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How to Plan and Build a Chicken Coop

3/14/2016

28 Comments

 
How to plan and build a chicken coop including nesting box build plans
We are on our way to a finished chicken coop thanks to some serious planning and one huge Menards trip. Paul and I like to joke that Friday night is date night at Menards, the place of serious romance. 

All joking aside, going in to Menards with a plan is what saved our heads on renovating and updating this chicken coop ourselves. I started by mapping out how I wanted the chicken coop to look on the inside by using SketchUp Make. The plan went through a lot of changes as I did more research. But below you can see how everything shook out.

PSST! If you've got some intense building codes where you live, we also built our own mobile chicken tractors! That way you can protect your hens and give them all the benefits of bing free-range on pasture with none of the risks. You can read all about the mobile chicken tractors here.

Scroll down to grab the plans on how to construct a nesting box from one piece of plywood!

​Please note: The links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you end up clicking and purchasing an item. I worked hard to find my trusted favorites and I want to share them with you so you don't have to deal with all the crappy junk I had to go through. Nuff said.

Shopping list for building a chicken coop
Chicken Coop plans
It is important to having the nesting boxes and the roosting bars on opposite walls. This is so the hens don't jump up to perch on the nesting boxes at night and poop all over them. You can see the three seater nesting box on the lower left side and the roosting bars on the upper right side.

I decided to go with the deep litter method for the inside of the coop mainly because it's low maintenance and also creates perfect compost for my garden. We put down vinyl flooring to making cleaning and sanitizing a breeze - I highly recommend this over an earth, wood, or concrete floor. If you get pests, mites, or a chicken is sick - it makes hitting the reset button on the coop so much easier. The non-porous surface of vinyl lasts, is water resistant, and so much easier to sanitize. I highly recommend spraying the coop down with a DIY Poultry Protector Spray to keep lice and mites at bay.

For the deep litter method, I layer chopped straw (not hay - which is full of seeds that will end up sprouting in your garden!) on the linoleum floor to about 6" deep.  As the chickens roost at night and their droppings build up under the roost, I sprinkle extra chopped straw and my DIY Coop Refresher Recipe over their manure to keep things smelling neutral.

A deep coop cleaning takes place every two months. When it comes time to clean, I simply open either the front door or the coop door and sweep out the straw with a shop broom, then give the linoleum a vinegar and essential oil scrub down. Super easy!
Installing a window in a chicken coop
We installed a south facing slider window with a screen to keep ventilation at a premium. The south facing window also provides natural light to help with egg production. We decided to go with a 36" x 24" version which was fairly affordable, we got it for for $68. 

Then we bought a 4" x 5' PVC pipe to cut in half and made two feeders. We have an inside feeder and an outside feeder for the hens. Then we installed Chicken Nipple Waterers inside and outside as well. I like the nipple waterers because the bucket has a nice cover that keeps the girls from pooping in their water. Both the DIY feeders and nipple waterers hold a good amount so leaving the hens for two or three days isn't a huge issue. 
How to build your own nesting boxes
Then on the wall closest to the door we put a DIY nesting box. What's awesome about this three-seater nesting box is you can make it from one piece of 8x4' plywood, sign up below to nab the cut plan! Three nesting boxes are more than enough for seven or eight hens. 
How to build nesting boxes out of one piece of plywood

download the free nesting box cut plans and build a nesting box from one piece of plywood

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So Paul took this plan and then went at it with an 4'x8' piece of plywood. From there I assembled the pieces with 1 and 5/8" screws and a cordless screwdriver. We started with the back piece first (the largest piece) and screwed in the four angled walls.

Then we screwed on the bottom, then the roof, and finally the front 4" tall front piece. We marked everything out first with a pencil using a tape measurer. I found it extremely helpful to mark both the center point for the screw as well as both the right and left side of the placement of each piece.

Be sure to not use plywood any less thick than 5/8" otherwise you will split the wood when you screw into it!
How to build nesting boxes out of one piece of plywood
 Then I painted the wood to keep the mites from being able to burrow into it and get at the hens over time. I used a no VOC interior mildew resistant paint. I love this paint because if my chickens ever DO eat it, they won't get sick. Next, I'll line the bottom with these chicken nesting box pads - I swear by these pads because they are compostable!
How to build nesting boxes out of one piece of plywood
Next up is getting the interior of the coop insulated. It gets cold here in WI! Paul did some measuring between the studs and found that 32" wide insulation would fit best. We plan on insulating the roof and walls for the hens to keep things warm from November to April. We choose not to insulate the floor because the deep litter method actually generates some heat as it decomposes. Below you can see Paul laying out the insulation to measure and cut it. Then he finished off one wall with the plywood to seal everything up. 
How to insulate a chicken coop
How to insulate a chicken coop
Once the insulation was up we put in 3/4" plywood and painted it white with a low VOC exterior grade paint.

[EDIT: It's been two years and we've had NO issues with the chickens eating the paint or it peeling. We also can CLEAN the walls when there are poop explosions (which there are), cleaning and scrubbing would have been impossible had we not painted.]
Our chicken coop design is coming along.
Once the paint was dry, we put down the cheapest vinyl flooring we could find and sealed it with an exterior grade waterproof caulk. The vinyl flooring is a must to keep the floor washable. We can't have a bare earth floor where the coop sits because we are on a flood plain and everything would be sopping wet.
We went with linoleum for our chicken coop flooring.
We sealed the linoleum with a waterproof caulk.
We also installed a south facing window so the girls will get ample sunlight even if they are cooped up (hah) during the winter months. South facing windows are also wonderful for solar gain during the cooler months of the year. 
We installed a south facing window on the chicken coop for solar gain
Next, we built our roosts. Honestly, we winged this design and used what we had on hand. It ended up being three 1" thick wooden dowels and a few 2x4"s. Our roost design gives 12 hens enough room to comfortably roost every night.
Picture
Picture
The nesting boxes were installed next. We used these wooden curtain rod holders and a spare wooden dowel for the girls to jump up to lay. If you want a metal option (which is also cheaper) these metal rod holders also work great.
Our newly installed chicken nesting box in the chicken coop
We used cheap curtain rod holders for our nesting box coop.
At this point the girls were old enough to be re-homed from their brooder to the newly built coop! We kept the girls in the coop for seven days so that their sense of "home" was reset. 
The pullets are getting used to their new chicken coop
Of course, in usual chicken fashion, the girls found the strangest spot to sit and relax!
Gorgeous photo of the chickens enjoying their brand new coop
The peanut gallery looks out from their chicken coop window
We love this coop and it keeps our hens warm in the cold Wisconsin winters. We are so pleased with our chicken coop design and all the features we included. We wouldn't change a thing!

Want to keep learning about all things chicken-care?
​I've got tons of resources for you!

KEEP READING

Mobile chicken tractor at Green Willow Homestead
If you've got some intense building codes, we also built our own mobile chicken tractors! That way we can let our hens have all the benefits of pastured free-ranging, but protect them from predators. You can read all about our mobile chicken tractors here.

download the free nesting box cut plans and build a nesting box from one piece of plywood

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


How to design and build a chicken coop for your backyard hens
How to build a nesting box from one piece of plywood for your backyard chickens
28 Comments
Karen Webb link
7/8/2016 07:28:20 pm

Really looks nice and easy.. I'm in the process of building a Chicken coop

Reply
Kelsey
7/9/2016 06:16:07 am

Hi Karen,

That is awesome! How many chickens are you getting and what breed?

Reply
Bianca
8/31/2021 05:56:16 am

Qhat are the deminsions and cut plans for this?

Reply
Sean Moyle
8/2/2017 08:36:11 am

super cool nesting box idea. ive used it and it works great. just got my first egg ever this morning.

Reply
Nicolle Walters
2/21/2018 04:00:22 pm

Can you tell me how the paint has worked out? When I've mentioned painting the boxes to people, they've all voiced concern about it flaking and the chickens eating the paint.

Reply
Kelsey
2/22/2018 07:20:41 am

Hi Nicolle,

It worked out great! We used a white outdoor low VOC based paint and it hasn't peeled or flaked. So no chicken eating here. I recommend one without any mildew resistance or mold resistance for the walls because it kills off beneficial microbes as well, which come in handy if you are doing the deep litter method.

Reply
Brittany Kuhlman
2/28/2018 07:13:14 am

Absolutely love your set up! My family and I just moved to just outside of Texarkana and are getting our first set of chicks coming soon. I had been looking for nesting boxes and coop designs and fell in love with how you guys set this up. DIY and homesteading have become a passion for my mom and I. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!

Reply
Kelsey
2/28/2018 02:08:42 pm

Hi Brittany,

So glad to hear it! Homesteading is so much fun and there is so much to learn. Wishing you the best of luck as you guys get started!

Reply
Katherine Eaves
4/23/2018 12:21:22 am

I originally planned on Dominiques but my husband discovered Bresse chickens-depends on what (if 🙄) we can afford them. Built the pen. Now I am hoping to begin the henhouse soon. Still trying to get some details decided (insulation) - Kentucky winters have been a lot colder than anticipated... I particularly love your chickens looking out the window so I am trying to incorporate a window into the roosting side of the house. I think the nesting box you built is incredible. Great idea using holes to assemble the roosting ladder! Your store looks worth a visit-adorable! I look forward to learning from more of your endeavors... Best regards, Katherine (Salvisa, KY)
(And where did you get the wooden curtain rod holders for the nesting boxes?)

Reply
Kelsey
4/23/2018 04:49:14 am

Hi Katherine,
Winters can be so hard on the chickens! Especially if they don't have a rose comb that sits nice and close to their heads and doesn't get frostbite as easily. You should definitely incorporate a window in your coop so your girls get more sunlight, which means more eggs! Thanks so much for the sweet comment about our Farm Stand - we worked hard on making it cute. I got the wooden curtain rod holders at Menards in the curtain section, found the cheapest ones possible LOL.
Best of luck and keep me updated with how your chickens go!
-Kelsey

Reply
Mona Campbell
7/20/2018 12:04:59 pm

was very informative thank you

Reply
KAREN link
9/6/2018 09:51:36 pm

I am in the process of building my coop as we speak. Why did you switch from sand to deep litter? And what is deep litter?

Reply
Kelsey
9/20/2018 01:33:30 pm

Hi Karen! I switched because it felt like a big ole litter box at the end of the day. The sand can harbor some pretty nasty bacteria I've found and I felt more comfortable with organic straw as bedding. We lay it 6" thick and then clean the coops out completely every 2 months. We compost the manured hay and use it all over our farm.

Reply
Meagan
10/23/2018 06:47:00 am

Can you please send me the plans to build the nesting boxes from plywood. I tried and it said that I was already subscribed...?

Reply
Isabeau
5/23/2019 06:44:28 am

I subscribed, as requested, to receive the cutting plans for the wooden nesting boxes (twice now) and I receive the automated message to check my emails. I did both times and still have received nothing. Are you not sending them out anymore? Would so need these plans to build nestboxes for my growing flock.

Reply
Kelsey
5/23/2019 08:28:38 am

Hi Isabeau,
I got your email and responded! And you are on the list. Please check your spam folder, promotions folder, and any other filtered folders you have and search for my email at hello@kelseyjorissen.com

Thanks!

Reply
Christy
7/10/2020 07:14:35 pm

Could I have the nest box building instructions please?

Reply
Kelsey
7/13/2020 06:54:28 am

Hi Christy! If you subscribe at the form above they will be sent to you ASAP.

Pam
4/22/2020 12:36:53 pm

Hi, love your website and blog! I’ve been trying to download the nest box plans but it never seems to connect - just spins and resets. Are the plans still available? Thanks for any help you might give.

Reply
Kelsey
4/23/2020 11:24:52 am

Hi Pam! I just sent the confirmation email your way - if you click the blue button in that email you'll get sent the nesting box build plans. Be sure to check your spam or promotional folders too. If you still don't see it, send me an email through my contact page!

Reply
Rebecca Conrad link
4/26/2020 03:39:15 pm

Do you have additional ventilation other than the window in the coop? We are building one now in Wisconsin and have heard many times not to insulate and to add additional ventilation towards the top of the coop. We certainly can insulate at this point in the game. Just wondering if you have had any trouble at all with moisture buildup?

Reply
Kelsey Olesen
4/27/2020 06:00:07 am

Hi Rebecca! We included two vents up near the pitch of the roof on either side. We have not had any moisture issues with both vents up near the pitch of the roof and the window.

Reply
Cooking with Alex link
12/14/2020 08:15:24 pm

Great bloog you have

Reply
Barry Bowden
1/26/2021 08:15:28 am

Rebecca - I came across your website via Pinterest and love what you are doing. My wife and I want to raise chickens but I am not sure what breed - we want egg layers that could be harvested for meat if needed. We live in central Alabama so I am not sure we would need to insulate our hen house once I build it - thoughts? Thanks for all the great tips.

Barry

Reply
Kelsey
1/26/2021 12:02:37 pm

Thanks for stopping by Barry - in Alabama you should be fine! No need to insulate. Just make sure there is proper ventilation and the coop is free of drafts.

Reply
Amanda
3/6/2021 03:53:19 am

Have you had any issues with using chipboard? We have a LOT of chipboard we plan to soak with paint and use, but I’m wondering if you’ve seen any issue with how it holds up over plywood.

Reply
Julie
3/14/2023 12:51:41 pm

Hi there! I love all your tips and tricks. However, for some reason the nesting box plans aren’t coming through after subscribing. Any help would be great! Thanks!

Reply
Kelsey
3/15/2023 11:17:22 am

Hey Julie! Send me an email through my contact page and I'll send you one right away!

Reply



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