If you want to keep chickens, they’ve got to have a coop to live in. No ifs, ands or buts. I don’t know if you’ve checked the prices on pre-made coops and kits from your local hardware superstore or farm store, but these things have gotten outrageous!
If you’re like me and most other homesteaders, your very next instinct will be to build one yourself. Now, the problem is, there are lots of overly complicated and elaborate coop plans on the net, and even sold as downloadable blueprints. It’s easy to bite off more than you can chew.
If you want to save a ton of money and avoid aggravation while building your flock’s home yourself, I’ve got just what you need. Below are the very best and easiest DIY chicken coop plans I’ve gathered from around the net. Strap on your tool belt, and we’ll get right into it.
Simple Elevated Coop
This super simple, small elevated coop is clean, classic, and easy to whip together in just an afternoon. It’s got enough room for a small flock of around 10 average-size chickens, and even has a built-in rack of nesting boxes with an attached run.
It’s easy to see how you can make a coop like this work virtually anywhere, even in a tiny backyard. If you’ve got more room, this makes for a good and inexpensive plan or even a secondary coop that you can use for quarantine and other purposes.
Note: As you’ll see in the linked article, there are no actual blueprints, materials lists, or plans included with this “plan.” That said, there are tons of high-quality pictures showing the build step by step the whole way, and it’s really easy to duplicate this coop using those alone.
Coop with Egg Access and Poop Tray
This cute, classic coop has slit-style windows and protruding nesting boxes with a flip-open roof for easy collection in the morning.
This is a wonderful design that will be easy to build for anyone who’s got even rudimentary framing experience, and the coop is elevated using nothing more than common cinder blocks.
The included plans give you precise measurements for all the framing, sheet goods, and more, so all you’ll need to do is round up your tools and materials and get to work
The finished product is another small design, but that’s okay: it’s more than enough to hold a starter flock of 10 chickens comfortably, or perhaps a few more.
Note that there is no attached run, so you have to modify this design slightly if you want one. If you plan on free-ranging your birds, though, it’s perfect.
“Barn Door” Coop and Run
When it comes to pure style, this is my favorite coop on the list; as the name suggests, it looks just like a little barn thanks to its generously sized swing-open double doors.
Yes, it looks a little intimidating if you aren’t used to working with wood, but the instructions make it really easy, and you’ll only have to make a few curved cuts with a jigsaw. Nothing to it!
The built-in roosting bar has overhead protection for the nesting boxes below, and an attached waist-high run with a covered top keeps your chickens safe from predators during the day. A super simple cleated ramp provides access for them.
Leftover Materials Coop with Floor Access
Even if you know what you’re doing when it comes to the work, even if you’re using a straightforward design, building a coop can be pricey. Have you seen the cost of building materials today? It’s ugly out there!
Luckily, where there is a will there is a way, and I can speak for most homesteaders when I assert you’ve likely got plenty of scrap materials lying around. Using some choice off-cuts and leftovers, you can make yourself a tiny, eclectic but undeniably effective coop!
Obviously, yours might not turn out this way, not precisely so, but I think you get the idea of what’s possible. Use the basic idea of this coop as the premise for your own.
Space-Efficient Backyard Coop + Run
One of the most common complaints I hear all the time from would-be chicken owners is that they just don’t have enough room. To that, I say poppycock!
You might have a tiny yard, but with the right coop design and managed expectations on your flock size, you can own birds of your own.
Plus, you can look really good doing it! Take this snazzy, charming coop-over-run design as Exhibit A. Floor access and a steep ramp let birds get in and out as desired, and a pair of swing-open gates on one side allow you to clean underneath while a hinged access door makes it easy to grab those eggs for breakfast.
Repurposed Swing Set Frame Coop
Repurposing materials, or upcycling, can make a lot of otherwise unattainable builds possible. One great example is this generously sized A-frame chicken coop with an attached run.
Capable of holding more than a dozen birds comfortably, once your kids outgrow their swing set or other playground equipment, you can cannibalize the frame for the coop, and you’ll be halfway home.
The metal or wood paneling, chicken wire, or hardware cloth and a little bit of paint, and presto! Your birds now have a home they will be proud to call their own.
Also, consider that the super strong but lightweight nature of a frame like this makes it a lot easier to move the coop around as needed.
The Home Depot Coop for Total Beginners
You might like Home Depot as your go-to choice for hardware, or you might not, but there’s no denying that they have produced an excellent series of DIY videos on nearly every conceivable subject. My hands-down favorite is this super simple, classic chicken coop that uses a generously sized swing-down ramp.
With highly detailed plans, materials lists, and precise instructions, this is the ideal approach for folks who are starting completely from zero when it comes to framing and using tools. The finished coop is sturdy, fairly portable, and the perfect project for gung-ho, new keepers.
Walk-In Coop
For older homesteaders or folks who have injuries or are just a little out of shape, kneeling down and bending over to get into the run or the coop itself can be a major challenge. Eliminate that annoyance by building your coop appropriately.
This cute, retro-modern design has a full-size door and a lifted coop that’s easy to access with no bending over or crawling.
This will make your job of collecting eggs, cleaning up, and corralling your birds a whole lot easier, and the easier you make your chores, the more likely you are to do them in a timely fashion, so that’s a win! This design is easy to build, but the height means you might need a helper for assembly.
Converted Shed Coop
Another one of my favorite designs that showcases what’s possible with ingenuity and a little creativity, this bog-standard garden shed has been converted into a slick, attractive coop that would look at home on the nicest properties.
It’s complete with glass windows, planter boxes, a swing-open hatch for your chickens to come and go, and a protruding nesting box with a hinged lid for easy egg collection.
Make sure you scroll down past the pictures to get your shopping list, cut list, and a detailed walkthrough with diagrams.
Easy Portable A-Frame Coop
As time has gone on, I’ve become more and more attracted to the A-frame style coop. These coops require less material, are much simpler to build, and tend to be more portable, allowing you to reposition them like you would a chicken tractor.
This design is one of the best I’ve seen. It provides plenty of room for your birds on the ground while getting them well up off the ground at night when it’s time to sleep.
A short door makes it a little easier for you to get inside the run area, and a hatch on the opposite end helps with clean-out and inspection.
Tim is a farm boy with vast experience on homesteads, and with survival and prepping. He lives a self-reliant lifestyle along with his aging mother in a quiet and very conservative little town in Ohio. He teaches folks about security, prepping and self-sufficiency not just through his witty writing, but also in person.
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