How to Build a Poultry House

A well-built chicken coop will provide chickens with shelter from inclement weather, give them a place to lay their eggs and protect them from predators and injury. A chicken coop is accompanied by a run, which is the chickens' outside area. It should be enclosed with galvanized wire mesh. This poultry house will work for either egg layers or fryers. It provides sufficient space for 12 chickens. If you are raising more chickens than this, adjust the measurements for a larger poultry house.

Things You'll Need

  • 3 8-foot 4x4s treated
  • 32 8-foot 2x4s
  • 5 4:12 pitch rafters
  • Galvanized wire mesh
  • Metal barn siding
  • Screws
  • Drill
  • Level
  • Carpenter's square
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Instructions

  1. Preparing the Building Site

    • 1

      Level the building site.

    • 2

      Stake off the building site.

    • 3
      Fill the building site with sand or stone.

      Fill the building site with 6 inches of granular material, either sand or stone.

    Cutting the Boards

    • 4

      Cut two 4x4s 8 feet long. Mark as "A" (front and back base plate).

    • 5
      Cut all boards before assembly.

      Cut two 4x4s 3 feet, 5 inches long. Mark as "B" (side base plates).

    • 6

      Cut two 2x4s 8 feet long. Mark as "C" (front and back top plates).

    • 7

      Cut two 2x4s 3 feet, 4 inches long. Mark as "D" (side top plates).

    • 8

      Cut four 2x4s 4 feet long. Mark as "E" (side top and bottom boards).

    • 9

      Cut four 2x4s 7 feet, 5 inches long. Mark as "F" (front and back top and bottom boards).

    • 10

      Cut three 2x4s 4 feet long. Mark as "G" (cross beams for enclosed are).

    • 11

      Cut six 2x4s 4 feet long. Mark as "H" (enclosed floor).

    • 12

      Cut 18 2x4s 7 feet, 4 inches long. Mark as "I."

    Construction

    • 13
      A chicken run is built with the poultry house.

      Construct the front and back walls. Lay the bottom and top boards "F" on edge. Screw "I" on edge, flush to the ends and at 1 foot, 8 ½ inches; 3 feet, 8 ½ inches; and 5 feet, 8 ½ inches.

    • 14

      Screw "A" onto the bottom of the front wall, leaving 3½ inches extending out from both ends.

    • 15

      Construct the sidewalls. Lay the bottom and top boards "E" on edge. Screw "I" on edge, flush to the ends and at 2 feet from the end. Screw an "H" piece 2 feet high across one of the sides; this will be the right side.

    • 16

      Screw "B" onto the bottom of the sidewall, leaving 3½ inches short on each end.

    • 17

      Stand up the front and side wall. Make sure the side wall overlaps the 4x4 on the front wall. Using a carpenter's square, square the walls at top and bottom. Make sure the side base overlaps the base on your front wall. Toenail in place. Repeat for second sidewall.

    • 18

      Stand up the back wall. Using a carpenter's square, square the walls at top and bottom. Toenail in place.

    • 19

      Screw the front wall top plate "C" in place. Make sure it overlaps both side walls. Screw back wall top plate "C" in place. Make sure it overlaps both side walls. Screw side top plates "D" between the front and back top plates. This will ensure that the walls do not pull apart.

    • 20

      Screw roof trusses onto the top plates.

    • 21

      Cover the roof with plywood or OSB (oriented strand board). Finish with a steel roofing material or asphalt shingles.

    • 22

      Screw "H" from front to back, 2 feet from the right side at ground level and 2 feet high.

    • 23

      Screw plywood from "G" to "C." Cover with metal barn siding. This will be the enclosed area of the chicken coop.

    • 24

      Screw "H" across "G" from front to back to create the slated floor. Leave 1/2 inch between the 2x4s.

    • 25

      Cover the chicken run with galvanized wire mesh.