Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Why buy something expensive when you can make it yourself? Even a halfway decent chicken coop is going to cost you at least $100, probably more. But what if I told you it's possible to get a great chicken coop for only $50?
If you own chickens, like DIY projects, and you have an hour to spare, you should try this homemade chicken coop by Off Grid with Doug & Stacy.
What Doug actually built here is sometimes called a “chicken tractor”. It's a lightweight, movable coop you can drag around your property. Since chickens will tear up a patch of grass pretty fast, being able to move the coop every few days is a big advantage. You can attach a lightweight chain so you can drag it to a fresh spot every three to four days.
All you need to build this are some lumber, cattle panels, chicken wire, and a tarp. You'll also need some nails and zip ties to hold it all together. For the lumber, Doug used two 8-foot 2x6s and one 10-foot 2×6 cut down into a 5-foot section to form the rectangular base frame.
The cattle panels get cut down and bent into an arch over the frame, and you can adjust the size of the arch depending on how long your panels are. Want a taller coop for turkeys? Just cut the panels differently and bend them higher.
Want to save this post for later? Click Here to Pin It On Pinterest!
You can watch him build it in the video below. I also typed up the basic instructions.
First you build the frame.
Then you add the cattle panels, bending and attaching them to the lumber.
Then you add the chicken wire to the cattle panels.
Then you add the gate (a piece of cattle panel covered with chicken wire).
Then you cover it with the tarp.
One thing worth noting: this coop is best suited for spring, summer, and fall. It's not really a four-season setup, so if you live somewhere with harsh winters you'd want something more enclosed for the cold months. That said, as a warm-weather fryer coop or a temporary overflow pen, it's hard to beat.
Doug built this one to house 15 meat birds, and the whole thing came together in under an hour. It's also a handy setup to have around even when it's not full. Good for pullets, extra fryers, or any time you need a quick overflow spot and don't want to crowd your main coop.
If you don't already have the materials, they should only cost you about $50. Doug already had the cattle panels, chicken wire, zip ties, and tarp on hand, so the only thing he had to buy was the lumber. The project is pretty basic and should only take an hour.
Like this post? Don't Forget to Pin It On Pinterest!
You May Also Like:
