Best DIY coop plans (4 chickens, zone 6b/7a)

ChickenOfSpades

Chirping
Apr 23, 2022
64
97
81
Lehi, Utah
I'm back again on my hunt for coops. This time, I would love recommendations on chicken DIY coop plans from around the internet...There are a ton of people offering chicken coop plans, but I could use some help finding the actual good ones.

Here's what I'm looking for and my constraints:
  • 4 to 6 hens (I kept the prefab thread to only 4 since it was going to be a temporary setup). Will likely only ever have 4.
  • Will never keep a rooster.
  • Regarding climate, I live in a 6b zone pocket within a larger 7a zone for climate. In reality they overlap.
    • High desert, so very dry. Plenty of days in the 90s and some 100s in summer. Plenty of days in the 20s and teens in winter (sometimes will get to single digits). Very pleasant in spring and summer.
    • When we're not in a drought, we get decent snow.
    • I do get a fair bit of wind. Especially in the evenings and at night.
    • Will need lotsa ventilation in summer, and we'll need to keep air moving in winter without being drafty.
  • I have somewhat limited space, but overall dimensions of 5x12ish would be fine. 6ish feet tall is fine.
  • Would like the option for hens to primarily be contained. I'd like them to get out as much as possible, but that may not always be possible where I live.
  • I prefer more modern looking designs, but happy chickens are more important than style.
  • Plans I can view for free are fantastic, but I don't mind paying someone for good plans...I just need help finding the good ones.
Thanks again!
 
I linked my small-coop collection on your pre-fab thread. Just to keep all the info together I'll repeat that here and add the mediums.

4 hens
  • 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
  • 4 feet of roost
  • 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
  • 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
6 hens
  • 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
  • 6 feet of roost
  • 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
  • 6 square feet of ventilation.
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
Small Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dallas-urban-coop-single-slope-design.72422/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yakisugi-coop.76398/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coreys-coop-de-doop.55619/

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/

I don't know if a hoop coop would work for your situation or not, but here's the hoop coop collection anyway so you can look at them:

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

Let me know if you want to see the shed conversion collection too. :)
 
I'm back again on my hunt for coops. This time, I would love recommendations on chicken DIY coop plans from around the internet...There are a ton of people offering chicken coop plans, but I could use some help finding the actual good ones.

Here's what I'm looking for and my constraints:
  • 4 to 6 hens (I kept the prefab thread to only 4 since it was going to be a temporary setup). Will likely only ever have 4.
  • Will never keep a rooster.
  • Regarding climate, I live in a 6b zone pocket within a larger 7a zone for climate. In reality they overlap.
    • High desert, so very dry. Plenty of days in the 90s and some 100s in summer. Plenty of days in the 20s and teens in winter (sometimes will get to single digits). Very pleasant in spring and summer.
    • When we're not in a drought, we get decent snow.
    • I do get a fair bit of wind. Especially in the evenings and at night.
    • Will need lotsa ventilation in summer, and we'll need to keep air moving in winter without being drafty.
  • I have somewhat limited space, but overall dimensions of 5x12ish would be fine. 6ish feet tall is fine.
  • Would like the option for hens to primarily be contained. I'd like them to get out as much as possible, but that may not always be possible where I live.
  • I prefer more modern looking designs, but happy chickens are more important than style.
  • Plans I can view for free are fantastic, but I don't mind paying someone for good plans...I just need help finding the good ones.
Thanks again!
I could have written this post for myself! Same situation- sounds like the same location- high desert, windy at times, we live on a ‘bench’. Following!
 
I linked my small-coop collection on your pre-fab thread. Just to keep all the info together I'll repeat that here and add the mediums.

4 hens
  • 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
  • 4 feet of roost
  • 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
  • 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
6 hens
  • 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
  • 6 feet of roost
  • 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
  • 6 square feet of ventilation.
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
Small Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dallas-urban-coop-single-slope-design.72422/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yakisugi-coop.76398/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coreys-coop-de-doop.55619/

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/

I don't know if a hoop coop would work for your situation or not, but here's the hoop coop collection anyway so you can look at them:

Hoop Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-tractor.69336/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hoop-coop-brooder-with-roll-up-sides.75720/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-biddie-bordello-a-hoop-coop-run-combo.72189/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

Let me know if you want to see the shed conversion collection too. :)
So this is a lot of great examples. I'm mentally engineering a few things based on some of the feedback I've received about ventilation and such, given the extreme temperature swings where I live. If I get in a pinch and really just need to put them in something secure, but quick/cheap for now while they're still growing, would you recommend some sort of hoop coop (or its cousin the A-frame coop/tractor?)

Regarding hoop coops - are they appropriate for the winter? It mostly looks like some cattle fencing, a timber, a tarp for shelter, and something for them to roost on.
 
So this is a lot of great examples. I'm mentally engineering a few things based on some of the feedback I've received about ventilation and such, given the extreme temperature swings where I live. If I get in a pinch and really just need to put them in something secure, but quick/cheap for now while they're still growing, would you recommend some sort of hoop coop (or its cousin the A-frame coop/tractor?)

Regarding hoop coops - are they appropriate for the winter? It mostly looks like some cattle fencing, a timber, a tarp for shelter, and something for them to roost on.

A hoop is better than an A-frame because A-frames waste tremendous amounts of space, are hard to weatherproof without closing off all the ventilation.

The cattle-panel hoops are reputed to bear snow load remarkably well due to the inherent strength of the arch, especially the more permanent sorts made with metal roofing instead of tarps.
 
A hoop is better than an A-frame because A-frames waste tremendous amounts of space, are hard to weatherproof without closing off all the ventilation.

The cattle-panel hoops are reputed to bear snow load remarkably well due to the inherent strength of the arch, especially the more permanent sorts made with metal roofing instead of tarps.
Would they require any sort of additional shelter/insulation in winter beyond just the tarp over the top?
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom