6×6 Backyard Chicken Coop – Free DIY Plans

If you want to learn more about how to build a 6×6 chicken coop you have to take a close look over the free plans in the article. This chicken coop features a gable roof, a door to the front and a door to the side. The front door is super large, so you can have an easy access inside and clean the coop. The attached nesting boxes will make harvesting the fresh eggs really easy. You can also build a matching run, if you want to keep the chickens safe while moving on the ground.

If you want to get the job done in a professional manner, we recommend you to plan everything with attention, as to prevent costly mistakes and to build a professional garden project. Invest in high quality materials, such as cedar, pine or redwood, as the bench will be exposed to all kinds of weather. Apply a few coats of paint over the components, to enhance their appearance and to protect them from bad weather.

6×6 Backyard Chicken Coop – Free DIY Plans

Building-a-6×6-chicken-coop

Materials

• 1 – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 72″ long, 6 pieces – 69″ long BASE
• 2 – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 24″ long POSTS
• 3 – 13 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 72″ long FLOOR
• 4 – 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 69″ long, 2 pieces – 10 1/2″ long, 4 pieces – 45″ long FRONT WALL FRAME
• 5 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 69″ long, 6 pieces – 45″ long BACK WALL FRAME
• 6 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 72″ long, 1 piece – 69″ long, 4 pieces – 27 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 24″ long, 1 piece – 7 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 5″ long SIDE WALL FRAME
• 7 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 72″ long, 6 pieces – 45″ long SIDE WALL FRAME
• 8 – 6 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 29″x72″ long, 1 piece – 48″x48″ long, 1 piece – 24″x48″ long, 2 pieces – 48″x74 3/4″ long, 2 pieces – 24″x66 3/4″ long PANELS
• 9 – 12 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 54″ long RAFTERS
• 10 – 8 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 80″ long PURLINS
• 11 – 4 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 54″ long, 2 pieces – 80″ long TRIMS
• 12 – 3 pieces of metal roof sheets – 3’x10′ long ROOFING
• 13 – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 46 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 55″ long JAMBS
• 14 – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 39 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 48″ long. 4 pieces – 16″ long, 1 piece of 1/2″ plywood – 46 1/2″x48″ long DOOR 

• 1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 4 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 12 ft
• 7 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 12 ft
• 18 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
• 5 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 4’x8′
• 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 10 ft
• 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 8 ft
• 2 pieces of 1×6 lumber – 10 ft
• 8 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 5 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 8 ft
• 3 pieces of metal roof sheets – 3’x10′ long
• 150 pieces 1 5/8″ screws
• 4 pieces of hinges, latch
• 300 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
• 50 pieces of 3 1/2″ screws
• 12 rafter ties
• 1 1/2″ structural screws
• wood glue, stain/paint
• chicken feeder

Tools

• Hammer, Tape measure, Carpentry square
• Miter saw, Drill machinery, Screwdriver, Sander, Router
• Safety Gloves, Safety Glasses, Respiratory Mask

Time

• One week

How to build a gable 6×6 chicken coop

Floor-frame

The first step of the project is to build the floor frame. Use 2×4 lumber and cut everything as shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the rim joists and insert 3 1/2″ screws into the perpendicular components. Make sure the corners are square. Place the joists every 16″ on center.

Fitting-the-legs-to-the-coop

Use 4×4 lumber for the legs. Cut the legs at 24″ (or adjust to suit your needs). Fit the posts to the corners of the floor frame. Drill pilot holes through the floor frame and insert 3 1/2″ screws into the legs. Plumb the legs and make sure the floor frame is perfectly horizontal.

Floor-slats-for-chicken-coop

Use 2×6 lumber for the floor. Cut the boards at 72″ and secure them to the frame with 2 1/2″ screws.

Side-wall-frame—with-window

Use 2×2 lumber for the frame of the chicken coop. Cut all components from 2×2 lumber. Drill pocket holes at both ends of the vertical components and at both ends of the middle support. Insert 2 1/2″ screws to assemble everything. Alternatively, if you don’t own a pocket hole jig, you can just drill pilot holes and insert the screws.

Side-wall-frame—large-coop

Use 2×2 lumber for the other side wall frame. Drill pocket holes at both ends and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the top and bottom components. Make sure the corners are square and align the edges flush.

Front-wall-frame

Frame the front wall. Cut the components at the dimensions shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the plates and insert 2 1/2″ screws into the studs.

Back-wall-frame—coop-plans

Build the back wall frame, using the same techniques described above.

Assembling-the-coop-frame

Fit the wall frames to the floor of the small 6×6 backyard chicken coop. Plumb the walls with a spirit level and align the edges to the floor. Drill pilot holes through the bottom plates and insert 2 1/2″ screws. Lock the adjacent wall frames together tightly. Drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws.

Side-wall-panel-with-window

Use 1/2″ plywood for the exterior wall panels. Make a cut out for the side wall around the opening. Align the edges flush and insert 1 5/8″ screws to lock the panels to the frame of the coop.

Side-wall-panels

Attach the panels to the opposite side of the coop. Insert the 1 5/8″ screws along the wall framing, every 8″. Leave no gaps between the panels and align the edges flush.

Rafters—chicken-coop

Build the rafters for the roof of the coop using 2×4 lumber. Use a miter saw to make the 33.5 degree cuts to both ends of the rafters. In addition, mark the cut lines on the rafters and make the birdsmouth cuts so you can set them into place tightly.

Gussets

Use 1/2″ plywood for the gussets. Attach the gussets to the top of the rafters. Align the edges flush, drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws to lock the gussets to the rafters.

Fitting-the-trusses

Fit the trusses to the top of the chicken coop. Plumb the trusses and secure them to the frame of the coop with ties. Place the trusses every 16″ on center. Use 1 1/2″ structural screws to secure the trusses into place tightly.

Support

Front-wall-panels

Attach the panels to the front and back if the chicken coop. Align the edges and make the cuts around the gable ends and around the door opening.

Fitting-the-purlins

Use 1×4 lumber for the purlins. Center them to the top of the roof structure and make sure the overhangs are equal. Drill pilot holes through the purlins and insert 1 5/8″ screws into the rafters.

Side-roof-trims—chicken-coop

Fit the 1×6 trims to the sides of the roof. Align the edges and make sure you secure them to the rafters with 2″ nails.

Front-back-roof-trims

Use 1×6 lumber for the gable roof trims, as well. Make a 33.5 degree cut at both ends of the trims and secure them into place with 2″ nails.

Roofing

Fit the roofing sheets to the top of the chicken coop. Align the edges flush, drill pilot holes and secure the sheet to the purlins with screws.

Chicken-coop-door-jambs

Use 1×3 lumber for the door jambs. Align the jambs around the door opening and secure them to the frame with 1 5/8″ screws.

Door-for-chicken-coop

Use 1/2″ plywood for the door panel and 1×3 lumber for the trims. Attach the trims to the door with glue and 1 1/4″ screws.

Fitting-the-door

Fit the door to the front opening. Align the edges flush and use hinges to secure the door to the jambs. Install a latch.

6xx6-chicken-coop-plans—side-view

Last but not least, you need to take care of the finishing touches. Fill the holes with wood putty and smooth the surface smooth with sandpaper.

6×6-chicken-coop—front-view

Apply a few coats of paint over the chicken coop to enhance the look of the project and to protect them from the elements.

6×6-chicken-coop—back-view

This chicken coop can shelter up to 9 chickens. You can build a matching chicken run, so your chickens can move freely on the ground. Check out PART 2 of the project, so you learn how to build the nesting boxes. The attached nesting boxes are very cool, because you can harvest the eggs from the outside of the coop, by simply lifting the lid.

Thank you for reading this article on how to build a 6×6 backyard chicken coop. If you enjoy the plans, please consider sharing them with your friends. Spreading out the word about my website goes a long way for me. Also consider taking a look over my other project plans, because I have a large variety of designs you can choose from.