Why spend a fortune on a retail hen house when you can build a cheap chicken coop instead? To be honest, a self-made premium coop with all the extras will come in at under half the price of a new one, and it will only take a day or 2 to build. This article gives you a general outline on the best home chicken coops.

Click here for download how to build cheap chicken coop.

The 3 Main Chicken Coop Options

Depending on how big your backyard or farm is, how many chickens you plan on keeping, and how much time and energy you want to invest in setting up your coop, there are 3 main options:

1) A small chicken coop that is designed to be moved around (1-3 chickens)

2) A medium, box-shaped coop that is more difficult to move around (4-9 chickens)

3) A large sized, premium chicken coop for large flocks (10+ chickens)

Click here for download how to build cheap chicken coops.

If you’re new to the idea of keeping chickens at home, but want to get a decent egg yield, I highly recommend starting with a medium coop that can be expanded later on, as your flock grows. I don’t recommend using a small, portable chicken coop as a permanent home for your birds, as it is generally unethical, and will reduce overall egg output.

Click here for download how to build cheap chicken coops.

Cheap Chicken Coop Materials

If you’ve got a good idea on how big you want your coop, it’s time to start collecting building materials. Standard materials include timber for the frame (pine, hardwood, or even unfinished logs can be used), mesh wire for a secure and ventilated coop, and a few other things. You honestly don’t need a lot.