Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques. "},{"name":"Jennifer Kopf","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/author/10387/jennifer-kopf/","@type":"Person","description":"
Jennifer Kopf is the Executive Editor of Country Living. She also covers antiques and collecting."}],"@context":"http://schema.org","about":{"@type":"ItemList","numberOfItems":42,"itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Lisa Steele’s Dreamy Purchased Coop… and Her DIY Plans for Beginners","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=1","description":"When Lisa moved to her current home in Maine, she opted for a professionally built coop from Horizon Structures, which was constructed off-site and delivered in one piece, save for the attached run with a lean-to roof. She replaced the window screens with half-inch welded wire and added a predator-proof door latch to the entry. But long before this gracious coop, Lisa started by DIYing her own little henhouse, and she has some words of encouragement for you:“I built my first chicken coop knowing nothing about building really, and it held together for years,” Lisa said. If you are looking for a weekend DIY, check out her build plan for her very first coop, the right size for 5 to 6 hens, below.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/chicken-coop-plans-lisa-steele-converted-shed-66323a4f75c5e.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"New England Cape Coop Plans","description":"Lisa’s Predator-Proofing Tips“Everything has to be like Fort Knox,” Lisa says, to keep out clever predators like raccoons and weasels. “Make sure that your coop is more secure than you ever think it needs to be.”DO NOT use chicken wire.DO use 1/2- or 1/4-inch welded wire to secure open windows and vents.DO use super-secure bolts, not just staples, in your build.DO NOT use a simple sliding deadbolt or latch.DO use carabiners, padlocks, or spring latches to secure doors and hinged exterior nesting box lids.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714570053-free-diy-chicken-coop-plans-lisa-steele-663242e24a488.jpg","sku":"chickencoopplans-lisasteele-663242c9de09a","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"New England Cape Coop Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/files/chickencoopplans-lisasteele-663242c9de09a.pdf","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"250.00","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Pretty & Simple Chicken Coop Plans","description":"Antiques dealer Christi Wilson (@thebrownshed) designed a pretty backyard coop that both complements her own farmhouse and provides function with easy cleaning. The 8'-by-12' structure (with an attached enclosed run of the same size) is divided with the front area providing space for feed and supplies and the back area housing the nesting boxes and roost. Its roomy walk-in design is ideal for 6 to 9 chickens.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714541340-simple-white-chicken-coop-1586452675.jpg","sku":null,"brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Pretty & Simple Chicken Coop Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.thebrownshed.com/thecoop","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"55.00","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":""}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Nestled in the Landscape Coop Plans","description":"This cottage-style chicken coop, designed by Daniel McCurry, co-founder and CEO of Father Nature Landscapes, features a charming metal roof and a large attached run in a shady Southern landscape. 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If you want a full materials and cuttings list, a breakdown of tools and fastening elements needed, additional illustrations and blueprints, and technical support, consider upgrading to a premium plan—it's only $20. ","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714423556-Chicken-coop_03-20x9-1.jpg","sku":"20x9-large-chicken-run-plans","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Large Chicken Coop & Run Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://easycoops.com/20x9-large-chicken-run-plans/","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"19.99","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"easycoops"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":7,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Large Walk-In Coop & Run Plans","description":"Planning for 10 to 12 chickens? A 16'x8' run attached to this 4'x8' walk-in coop will give them plenty of room to roam. These building plans include a materials list and all the details you need to build the structure and nesting boxes, but personal details like the decorative trim, hardware, and roosting bars are up to you. You'll find creative inspiration aplenty for customizing those items on Bee Jeweled Coop's Instagram (@bee.jeweled.coop) and website (beejeweledcoop.com).","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714427118-il_1588xN.5284053167_77dc.jpg","sku":"etsy_1508663064","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"Bee Jeweled Coop"},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Large Walk-In Coop & Run Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.etsy.com/listing/1508663064/chicken-coop-building-plans-easy-walk-in","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"29.99","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Etsy"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":8,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Small Chicken Coop & Run with Window Box Plans","description":"A quaint 4'x8' coop and run housed under a single roof is the right size for a petite backyard with a small flock of 4 to 5 chickens.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714425572-mypetchicken-4x8-coop-building-plans-66300e8748ed2.jpg","sku":"4x8-house-building-plans-4-5-chickens","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Small Chicken Coop & Run with Window Box Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.mypetchicken.com/products/4x8-house-building-plans-4-5-chickens","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"59.97","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"mypetchicken"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":9,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Chez Poulet Coop Plans","description":"This Cape Cod-style coop, complete with a cupola and circular vents, belongs to photo stylist Heather Bullard (@heatherbullard) and is prettier than most human dwellings! The name, Chez Poulet, translates to \"chicken house\" and rhymes in French! You can build Heather's coop for your own chickens using stock building materials and hardware from the home improvement store. RELATED: Peek Inside This Cute Coop","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714539644-CLChezPouletCoopText.jpg","sku":null,"brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Chez Poulet Coop Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://coopplans.bigcartel.com/","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"39.00","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Big Cartel"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":10,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Daisy Coop Building Plans","description":"This elevated backyard charmer houses up to 8 chickens and has two large back doors that swing open wide for easy cleaning. One happy reviewer reports, \"I really really like the design of this coop. No bending over to clean. As good as any walk in coop.\" The post foundation is set in a 4'x8' configuration, but the nesting boxes bump the width to 11'. The building plans include a complete tools and material list, as well as instructions for an attached run (not shown). ","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714426322-1260512308.png","sku":"Daisy-Coop-Building-Plans-Instant-Download-p156354402","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"Meyer Hatchery"},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Daisy Coop Building Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://meyerhatchery.com/products/Daisy-Coop-Building-Plans-Instant-Download-p156354402","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"34.95","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"meyerhatchery"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":11,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Chicken Tractor Plans","description":"This 10'6\" x 4' walk-in run and coop combo is suited for 8 chickens. It has two big wheels that allow you to tow it from one patch of lawn to another so that your chickens get fresh territory for foraging, fertilizing the grass as they go the old-fashioned way. Free and premium versions of this plan are available at easycoops.com.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714423931-5x13-chicken-tractor-for-8-chickens-2048x1205.jpg","sku":"5x13-chicken-coop-plans","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"Easy Coops"},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Chicken Tractor Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://easycoops.com/5x13-chicken-coop-plans/","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"19.99","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"easycoops"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":12,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Quaint Coop & Run Plans","description":"We love this fetching design for 10 chickens, and you can scale the plans up or down as needed. This coop features a unique angled roost with an easily accessible droppings board that streamlines cleanup. Along with detailed plans, this one also comes with an 18-minute video tutorial that you can preview before you buy—the more visual and audio aids the better, we say!","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714429058-il_1588xN.3651529902_43cr.jpg","sku":"etsy_1147892062","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"Third Coast Craftsman"},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Quaint Coop & Run Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.etsy.com/listing/1147892062/chicken-coop-run-plans-build-video","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"15.00","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Etsy"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":13,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Garden Chicken Coop & Moble Ark Plans","description":"This bundle features to plans: one for a small mobile chicken tractor (aka, The Garden Ark) and the other for a larger backyard coop and run. 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Just a few ideas: a seasonal wreath, a cute or funny sign, and blooming containers.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1558548651-il_570xN.1126873004_tg73.jpg","sku":"etsy_238472115","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"CoopExpert"},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"White Barn-Style Chicken Coop Plans","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://www.etsy.com/listing/238472115/chicken-coop-plans-pdf-file-instant","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"17.95","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Etsy"}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":15,"item":{"@context":"https://schema.org/","@type":"Product","name":"Little Giant Coop Plans","description":"If you need a little encouragement to get in the DIY spirit, watch interior designer (and coop designer!) Brittni Poisson (@bhomeliving) build this coop from the ground up in fast motion in this Instagram Reel. Plans include drawings, build photos, lists of materials and suggested tool, notes, and tips. The Little Giant Coop plan suits flocks of less than 20. The B. Home Designs shop also offers a plan for a cute little red coop that can fit inside a freestanding run, as well as run plans. ","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714430042-ed1a97_9fef2eb26ac441d6af645bb9228448b7~mv2.jpg","sku":"little-giant-coop-plans","brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":"B. 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Measuring 29 sq. ft., our charming 4'4\"-by-7' Country Living Anniversary Chicken Coop features louvered gable vents, two roosting dowels, and a hinged roof on the nesting boxes.","image":"https://vader-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/1714538132-country-living-chicken-coop-plan-1586393531.jpg","sku":null,"brand":{"@type":"Brand","name":null},"review":{"@type":"Review","name":"Country Living's 40th Anniversary Coop Plan","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Terri Robertson"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Jennifer Kopf"}]},"offers":[{"@type":"Offer","url":"https://ourtownplans.com/plans/country-living/-anniversary-chicken-coop","priceCurrency":"USD","price":"50.00","availability":"https://schema.org/InStock","offeredBy":{"@type":"Organization","name":""}}]}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":17,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Now for Dreamy DIY Chicken Coops to Inspire You…","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=17","description":"You can use salvaged materials for your build or repurpose a structure, such as a sturdy shed, a playhouse, a large doghouse, or even an old grain silo! The sky’s the limit, but to reiterate: Fort Knox! Refer back to the predator-proofing tips mentioned in slide 1.“I have read that if a 2-year-old can get into something, that means a raccoon can,” says expert chicken-keeper Lisa Steele. “Raccoons are pretty smart, and they will come back every night and try to get into that coop.” ","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cl-line2-64f7934034e14.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":18,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Childhood Playhouse Turned Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=18","description":"Built by her grandpa in 1964, Mel Ridley’s childhood playhouse is now the happy home to her feathered friends. See more at @countryfirsts.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/converted-white-playhouse-chicken-coop-1586383850.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":19,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"English Garden Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=19","description":"During Bunny Williams’s first trip to Kent’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the designer became smitten with the design of English gardens. With each subsequent trip came new inspiration, including the design of her chicken pavilion’s octagonal cage, situated between two clapboard henhouses on her country property in Connecticut.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/bunny-williams-chicken-coop-6632814c7793b.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":20,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"City-Worthy Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=20","description":"Designer Lee Kleinhelter (@pieces.inc) made sure her Atlanta coop was in keeping with her home’s exterior by sticking to a chic black-and-white palette.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/dark-painted-chicken-coop-1586392735.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":21,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Charm-Packed DIY Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=21","description":"A pretty blue door is one of many salvaged elements Jess Parker incorporated into her \"Mint Homestead\" chicken coop. The interior is planked with old barn wood, the roof is reclaimed corrugated metal, and an old shipping pallet is now a welcoming porch. For an added vintage accent, she topped the door with a vintage awning she found at an estate sale. See more at @whimsicaltreasuresdecor.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cute-chicken-coop-1586394314.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":22,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Cottage Style Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=22","description":"Chloe Mackintosh (@boxwoodavenue) and her dad designed and built her small cottage-style coop that's home to her eight hens. See more at Boxwood Avenue.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/small-all-white-chicken-coop-jpg-1586395442.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":23,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Colorful Chicken Coop ","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=23","description":"Author and self-titled chixologist, Kate Richards utilized every inch of her small Los Angeles backyard for her bright and colorful 5'-by-12' stacked chicken coop and run.See more at Drinking with Chickens. BUY KATE'S BOOK","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/colorful-chicken-coop-1586393377.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":24,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Chicken Coop with Vintage Appeal","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=24","description":"Thanks to a saved stash of architectural salvage, what started as a simple chicken coop quickly grew into a “fit for an antiques dealer” home for Amy Whyte’s flock. See more at @amycwhyte.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/chicken-coop-of-architectural-salvage-1586392892.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":25,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Church-Inspired Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=25","description":"Situated behind her circa-1850s Kentucky home, Shannon Latham’s (@littleenglishclothing) 5'W-by-10'L-by-4'H “The Chicken Church” was inspired by a centuries-old local church, Pisgah Presbyterian Church, and hand-built by Amish craftsmen. ","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/church-shaped-chicken-coop-1586393310.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":26,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Silo Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=26","description":"An unused grain bin finds a second life repurposed as a unique chicken coop. The attached large enclosed run gives the chickens plenty of outdoor space. ","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/grain-silo-chicken-coop-1586394734.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":27,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Charming Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=27","description":"Chicken expert and author Melissa Caughey of Tilly's Nest (@tillysnest) built a house-worthy chicken coop that is as charming as it is functional. How fun is that green (Herb Garden by Benjamin Moore) front door? ","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/classic-chicken-coop-green-door-1586450930.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":28,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Chic Black Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=28","description":"A dark stain elevates the wood planks of Karen Bertelsen's stylish chicken coop, while elongated door handles and house-worthy sconces deliver even more high style. But she also made sure the function matched the style with lots of components such as an exterior nesting box (which the chickens have access to from inside the coop) and tucked away storage components. To keep her coop predator proof, Karen installed Rare Earth Magnets on all the doors.See more at The Art of Doing Stuff. ","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/chic-black-chicken-coop-1586394507.jpeg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":29,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"House-Inspired Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=29","description":"Matthew & Alysha Sneed looked to a farmhouse they spotted in Country Living for inspiration for their cozy chicken coop that is complete with windows and a front door. Using scrap wood and windows and a door from a second-hand store kept costs down. See more at Sneed Acres.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/house-like-chicken-coop-1586394825.jpeg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":30,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Well-Appointed Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=30","description":"A standing seam metal roof and board-and-batten shutters (not to mention the shiplap walls inside!) bring tons of farmhouse detailing to Caroline Scott’s enviable chicken coop. See more at @wildfeatherfarm.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/farmhouse-inspired-chicken-coop-1586394616.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":31,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Room for All Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=31","description":"Deep in the heart of Texas, this dream-worthy large chicken coop—with more than 900 square feet of run space—keeps Erin Schaefgen’s 50-plus chickens in scratching bliss. See more at @threelittleblackbirds.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/extra-large-carraige-style-chicken-coop-1586394429.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":32,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"A Tony Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=32","description":"With its thatched roof and decorative oeil-de-boeuf frame, this plaster-wrapped beauty by Tone Alexander (@tonealexander) references Cape Dutch style. The large chandelier provides a fun, unexpected finishing touch. 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","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/how-to-build-a-chicken-coop-1586388797.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":37,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"DIY Chicken Coop Signs","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=37","description":"This Georgia family didn't stop at just designing their own large chicken coop—they added DIY decor as well. Bonus: The cute \"On the Farm\" sign lists the fun names of all the resident chickens, from Rosie Mae to Hazel. Get the tutorial at Redeem Your Ground. 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But we think its the striking cutout door that's the real statement piece!Get the tutorial at Small + Friendly.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/countryliving/assets/15/25/10-6a0133ec490e97970b0192aa1ac69b970d.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":40,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"DIY Greenhouse-Style Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=40","description":"This coop has such a natural and airy feel to it.Get the tutorial at Backyard Chickens.","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/countryliving/assets/17/34/600x450px-ll-ef963ef4_coop_finishedfrontright.jpg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":41,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Old-Fashioned Country Chicken Coop","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=41","description":"This family repurposed their kids' old bunk bed and scrap metal from a dilapidated horse shelter to create a cute, countrified hideaway for their five chickens, Jett, Belle, Pepper, Buffy and Custard. We especially love the witty Chick-fil-A inspired sign above the doorway!","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/countryliving/assets/17/30/1501171307-unknown.jpeg"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":42,"item":{"@type":"Thing","name":"Next: Here’s What a $100K Chicken Coop Looks Like","url":"https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g2452/diy-chicken-coops/?slide=42","description":"The coop was inspired by (what else?) Versailles, taking its design cues from the Louis XV-era Petit Trianon chateau. In addition to cushy rooms for nesting and roosting, the multi-level dwelling comes with a chandelier and a small library stocked with books on gardening and raising chickens — you know, in case you want to read up on those subjects while tending to the hens.SEE MORE","image":"https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/cl-line2-64c13b5a21fe8.jpg"}}]}}
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So, you’re thinking about taking up backyard chicken-keeping. Before you start choosing chicken breeds or shopping for cute chicken accessories, first things first: a coop to keep your flock happy, healthy, and safe. Whether you are building your own from a set of chicken coop plans, weighing store-bought options, or scouting ideas for DIY chicken coops, it’s homework time. So, we called on an expert.
“If you are the least bit handy, then absolutely, building your own is cheaper,” Lisa says. “And it’s going to be sturdier likely, because in between building your own and buying your own, there are those kits that tend to be priced in the middle, where you get all the pieces and put them together. But they’re so flimsy and, in the long run, it’s a waste of money because they’re not going to hold together. They’re not going to keep predators out.” (On that note, a cautionary tale.)
“Unless you want to lay out the money to buy a shed-style walk-in that will withstand heavy winds, bears, coyotes, and everything, building your own is the way to go. Then you can customize it. There are plenty of photos, tutorials, and videos out there, so you can look at the features that you like and build it exactly the size you want it.”
Scroll through these coops plans, including some free options and DIY inspo. Afterward, return here for these essential reads:
Lisa Steele’s Dreamy Purchased Coop… and Her DIY Plans for Beginners
Lisa Steele
When Lisa moved to her current home in Maine, she opted for a professionally built coop from Horizon Structures, which was constructed off-site and delivered in one piece, save for the attached run with a lean-to roof. She replaced the window screens with half-inch welded wire and added a predator-proof door latch to the entry. But long before this gracious coop, Lisa started by DIYing her own little henhouse, and she has some words of encouragement for you:
“I built my first chicken coop knowing nothing about building really, and it held together for years,” Lisa said. If you are looking for a weekend DIY, check out her build plan for her very first coop, the right size for 5 to 6 hens, below.
“Everything has to be like Fort Knox,” Lisa says, to keep out clever predators like raccoons and weasels. “Make sure that your coop is more secure than you ever think it needs to be.”
DO NOT use chicken wire.
DO use 1/2- or 1/4-inch welded wire to secure open windows and vents.
DO use super-secure bolts, not just staples, in your build.
DO NOT use a simple sliding deadbolt or latch.
DO use carabiners, padlocks, or spring latches to secure doors and hinged exterior nesting box lids.
Antiques dealer Christi Wilson (@thebrownshed) designed a pretty backyard coop that both complements her own farmhouse and provides function with easy cleaning. The 8'-by-12' structure (with an attached enclosed run of the same size) is divided with the front area providing space for feed and supplies and the back area housing the nesting boxes and roost. Its roomy walk-in design is ideal for 6 to 9 chickens.
This cottage-style chicken coop, designed by Daniel McCurry, co-founder and CEO of Father Nature Landscapes, features a charming metal roof and a large attached run in a shady Southern landscape. Thoughtful details include a mailbox and a cheery window box.
*These plans are free but only include master and front elevation plans.
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Reed Brown
A wider view shows a lush border, including ferns and oakleaf hydrangeas, that nestles the coop and run seamlessly into the property. Daniel's landscaped design is a reminder to think beyond the coop.
Spacious and easy to clean, this 20'x9' walk-in coop and run for 12 chickens is beautiful in its simplicity. Since you are building your own, you can customize your coop in any combination of paint or wood stain that your backyard-chicken-loving heart desires. You can even paint it to match your house.
Tip: Easy Coops Offers Free Versions of All Its Plans
At easycoops.com, you can peruse coop plans for lots of styles and sizes, and you can find how-to guides on topics like building permits and costs. Free plans include step-by-step instructions with illustrations and a basic materials list. If you want a full materials and cuttings list, a breakdown of tools and fastening elements needed, additional illustrations and blueprints, and technical support, consider upgrading to a premium plan—it's only $20.
Planning for 10 to 12 chickens? A 16'x8' run attached to this 4'x8' walk-in coop will give them plenty of room to roam. These building plans include a materials list and all the details you need to build the structure and nesting boxes, but personal details like the decorative trim, hardware, and roosting bars are up to you. You'll find creative inspiration aplenty for customizing those items on Bee Jeweled Coop's Instagram (@bee.jeweled.coop) and website (beejeweledcoop.com).
This Cape Cod-style coop, complete with a cupola and circular vents, belongs to photo stylist Heather Bullard (@heatherbullard) and is prettier than most human dwellings! The name, Chez Poulet, translates to "chicken house" and rhymes in French! You can build Heather's coop for your own chickens using stock building materials and hardware from the home improvement store.
This elevated backyard charmer houses up to 8 chickens and has two large back doors that swing open wide for easy cleaning. One happy reviewer reports, "I really really like the design of this coop. No bending over to clean. As good as any walk in coop." The post foundation is set in a 4'x8' configuration, but the nesting boxes bump the width to 11'. The building plans include a complete tools and material list, as well as instructions for an attached run (not shown).
This 10'6" x 4' walk-in run and coop combo is suited for 8 chickens. It has two big wheels that allow you to tow it from one patch of lawn to another so that your chickens get fresh territory for foraging, fertilizing the grass as they go the old-fashioned way. Free and premium versions of this plan are available at easycoops.com.
We love this fetching design for 10 chickens, and you can scale the plans up or down as needed. This coop features a unique angled roost with an easily accessible droppings board that streamlines cleanup. Along with detailed plans, this one also comes with an 18-minute video tutorial that you can preview before you buy—the more visual and audio aids the better, we say!
This bundle features to plans: one for a small mobile chicken tractor (aka, The Garden Ark) and the other for a larger backyard coop and run. It's a deal you can't beat.
Two windows, a large access door, roost rails, and a hinged lid make this DIY coop a winner. The detailed 31-page plans created by an experienced carpenter seal the deal. Paint it white for a blank slate you can decorate any way you like. Just a few ideas: a seasonal wreath, a cute or funny sign, and blooming containers.
If you need a little encouragement to get in the DIY spirit, watch interior designer (and coop designer!) Brittni Poisson (@bhomeliving) build this coop from the ground up in fast motion in this Instagram Reel. Plans include drawings, build photos, lists of materials and suggested tool, notes, and tips. The Little Giant Coop plan suits flocks of less than 20. The B. Home Designs shop also offers a plan for a cute little red coop that can fit inside a freestanding run, as well as run plans.
The traditional 40th anniversary gift is rubies. Country Living magazine celebrated its 40th in 2018 with brand-new chicken coop plans (hey, the Rhode Island Reds among our flock are our rubies). Measuring 29 sq. ft., our charming 4'4"-by-7' Country Living Anniversary Chicken Coop features louvered gable vents, two roosting dowels, and a hinged roof on the nesting boxes.
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Now for Dreamy DIY Chicken Coops to Inspire You…
You can use salvaged materials for your build or repurpose a structure, such as a sturdy shed, a playhouse, a large doghouse, or even an old grain silo! The sky’s the limit, but to reiterate: Fort Knox! Refer back to the predator-proofing tips mentioned in slide 1.
“I have read that if a 2-year-old can get into something, that means a raccoon can,” says expert chicken-keeper Lisa Steele. “Raccoons are pretty smart, and they will come back every night and try to get into that coop.”
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Childhood Playhouse Turned Chicken Coop
Courtesy of Mel Ridley/@countryfirsts
Built by her grandpa in 1964, Mel Ridley’s childhood playhouse is now the happy home to her feathered friends.
During Bunny Williams’s first trip to Kent’s Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the designer became smitten with the design of English gardens. With each subsequent trip came new inspiration, including the design of her chicken pavilion’s octagonal cage, situated between two clapboard henhouses on her country property in Connecticut.
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City-Worthy Chicken Coop
Courtesy of Lee Kleinhelter
Designer Lee Kleinhelter (@pieces.inc) made sure her Atlanta coop was in keeping with her home’s exterior by sticking to a chic black-and-white palette.
Terri Robertson is the Senior Editor, Digital, at Country Living, where she shares her lifelong love of homes, gardens, down-home cooking, and antiques.
