How to Build Poultry Barns

Measure your barn location, plotting the corners of your chicken run or fenced area. Note any locations of utilities, including plumbing and electrical service. Your flock may demand water and electrical service for lighting, ventilation and feeding.

Locate your planned barn, taking into account prevailing winds and heights of trees or buildings. Egg-laying hens typically require 14 hours of daylight to maintain egg production. Local topographical conditions and zoning restrictions may dictate or prohibit barn placement. Consult with your local code official for zoning requirements.

Construct your foundation on a planed and cleared area. Place four concrete blocks on leveled soil at the planned corners at a distance of 6 feet square maximum. Raise or lower the soil level at each block so that each is at the same height.

Cut a 2-by-4 to match the length of each side. Predrill and secure the 2-by-4 horizontally to the concrete block with 3-inch tapcon screws. Lay out a 2-by-4 at the 1/4 and 1/2 spans to support the floor of the barn. Install the 2-by-4s equally spaced perpendicular to the horizontal 2-by-4 to support the weight of the floor.

Cut a sheet, or several sheets, of plywood to match the interior size of the 2-by-4 rectangle. Fasten the plywood flooring to the 2-by-4 supports with 2-inch six-penny nails. Install 2-by-4s vertically at the intersection of the floor framing and the horizontal 2-by-4. Installing the 2-by-4s to each other strengthens the structure by transferring forces of gravity and wind to the concrete block foundation at the corners.

Cut plywood to match the size of all sides of the foundation and floor to the desired height, typically 5 or 6 feet. Poultry such as egg-laying hens do not need vertical height as much as a horizontal run and nesting areas. Fasten the plywood to the vertical 2-by-4 framing with 2-inch six-penny nails. Install a diagonal 2-by-4 at each corner to provide wind bracing.

Prepare a door opening by laying out a 30-inch space between framing members and plywood sheathing. Construct a door by cutting a sheet of plywood to match the wall height and nailing together a 2-by-4 frame to fit the 30-inch wide door and door frame. Attach the door to the wall with a minimum of two hinges.

Lay a horizontal 2-by-4 across the top of the wall framing. Nail it to the vertical framing with 2-inch six-penny nails, two per vertical stud. Repeat for all four walls. Lay out the roof plywood sheathing for a test fit.

Measure for a 6-inch overhang on all sides and cut with a circular saw. Lay the plywood atop the 2-by-4 top plate and fasten with 2-inch six-penny nails centered on each stud. Cover the roof with roofing felt, fastened with roofing nails.

Cover all exposed fastener ends on the barn interior with protective material that cannot be removed or eaten by poultry. Select your flooring material for ease of maintenance and water resistance. Consider removable flooring to facilitate cleaning.

Determine the heights and locations of shelving for nesting boxes. Typically 1-foot square and 4 inches in height, nesting boxes are filled to the top with fresh straw. Design nesting boxes for easy removal for regular cleaning. Use shelving material that is non-toxic, impermeable and resistant to scratching or surface damage by poultry.

Install shelving a minimum of 1-foot wide in 3- or 4-foot lengths, spaced vertically 1-foot apart. Install shelving with shelf brackets with wood screws, using at least two per bracket, preferably four. Provide one nesting box for every three egg-laying hens.

Install ladders or perch structures to allow chickens to roost. Build roosts out of dowels or branches, secured with 1-by-2 lengths of lumber. Use steel angle brackets to secure the 1-by-2 pieces of lumber to the interior walls of the barn. Space the perch posts at staggered heights to permit poultry to climb to their preferred perch or nesting shelf.