One of the first things you need if you are thinking about getting chickens is some kind of housing for them. Chicken coops can be a corner of a shed, a fancy custom built piece of art, or anything in between! If this is your first time keeping chickens you probably will end up with several different designs before you find the one that works the best for you. What you DON’T want to do is make the common mistake of many first time chicken owners and bring home your birds without having their housing set up and ready to go.
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There are a ton of pictures of chicken coops online, but not all of them are practical choices. Either they don’t come with instructions, are hard to clean, or aren’t going to protect your birds from predators. Whether you are a first time chicken owner getting set up with your very first coop, or you are looking to switch things up and find something you love, here is an epic list about chicken coops that normal people without a ton of fancy construction experience can actually build.
Chicken Coop Design Ideas to Inspire You
Photo Tour of Our Chicken Coop – The Cape Coop
I LOVE the roofed run on this coop. And I’m pretty jealous of their garden too. 🙂
Chicken Coop Remodeled – Timber Creek Farmer
When adding new birds into a flock it’s helpful to keep them separated but nearby for a while. Here’s one way to do that.
Chicken Coop Tour: The Coup Deville – Homestead in The Holler
If you will be pasturing you hens, check out the open floor on this coop. No mucking out the chicken litter!
How I Insulated My Chicken Coop – Hawk Hill
This cute little coop is insulated for cold weather! I love that they improved an older building instead of just starting over.
Small Chicken Coop Designs – Backyard Chickens
Here’s a huge collection of easy to browse pictures of many different coops and designs. Most of these are just about right for 3-5 laying hens.
Jjamerb’s Pallet Palace Chicken Coop – Backyard Chickens
This chicken coop is tall enough to walk into (a huge PLUS for larger flocks) and the framing was all done in pallets. Super cool.
The ‘South City’ Coop – Backyard Chickens
Are your chickens “under the radar”? Need a low profile and attractive coop and run? Check out this pretty little coop. Some of the pictures didn’t load for me, but the ones that are, are worth looking at!
Hilton Henhouse – Pinterest
Just because it’s a chicken coop doesn’t mean it can’t be fancy. Love the chandelier.
Geodesic Dome Chicken Coop – Makezine
Are you in love with geodesic domes? Make one for your chickens!
5 Creative Designs for a DIY Chicken Coop – Bob Vila
My favorite design is the second, a stylish coop in a small foot print PLUS an Ecoroof! I’m totally eyeing my coop to see if I can add that.
D.I.Y. – Our New Upcycled Chicken Tractor – Lil’ Suburban Homestead
My favorite detail on this little tractor is that the roof swings up. That will make after dark access to the birds for wing clipping nice and easy.
More Coops To Love – Homestead Revival
Just how super cute and stylish can a chicken coop get? You’d be surprised. I’m in love with a couple of these. Hey, dear husband? Let’s make a new chicken coop…fourth time’s the charm right? (I think he’s ignoring me…..)
DIY Chicken Tractor – Burch Acres
Not sure how to build a chicken coop or a chicken tractor? Here is a helpful photo tutorial.
21 Awesome Chicken Coop Designs and Ideas – Pioneer Settler
Have you ever heard of a rocket ship chicken coop? The Pioneer Settler has a round up of some unique and fun design ideas.
The Eggcelsior – Backyard Chickens
Need a chicken hotel? Here you go.
Chicken Coops on a Budget
Making a chicken coop doesn’t have to be expensive. See how you can keep your costs down by using reclaimed and upcycled materials when building chicken coops.
Pallet Chicken Coop Part One and Two – Random Thoughts of a Supermom
This coop was made with pallets as the walls. That’s one way to put pallets to good use!
Permanent Hoop Coop Guide – Backyard Chickens
Hoop coops aren’t the prettiest of the backyard coops, but they come together quickly, use minimal materials, and can safely house a larger flock. Definitely click on the link above because it is a detailed and helpful tutorial.
The $42 Chicken Tractor – The Locust Blossom
This cute little tractor won’t break your budget.
How To Build a Chicken Coop For Less Than $50 – Live Simply
Upcycled kitchen cabinets were part of the frugal success of this cute little starter coop.
Chinoiserie Coop, Repurposed Materials – Tara Dillard
This coop is so cute and didn’t cost much to build after using reclaimed materials.
Free Chicken Coop From Recycled Doors – Northern Homestead
A chicken coop made out of doors? How cool is that!
How to make a Mini Chicken Coop with Recycled Materials – The Cape Coop
A mini chicken coop is super useful to have on hand, and can be built quickly using materials that might otherwise be thrown away.
A Movable Homestead Chicken Coop – Homestead Honey
Check out Homestead Honey’s country chic chicken coop made from reclaimed materials, AND can be moved around on pasture.
Chicken Tractor Plans Anyone Can Build (Even If You’re Flat Broke) – Pampered Chicken Mama
This nifty little chicken coop is super sturdy and uses a pallet for the raised base. I love pallets!
Tips For Designing Chicken Coops
It’s a big pain in the neck to spend the time, effort, and money to make a coop only to realize when you are done that it has an obnoxious flaw. Here are some resources that can help you get it right the first time. (Or second or third…)
Designing Your Perfect Coop – The Cape Coop
Pay attention to these seven tips before you build your own coop.
What Kind of Chicken Coop Design is Best? – Timber Creek Farmer
Small coop or large coop? Here’s what to think about before you start building.
Tips For A Rodent Free Coop – Imperfectly Happy
Rodents love chicken food, but we don’t love rodents. Try to discourage them from the start by using hardware cloth when constructing your coop.
Chicken Coop Necessities – The Free Range Life
No matter what type of housing you end up using for your birds, here are a list of things to plan around.
A Predator-Free Chicken Coop – Untrained Housewife
Here’s a brilliant idea, use sand in the chicken coop and make scoop to make clean up super easy. Think giant kitty litter scoop here. Plus, tips on predator proofing.
My #Priorities in Building a #Chicken #Coop – Pint Size Farm
My favorite things about this cute coop is that it’s human sized, meaning you can walk in, and that the run is enclosed so that you can go on short vacations without a chicken sitter.
How to Protect Chickens from Predators – Timber Creek Farmer
Chickens are at their most vulnerable when in the coop asleep. Here are some ways to keep them safe.
Predator Proof Chicken Coops: A Simple Way To Protect Your Flock – Farming My Backyard
A predator proof chicken run will keep your birds safe when out and about. Don’t forget about predators from above!
Five Mistakes In Chicken Coop Design – Chicken Waterer
Avoid these common mistakes when making your first coop. There’s actually only four listed, but they’re good ones. I know I’ve made them all!
The Best Chicken Coop For Hot Climates – Farming My Backyard
Live in a very hot area? Here are some things to keep in mind.
Not Good At Making Things Up?
Here are some resources with step by step instructions for building chicken coops. Some free, some not so free.
34 Free Chicken Coop Plans & Ideas That You Can Build by Yourself – Morning Chores
This is a great list of some super cute coops. They give the dimensions of each coop as well as the difficulty level so you can easily see which ones will work for you.
Carolina Coops
Just want to buy a custom coop? Check out Carolina Coops’ selection of chicken coop kits.
My Renovated Prefab Coop – Backyard Chickens
Check out how this person added some improvements to a chicken coop kit.
Free Homestead Building Plans – Today’s Plans
Here’s a list of lists of chicken coops and tractors. That should keep you busy for a while. And if you’re looking for ideas on greenhouses and smokers, they have those too.
Poultry Building Plans – North Dakota State University
Printable PDFs of chicken related building plans, including barns, houses, nest boxes, and feeders
How To Build A Chicken Coop – Home Depot
This super cute mini barn has step by step instructions, pictures, and material list. Just add a few roosts inside and a small door on the front and it’s perfect for a small backyard flock.
Coop Building Plans – My Pet Chicken
Don’t feel like designing your own coop and just want to buy a set of plans? Browse through My Pet Chicken’s collection of purchasable chicken coop plans.
Chicken Coop Plans – Etsy
Did you know you can buy downloadable plans on Etsy? If you are a step by step sort of person it might be worth the money.
DIY Chicken Coops – Amazon (affiliate link)
If you are looking to buy plans and aren’t interested in downloading and printing them yourself, try out this book.
Free Chicken Coop Plans – Barn Geek
Step by step plans with pictures, plus the option to buy downloadable plans.
Easy Chicken Coop Plans – My Outdoor Plans
These detailed plans for a raised chicken coop are useful if you are new to building. The materials need are listed at the beginning, and sizes of each piece are clearly pictured. Diagrams show each step.
How To Build A Chicken Coop – Modern Farmer
Detailed sketches show just exactly how this coop comes together. My favorite part is the screen under the roost so that droppings fall out of the coop on their own.
Don’t Start From Scratch
You might have an outbuilding or doghouse already on your property that could be easily converted into a chicken house. Here are some ways others have transformed existing structures into awesome chicken coops.
Converting a Dog House into a Chicken Coop – The Homesteading Hippy
Have a dog house, but need a chicken coop? No problem! It’s pretty easy to convert over.
Garage City Coop – Backyard Chickens
This is a sturdy coop made by framing in an already existing garage.
Make a Chicken Coop from a Garden Shed – Timber Creek Farmer
If you already have a shed on your property it’s pretty straightforward to convert it into a chicken coop.
Turn a Kids Playhouse into a Chicken Coop – Mavis Butterfield
Kids all grown up and don’t need a playhouse anymore? Here’s how to convert it into a chicken house.
Easy Backyard Chicken Coops – Mother Earth News
Not into building? This dog crate and wire pen is simple and portable.
How to Raise Chickens Cheaply – Small Budget? No Problem. – Common Sense Home
Check out this camper-made chicken coop for inspiration on utilizing unconventional resources.
Chicken Coop Expansion – Creative Simple Living
Sometimes you think you are done designing your coop, but then chicken math hits and you end up with a bigger flock. Here’s an example of a chicken coop expansion.
Getting Prepared for ANY Emergency! Start by Raising Chickens – Homesteading Hippy
You don’t have to start out fancy. Sometimes a dog house will do the trick until you decide on what a bigger home will be like.
Our Girls, Part I – Pick Me Yard: a Family Garden
How clever is this idea! See how you can use a trampoline, five gallon bucket, and chicken wire to create an enclosed run for your birds.
The Chicken Ranch: A Playskool Coop – Backyard Chickens
This children’s playhouse turned chicken coop uses vertical space to give your birds more space on a smaller foot print and also includes an attached run with a human sized door.
Now you’ve found some inspiration. Go build chicken coops!
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SB Group Nepal
Tuesday 1st of August 2023
The blog is amazing. Thank you for sharing.
Kathryn
Thursday 3rd of August 2023
Thank you for all your kind comments.
Jope dimuri
Thursday 9th of December 2021
So many fantastic cooperative ideas all in one location! We adore our hens and our coops, so this is an excellent place to start!
Fred
Wednesday 21st of April 2021
My wife and I decided we would try the chicken thing about 2 years ago, with a little help from her sister. That's a story within itself. I started doing some research, and came upon this program bit.ly/3goOopf
I looked through all the plans and found couple that I liked, so I purchased it. The beauty of these plans is, with a little know how and imagination, you can easily build your own, professional looking, coop. You can also use the basic design and tweak it to fit your needs and/or tastes. I built my first coop in 1 weekend.
Katanahamon
Thursday 26th of November 2020
Best advice is..you’re making a miniature house. It’s going to cost some money" if you aren’t a carpenter, get a pro to either do it' or a pro plan to follow. First thing to consider..like house shopping, how many bathrooms does a house have, in planning a coop, the question is..”where does the poop go..what’s the plan?” This will make your life much easier. Poop boards for the nightly roosting areas, open floor plan for easy cleaning, draft free sleeping area, but good ventilation..one nice site for three different sized coop plans is Cleancoops dot com. Also..very, very important..download your county or city requiremeñts before building, and obtain permission, permits, and neighbor approval for good will. I was lucky my builder lowered my roof to eight feet high, it was nine in the plans, but the county says “all coops shall be no higher than eight feet.” So..I got very lucky, completely by accident..do your homework first to avoid problems!
Kathryn
Wednesday 2nd of December 2020
Yes, absolutely know your city codes and make it easy to clean!
Dave
Saturday 3rd of December 2016
So many great Coop ideas in one place! We love our chickens, and our coops, so this is a wonderful list to get someone started!
Kathryn @ Farming My Backyard
Saturday 3rd of December 2016
Thanks! There are so many great coop ideas out there.