How big a coop do I need?

These plans give each hen about 4 square feet of floor inside the coop, which assumes the hens also have an outdoor run. 4 hens get a 4×4 ft coop, 6 hens a 4×6 ft coop and 10 hens a 6×8 ft coop.

What lumber does it use?

Standard 2x4s for the floor frame, walls and rafters, 4x4 legs rated for ground contact, 3/4" plywood for the floor, 1/2" plywood for the roof deck and nest boxes, and 1/2" exterior siding panels. The ramp is two 1x6 boards with 1x2 cleats.

Why is the coop raised off the ground?

The floor sits 24" up on four legs. That keeps the wood floor dry, gives the hens a shaded spot underneath, and puts the nest boxes at a comfortable height to collect eggs through the front door.

How is it ventilated?

The gaps between the rafters above the front and back walls, and the triangles above the side walls, are left open as vents and covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. Chicken wire is not enough to keep raccoons out.

Chicken coop plans (free PDF)

An elevated backyard coop on four legs, with a sloped roof, nest boxes, a roost, a big front door for cleaning and collecting eggs, and a pop door with a ramp. Pick your flock size and download the free plan. Every drawing, cut length and step is worked out for that size.

3-D view of the 4 by 4 ft chicken coop: raised on four legs, sloped roof, front coop door, pop door and ramp on the right side — Rendered from the plan model for the 4 hens: 4 x 4 ft size.

How many hens?

4 hens4 × 4 ft6 hens4 × 6 ft10 hens6 × 8 ft

Floor: 4 × 4 ft (16 sq ft), 24" off the ground
Overall: 4'-1" wide x 5' deep x 6'-11" high
Inside: 1 nest box, 1 roost bar, about 6.6 sq ft of vents
Lumber (approx.): 17 boards: 1 × 1x2 x 8', 1 × 1x4 x 10', 1 × 1x4 x 8', 1 × 1x6 x 10', 1 × 2x4 x 10', 10 × 2x4 x 12', 1 × 2x4 x 8', 1 × 4x4 x 10'
Sheets: 4 sheets 4×8: 1 × 1/2" plywood, 1 × 3/4" plywood, 2 × 1/2" exterior siding panel
Build steps: 16 in the free plan, 20 in premium

Download free plan: 4 hens, 4 × 4 ftPDF, 17 pages · no email needed

Premium edition (27 pages, $19.99) adds the cut list, cutting diagrams, sheet layouts and shopping list.

4 hens: 4 x 4 ft (PDF, 17 pages)

6 hens: 4 x 6 ft (PDF, 17 pages)

10 hens: 6 x 8 ft (PDF, 17 pages)

Elevations

Front elevation of the 4×6 ft coop with overall width, floor height, wall height and door width dimensioned — Front: coop door, legs and ramp.

Right side elevation of the 4×6 ft coop showing the pop door, ramp, roof slope and wall heights — Side: pop door and ramp, roof pitch 3.2 in 12.

Shown for the 6-hen size. The free PDF also has floor, roof and wall framing plans for every size.

What the build looks like

Step 1. Prepare the site
Step 2. Cut the framing
Step 3. Build the floor frame
Step 4. Bolt on the legs
Step 5. Lay the floor
Step 6. Frame the front wall
Step 7. Frame the back wall
Step 8. Frame the side walls
Step 9. Stand and join the walls
Step 10. Set the rafters
Step 11. Deck and roof
Step 12. Hang the siding
Step 13. Build and hang the doors
Step 14. Cover the vents
Step 15. Nest boxes and roosts
Step 16. Build the ramp

The free PDF has these steps in full with a 3-D figure for each. Skill level: confident beginner. You need a circular saw, a jigsaw, a drill/driver, a square and a level.

Free vs premium

What each edition of the plan includes
Included	Free	Premium
3-D overview, front and side elevations with dimensions	✓	✓
Floor, roof and wall framing drawings with stud and joist positions	✓	✓
Build steps with every cut length written in, and a 3-D figure for each step	✓	✓
Exploded view with every part labelled	—	✓
Full cut list (every part, quantity and length)	—	✓
Board-by-board cutting diagram for 8, 10 and 12 ft lumber	—	✓
4×8 sheet layouts for the floor, roof and siding	—	✓
Shopping list: boards, sheets, roofing, hinges, latches and screw counts	—	✓
Extra steps: finishing, bedding and setup, predator check, seasonal care	—	✓

Premium edition — $19.99

Everything in the free plan, plus the full cut list, a board-by-board cutting diagram, 4×8 sheet layouts and a shopping list with roofing, hinges, latches and screw counts, so you can buy everything in one trip.

$19.99 one-time, no subscription. The PDF downloads right after payment and is emailed to you.
For the size you choose: exploded view, cut list, cutting diagram, sheet layouts, shopping list and every step.
30-day money-back guarantee. Email us within 30 days and we'll refund you in full. See purchase terms.

Want to move your hens around the yard?

For 3 to 5 hens on a lawn, a chicken tractor is an alternative to a fixed coop: an open-bottom run with a roost box, handles and wheels that you roll to fresh grass every day or two. See our free chicken tractor plans.

Questions

How big a coop do I need?: These plans give each hen about 4 square feet of floor inside the coop, which assumes the hens also have an outdoor run. 4 hens get a 4×4 ft coop, 6 hens a 4×6 ft coop and 10 hens a 6×8 ft coop.
What lumber does it use?: Standard 2x4s for the floor frame, walls and rafters, 4x4 legs rated for ground contact, 3/4" plywood for the floor, 1/2" plywood for the roof deck and nest boxes, and 1/2" exterior siding panels. The ramp is two 1x6 boards with 1x2 cleats.
Why is the coop raised off the ground?: The floor sits 24" up on four legs. That keeps the wood floor dry, gives the hens a shaded spot underneath, and puts the nest boxes at a comfortable height to collect eggs through the front door.
How is it ventilated?: The gaps between the rafters above the front and back walls, and the triangles above the side walls, are left open as vents and covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. Chicken wire is not enough to keep raccoons out.

Not engineered. Check local codes, permits and loads. Build at your own risk. Use ground-contact-rated 4x4s for the legs and exterior-rated siding. Check local rules on keeping hens and on backyard structures. Full disclaimer.