards or urban areas.

Featuring doors on both sides, it makes clean out and egg gathering easy chores. Read more to get the plans for this budget chicken house.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (15)

Photo Credit:theinspiredworkshop.com

Small DIY Chicken Coop

Measuring 2'x4' and a little over 5" tall, this small chicken coop is perfect for 2-3 chickens or 1 rooster. It's perfect for small yards or urban areas.

The enclosed run underneath has plenty of room for a rooster and you can add nesting boxes inside if you want to use it for hens.

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (16)

Photo Credit:www.backyardchickens.com

Colorful Chicken Coop

This cheery coop is sturdy and built to last. It features nesting boxes that are accessible from the outside and a run that will give your chickens plenty of room to scratch around.

Windows on both sides allow for plenty of ventilation, and window box planters for flowers to dress it up.

Which of these DIY chicken coop ideas was your favorite? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Check out these other backyard ideas!

Backyard Makeover Before and After

11 Easy DIY Outdoor Grill Station Ideas to Make this Weekend

20 DIY Outdoor Table Ideas for Your Deck or Patio

20 DIY Picnic Table Ideas to Build this Summer

20 DIY Outdoor Wood Projects for the Backyard

15 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas for Your Backyard Flock (2024)

FAQs

How to make a backyard chicken coop? ›

Here are steps to build a functional yet modern coop for your chickens:
  1. Step 1: Choose your plan. ...
  2. Step 2: Material selection and collection. ...
  3. Step 3: Preparing the ground and foundation. ...
  4. Step 4: Building your coop frame. ...
  5. Step 5: Outer sheathing of walls and roof. ...
  6. Step 6: Insulation and internal cladding. ...
  7. Step 7: Nesting boxes.
Aug 23, 2023

What is the best layout for a chicken coop? ›

Usually, the chicken door should be located on the south facing side of the chicken coop. If designing a large coop, include a full-size door to make it easier for you to access the coop and clean the coop. Windows should be located on the east and west facing sides of the chicken coop.

How many chickens should be in a flock? ›

They've been known to create kinships with one another and are intelligent enough to recognise not only each other but us humans too. For this reason, two chickens are not quite enough to sustain this social nature. Three, four or even five would be a good number of chickens to start your flock.

How to build a simple chicken coop step by step? ›

  1. Step 1: Build Chicken Coop Foundation. ...
  2. Step 2: Frame Walls of Chicken Coop. ...
  3. Step 3: Install Walls. ...
  4. Step 4: Install Roosting Rails. ...
  5. Step 5: Sheath Walls. ...
  6. Step 6: Build Chicken Coop Nesting Box. ...
  7. Step 7: Build Entry Door. ...
  8. Step 8: Frame and Shingle Roof.

How to build a simple chicken house? ›

The length of the house should be twice the width. The posts on the front side of the house should be 8 feet tall and the back ones 6 feet tall to allow the installation of a pitched roof over the walled part of the cage. Step 2: Install a 4×4 post 2 feet from the right front corner of the structure.

Why do chicken coops need to be off the ground? ›

staying protected from predators. If your coop is built at ground level,predators like mice, rats, and snakes will easily access to your chickens and kill them, what's more, they may spread the disease to your chickens. But, if your chicken house is above the ground, it will be much harder for predators to break in.

Should I build my chicken coop in the sun or shade? ›

To have happy, healthy hens, you need a bit of both: Shade in the summer and Sun in the winter. The coop needs shade during the heat of the day, but a little morning sun is both healthy, and the sun in the winter allows the chicken coop to warm up from the night chill.

How many chickens do I need for a dozen eggs a week? ›

If you had 2 Leghorn chickens, you would likely get a dozen eggs a week from them. But if you want a prettier egg basket and a flock of more colorful, unique breeds of hens then you will probably need three hens to get a dozen eggs per week.

How many eggs will 6 chickens lay in a week? ›

From this range, you can figure out how many eggs flocks of different sizes might produce: 4 hens x 200 eggs per year = 800 eggs per year, or 15+ eggs per week. 6 hens x 200 eggs per year = 1,200 eggs per year, or 23+ eggs per week. 8 hens x 200 eggs per year = 1,600 eggs per year, or 30+ eggs per week.

How many chickens should I start with for eggs? ›

If you wanted to get about a dozen eggs per week, you would need between 3 to 5 laying hens. For two dozen eggs a week, you would need to double those numbers for a flock size of between 6 to 10 laying hens.

Is it cheaper to buy or build a chicken coop? ›

Price. Overall, a DIY chicken coop will be cheaper than a pre-built option.

What is the cheapest wood for a chicken coop? ›

Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is the cheapest form of plywood. OSB is engineered by using adhesive and compressing layers of wood strands together to form a solid sheet. OSB that has been sealed with primer and paint is a reasonable choice for use inside the henhouse.

How many chickens can you have in a 4x8 coop? ›

8 large standard chickens would be ok for space in a coop with your floor space of 4 x 8 feet. The general rule, which takes into consideration that your birds may spend days or even weeks in that coop when the weather keeps them in. 1 adult large standard chicken per 4 square feet.

How tall should a chicken coop be off the ground? ›

Most chicken roosts are 30-46 cm (12”-18”) off the ground; that means your chicken coop should be at least 91 cm (3 feet) tall (we're accounting for the size of the chickens). Of course, there are many factors that will affect the total height of your chicken coop—but we'll cover those in a later section.

Should chicken coops be on grass or concrete? ›

Concrete is the longest lasting and most durable chicken coop flooring option. The hard surface prevents burrowing rodents and other predators from getting into your coop through the floor, it is also easy to clean and very low maintenance.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 5583

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Cheryll Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1997-12-23

Address: 4653 O'Kon Hill, Lake Juanstad, AR 65469

Phone: +494124489301

Job: Marketing Representative

Hobby: Reading, Ice skating, Foraging, BASE jumping, Hiking, Skateboarding, Kayaking

Introduction: My name is Cheryll Lueilwitz, I am a sparkling, clean, super, lucky, joyous, outstanding, lucky person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.