DIY Chicken Sheds

Chickens need a secure sheltered environment.

Chickens, or chooks, are easy to keep in a small space like a backyard. However, they are vulnerable to attack from predators such as rats and foxes, and need a secure area where they can be shut in after dark. Any DIY chicken shed should allow 3 square feet of space per chicken, have plenty of ventilation and have space for a waterer and feeding trough. Make sure you have easy access for cleaning and for collecting eggs. Raising your shed up 2 feet from the ground prevents access by rats and mice and makes cleaning it easier. This simple shed can be moved around as necessary and should be used in conjunction with a secure wire mesh run.

Things You'll Need

• Tape measure
• Pencil
• 4 5-feet posts, 2-by-2-inch
• 2 6-feet boards, 1-by-1-inch
• 2 4-feet boards, 1-by-1 inch
• 2 4-feet square exterior plywood sheets
• 1 6-by-4-feet exterior plywood sheet
• 1 6-by-3-feet exterior plywood sheet
• 1 6-by-5-feet exterior plywood sheet
• Saw
• Hammer
• Nails
• Jigsaw
• Wire mesh
• Staples
• 2 2-inch hinges
• 2 4-inch hinges
• 4 2-inch bolts
• Screws
• Screwdriver
• Straw
• Cardboard boxes
• Feed trough
• Waterer
• 1 3-by-1-foot length of plywood

Instructions

1. Measure 2 feet up from the bottom of the first 2-by-2-inch post, and mark with a pencil. Mark the other posts in the same way. Take the first long 1-by-1-inch board, and nail it at right angles to the first post at the marked place. Nail the first short board to the other face of the same post at the same level, also at right angles. Build the rest of the frame up in the same way so that you end up with a square frame of 1-by-1 inch boards fixed 2 feet up the corner posts.

2. Take the largest piece of plywood, which will form the back wall. Mark off a 12-inch strip on one long side, then cut this section off with a saw. Position a 4-inch hinge at either end of the 12-inch strip, and fix with screws. Screw the hinges to the corresponding position on the larger piece of wood. This hinged section will form a door for access to the nesting boxes. Lay the frame on its side, and nail the plywood to the top, sides and bottom of the frame, leaving the legs clear. Make sure that the door is at the bottom, opening upwards.

3. Take the first 4-foot square sheet of plywood, and measure a point 12 inches down from one corner. Draw a pencil line from this mark to the other corner on the same side. Cut along the line with a saw. Repeat for the other board.

4. Use a jigsaw to cut out a hole in each piece of plywood under the angled side. Cover this hole with wire mesh, and fix firmly in place with staples. Repeat for the other piece of plywood. When the sides are in place, these holes will provide ventilation. Nail the plywood pieces to the sides of the frame.

5. Take the 6-by-3-feet board, and use a jigsaw to cut out a large square in the middle of one long side. This will provide access for the hens. Use two 2-inch hinges to reattach the cut out section to form a door. Nail the board in postion to form the front of the coop.

6. Nail the 6-by-5-feet plywood board into position as a roof on top of the coop. It should sit at a sloping angle to allow rain to run off, and overhang by 6 inches on the back and front.

7. Finish the coop by fixing bolts to the front door and the back access door so that the hens can be shut in securely. Add cardboard boxes for nesting, and a thick layer of straw for warmth and comfort. Place the feed trough and waterer near the door where it can be accessed easily for refilling. Place the plywood strip at the doorway to use as a ramp.

Tips & Warnings

• Cover the plywood access ramp in wire, or nail across horizontal strips to provide better grip in wet weather.

• Paint or stain the chicken coop for maximum weather protection, making sure that you use a nontoxic product.

• Make sure there are no protruding nail ends or sharp bits of wire inside the coop.

References

• Green Terrafirma: Chicken Coop - Hen House
• How to Make a Chicken Coop: Important Points to Consider