4×4 Chicken Coop – Free DIY Plans

If you want to learn more about how to build a small 4×4 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. You can also build a matching run, if you want to keep the chickens safe while moving on the ground. All animals plans HERE.

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.

4×4 Chicken Coop Plans

Building-a-4×4-chicken-coop

Materials

• 1 – 4 pieces of 4×4 lumber – 24″ long POSTS
• 2 – 2 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 48″ long, 4 pieces – 45″ long BASE
• 3 – 9 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 48″ long FLOOR
• 4 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 48″ long, 4 pieces – 33″ long SIDE WALL FRAME
• 5 – 2 piece of 2×2 lumber – 48″ long, 1 piece – 45″ long, 2 pieces – 15 1/2″ long SIDE WALL FRAME
• 6 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 45″ long, 4 pieces – 33″ long BACK WALL FRAME
• 6 – 1 piece of 2×2 lumber – 45″ long, 1 piece – 4 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 6″ long, 4 pieces – 33″ long FRONT WALL FRAME
• 7 – 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 42″ long RAFTERS
• 8 – 2 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 48″x63 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 36″x48″ long, 1 piece – 17″x48″ long PANELS
• 9 – 6 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 60″ long PURLINS
• 10 – 2 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 60″ long, 4 pieces – 43 1/4″ long TRIMS
• 11 – 2 pieces of metal roof sheets – 3’x8′ long ROOFING
• 12 – 2 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 48″ long, 4 pieces – 13″ long NESTING BOX FRAME     
• 13 – 1 piece of 1/2″ plywood – 16″x24″ long NEXTING BOX FLOOR
• 14 – 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 13″ long, 2 pieces – 17″ long, 4 pieces – 13 1/2″ long, 4 pieces – 13 7/8″ long FRAMES FOR NEST BOX
• 15 – 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 48″ long TOP SLAT
• 15 – 2 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 16″x17″ long, 1 piece – 13″x48″ long NEXTING BOX PANELS
• 16 – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 34 1/2″ long, 1 piece – 39 1/2″ long JAMBS
• 17 – 2 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 29 1/2″ long, 2 pieces – 34 1/2″ long DOOR 
• 17 – 1 piece of 3’x4′ long NESTING BOX ROOF

• 1 piece of 4×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 6 pieces of 2×4 lumber – 8 ft
• 5 pieces of 2×6 lumber – 8 ft
• 13 pieces of 2×2 lumber – 8 ft
• 3 pieces of 1/2″ plywood – 4’x8′
• 6 pieces of 1×4 lumber – 10 ft
• 1 piece of 1×2 lumber – 4 ft
• 3 pieces of 1×3 lumber – 10 ft
• 1 piece of metal roofing – 3’x4′
• 2 pieces of metal roof sheets – 3’x8′ long
• 150 pieces 1 5/8″ screws
• 6 pieces of hinges, latch
• 300 pieces of 2 1/2″ screws
• 50 pieces of 3 1/2″ screws
• 6 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 small 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.

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 for chicken coop

Use 2×6 lumber for the floor. Cut the boards at 48″ and secure them to the frame with 2 1/2″ screws.

Side wall frame

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 – left

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

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

Assembling-the-frame-for-the-chicken-coop-4×4

Fit the wall frames to the floor of the small 4×4 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.

Rafters-for-chicken-coop

Use 2×4 lumber for the rafters. Make a 45 degree cut to one end of the rafters. In addition, make a notch to the rafters, so you can fit them into place.

Rafters

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 gussets to the top of the chicken coop. Plumb the trusses and secure them to the side walls with rafter ties and 1 1/2″ structural screws.

Front-wall-panel

Use 1/2″ plywood for the exterior panels. Cut the panel and attach it into place with 1 5/8″ screws. Insert the screws along the framing.

Back wall panels

Attach the panel to the back of the square chicken coop.

Side wall panel – with door

Fit the panel to the side of the coop. Make the cut out for the side chicken door. Use hinges to secure the door into place.

Side panel

Fit the side panel to the chicken coop.

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

Fit the 1×4 trims to the sides of the roof. Align the edges and make sure you secure them to the rafters with 2″ nails.

Front and back roof trims

Use 1×4 lumber for the gable roof trims, as well. Make a 45 degree cut at one end of the trims and secure them into place with 2″ nails.

Roofing for chicken coop

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.

Frames for nesting box

Use 2×2 lumber for the nesting box floor frame. Cut the components at the dimensions shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes through the 48″ long components. Insert 2 1/2″ screws into the 13″ long components. Make sure the corners are square.

Floor for nesting box

Use 3/4″ plywood for the floor of the nesting boxes. Align the edges flush, drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws to secure them into place tightly.

Frames-for-nesting-box

Use 2×2 lumber for the partitions. Cut the components as shown in the diagram. Drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock all the partitions together tightly.

Assembling the nesting box

Attach the partitions to the nesting box floor. Plumb the frames, drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock them into place tightly.

Setting the nesting box to the coop

Fit the nesting box to one side of the chicken coop. Use a spirit level to check if the floor is perfectly horizontal. Drill pilot holes and insert 2 1/2″ screws to lock the frame into place tightly.

Side nesting box panels

Use 1/2″ plywood for the sides of the nesting box. Mark the cut lines to the plywood and get the job done with a circular saw. Attach the side panels into place and use 1 5/8″ screws to secure them into place tightly.

Nesting box panels

Fit the panel to the front of the nesting box.

Support for nesting box roof

Fit a 1×2 slat to the top of the nesting box. Drill pilot holes and insert 1 5/8″ screws to lock the slat to the frames.

Fitting the nesting box roof

Fit the metal roofing to the nesting box. Use hinges to secure the roof to the nesting box.

Fitting the trims

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.

Fitting the trims

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 to the chicken coop

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

4×4-chicken-coop-plans

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.

How to build a 4×4 chicken coop

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

4×4 Chicken coop plans – back view

This chicken coop can shelter up to 4 chickens. You can build a matching for the chicken run, so your chickens can move freely on the ground. Since you are here, you might as well take a look over my other easy chicken coop plans.

Thank you for reading this article on how to build a small 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.