How to Build a Chicken Coop

Building a chicken coop can be expensive and time consuming - why not find a way to use recycled materials you already have? As long as your coop protects your flock from predators and the weather, it can be the perfect "home-sweet-coop" for your chickens!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• 2-3 old wooden garage doors
• Scrap lumber
• Basic tools and equipment, such as a hammer, screwdriver, nails, wood screws, electric screwdriver, jig saw or hand saw, wood glue
• Old fencing material

1. After recruiting a couple of extra helping hands and finding a good location (taking into consideration sunlight, shade, level ground, drainage, etc.), decide on the right measurements of your coop; 2 square feet per Bantam and 4 square feet per Standard-sized chicken. Because you are using recycled materials such as wooden garage doors, you will already have "walls" for your coop! Use your jig saw/hand saw to cut the wooden doors as needed, and begin to position them so as to form a square or rectangle (what ever shape you need to fit the space you are working in). Remember to consider the angles needed to have a slant roof, and the position of the coop door! Hang-on to any hardware from the doors, in case it can be used later.
2. Using the scrap lumber, form a frame and begin to connect the walls securely using the wood screws. You should have enough material to form a one-panel roof (make sure it's angled, so as to drain-off rain). Using the remaining parts of the wooden doors and the scrap wood, you can easily form a door and attach with hinges. Basically, you should have a small "shed" type structure! Check for holes or places which need patching. Some air flow is good, but you do not want your coop too drafty.
3. Finish your project by adding roofing material if needed (shingles, roofing paper, etc.), vents, and an in/out for the chickens. You may want to build an enclosed chicken run out of the fencing material as an add-on so the birds are still able to venture outside but stay protected from predators (such as dogs and hawks). Add some nests (old fruit boxes), a roost (made of the wooden rail from a baby crib), feed and fresh water, and you are set!

Tips & Warnings

• Create a drawing of your coop before you get started, so you know what you are aiming to build. While you do have to know some basics when it comes to building, a chicken coop made of recycled materials does not need to be fancy or sophisticated as long as it keeps your flock safe.
• Know how many chickens you want to raise and for what purpose - different birds have different space requirements.
• Start early in the day and take your time - don't rush in your work and cut corners.
• Be creative - look around and see what you can re-use or convert. I have even heard of people using old truck campers as coops!
• Do frequent checks and make repairs as needed. Make sure your coop cannot be penetrated by a variety of creatures, from racoons and dogs, to ferral cats and rats!
• Use all safety percautions when working with hardware and tools!
• Get help in exchange for fresh eggs after your birds start to lay :-)