There are many benefits to keeping chickens like having fresh eggs, easy compost material, natural pest control and more. If you’re interested in these fun backyard birds, how can you begin with the same?
Besides food and fresh air, they’ll need shelter. You’ll have to provide your new feathered friends a safe place to nest and lay their eggs and a place where they can run around and peck for bugs.
Want to build your own chicken coop but don’t have the first clue? We’ve got some easy chicken coop plans you can use to make a home in your own backyard.
1. Playhouse Coop
Once your kids have outgrown their old playhouse, you can give it new life by turning it into a coop. This is a great beginner’s DIY project because there’s not too much you need to do to get it ready for your chickens.
First, create a simple enclosed chicken run with some wood and chicken wire. Add chicken wire to the windows of your playhouse and attach it to the run and your chicks have a ready place to roost.
2. Storage Shed Coop
Storage sheds are another easy way to create chicken coop structures. Find a plastic shed with two doors and take one door off.
Attach it to a chicken run on the outside. Add a few sideways buckets or drawers on the inside so your chicks can nest and cover the open doorway with more mesh.
3. Scrap Wood Coop
Ready to build your own coop from scratch? If you’re handy, you no doubt have some scrap wood laying around that you can repurpose into a coop.
The first step is to lay out the bottom frame. Add supports and chicken wire all around the sides.
Next, create a simple four-walled structure with an angled roof. Make one part of the structure easy to open so that you can gather eggs and check on your chicks.
Attach your chicken’s new home to their run and you’re set.
Extra Add-Ons
Once you’ve got your basic chicken coop set up, it’s time to think about adding some extra features. These can be as complex or as simple as you’d like.
Think about adding a small camera to your coop. That way you can keep an eye on your chickens all hours of the day, even when you’re not home.
Add a planter to the top of your coop. You can even plant things that your chickens would like to eat as a little treat for them.
Get creative and paint your coop in different colors. Let your imagination run wild and make a coop that really stands out.
More Easy Chicken Coop Plans
As you can see, it’s pretty easy to make a DIY coop for your birds. With these chicken coop plans, you’ve got tons of great options to get started.
Your hens will enjoy the open areas and feel comfortable in their new nests. They’ll be safe from the elements and from predators.
Completing a project with your own two hands gives you a sense of accomplishment. Find other great home improvement ideas on our blog.
