Designing and Building the Ultimate Sustainable Chicken Coop from Scratch - Part 1

Downloadable building plans for this coop are now available! Get them here:
www.slowsteading.com/original...
After years of deliberation, we've decided to get chickens! Although they fit comfortably in our laundry room for now, they will eventually need their own home (outside). So it's time to build a chicken coop.
Follow along for part 1 of our DIY chicken coop build. This mid-century modern inspired coop is our own original design and utilizes re-purposed and found materials to keep costs low.
Watch part 2 here: • Caught in the Pouring ...
Watch part 3 here: • Man Builds Epic Mid-Ce...
Watch part 4 here: • How to build Chicken C...
Where I get my music: share.epidemicsound.com/3l66im
Gear I use and love
Camera: amzn.to/3koDtjp
Lens: amzn.to/3GOF89n
Drone: amzn.to/3iOivtS

[@Slowsteading]

Download the step-by-step building plans for this chicken coop here: www.slowsteading.com/original-chicken-coop

[@aquilinaciamacco2410]

Thank You for taking the time to create and share this wonderfully informative tutorial with us all. What a remarkable person you are! Creative, talented, inspirational and a great role model for your children ❤❤❤

[@ONLYSWIM]

"I avoided power tools, for sustainability. Then the real work started"

[@theoneandonly2590]

Love how you used the clamps for a spare set of heads, is genius!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks! It's a handy technique when you don't have a friend around.

[@katykayy]

KZbin Sho Sugi Ban. It’s the Japanese way of preserving wood. No chemicals, termites hate it. Cheap to do! I love it!

[@Slowsteading]

Yes I've heard of that! And I agree it's absolutely beautiful. Have you done it before?

[@Gems-of-Hope-Rocks]

@@frekibodgaedir4893 Basically pre- burning the wood, like with a small blow torch. You make the wood beautiful shades of black and it preserves that outer black.

[@wendyweddell2782]

Being outside is the best classroom....especially on a farm!!!!!

[@Slowsteading]

Absolutely! There's no better teaching than doing something with your own hands. For me and the little ones too!

[@Sorcor22]

So I did it, I built my wooden chicken coop taking inspiration from that video. I went to the sawmill to get the wood, had some old tools, and managed to cut and assemble everything myself. I didn't create any plans, I built as I went along. I'd like to upload some pictures but I don't know how to do it here :( I did a few things differently, especially the raised platform, and I also buried a wire mesh around the coop for the fox. The construction took me a good ten days altogether (I'm not at all from a manual trade background). It's definitely not something everyone can do, but achievable with research and determination, of course. I loved doing it and I thank you for inspiring me to do so! Best wishes!

[@Slowsteading]

Congratulations, way to go! Glad to be able to inspire. 10 days sounds pretty reasonable to be honest. Enjoy the coop!

[@petermendy8744]

Nice daughter you have and great work. From a country call The Gambia😊

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers Peter, thanks for checking out the video!

[@DanleBlocks35752]

Amazing chicken coop!

[@bithjah5]

Super great tutorial. Really enjoyed watching this. And the kids are cute!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking it out! Haha my kids definitely have their moments, but they are a blast to have around 😂

[@japhetmaduhu565]

This is really nice, great job!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking out my chicken coop build, much appreciated!

[@evegarcia8829]

May God bless such a beautiful family!!😇 great protect! 👏

[@Slowsteading]

Thank you!

[@smileeme6]

Could you share a basic materials checklist?

[@ashorts52]

Well done. Most coups are way overbuilt resembling a shed or home but the loads on these structures are so minimal. I really like how minimal the structure is. Plus when you put on the wire it will really firm it up. While I love the clean lines you get with the pocket screws, that is a little to much work for me.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for the feedback! The coop has really stood up to seasons, so the lightweight design has paid off. I did have to shovel it off once during a heavy week of snowfall. Have you tried pocket screws before? It is a bit more work for sure, but can be batched pretty efficiently.

[@breadvidz8542]

If you live in Kansas you'd know 💀

[@smkibler]

Thanks for sharing. I like the use of second hand materials and light framing. I see a lot of very overbuilt coops. Of course to each their own. I made similar framing choices to you with a smaller 10x12 footprint on a frame made of 4x4 because I put wheels on it for a mobile coop and run. Nice work and good job including the kids, so important to include them as much as possible. Not only do they learn skills early but they also learn how difficult it is to do something like this and that knowledge gives them a grounded perspective.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking out the coop build, and thanks for the kind words. The lightweight construction was born out of what materials I had laying around, but I'm quite happy with how it turned out. I like the idea of a mobile run, but don't really have enough pasture to make it worthwhile. How has the mobile design worked out for you? How many birds do you have in it?

[@smkibler]

@@Slowsteading The mobile design has worked well. I started with just two pneumatic tires in the back. That was holding up but once wet season came those two tires would sink into the mud pretty badly so I upgraded to 4 flat-free (solid rubber) tires in the rear (2 per side). This configuration also prevents the tires from cambering due to even loading across the center of the axle. Moving in the winter is a messy hassle. After just one winter I'm pretty sure that next winter I'm going to park it over the garden and fill with mulch. The only other issue I've had is that none of my property is level and though most is flat there are some curves that are pretty tedious to cross. I've almost had it stuck before. I run 11 birds in it 10 hens and 1 rooster. The coop is 32 sq ft and the run is 80 sq ft.

[@Slowsteading]

@@smkibler Wow that sounds like a sweet setup, especially with the four flat free tires. It's amazing how quickly an animal structure will point out how un-level your land is. Parking it for the winter sounds like a great idea. You could just compost in place, layering hay/shavings/biochar evenly, you'd end up with some pretty potent beds in the spring. 👌

[@urbangardeningandchickenke1018]

Excellent work 👍

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@cristoesdios5132]

Amazing job

[@Slowsteading]

Thank you, it really came together :)

[@apparadopotharaju6919]

Hi there it's great job you have done there..I am going to use exactly your method to build one.Its so easy and simple..by the you have little 2 cute children..may the God bless you all. Tq

[@Slowsteading]

Thank you so much for checking out my chicken coop build, I'm glad you enjoyed it! Haha and thanks so much, those two are a handful for sure 😅

[@TerrellWillams]

Great video! Smooth video editing, soothing choice of music, great pacing.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@TerrellWillams]

@@Slowsteading You’re welcome! I’m a country boy that grew up in the city! I currently have a quarter acre homestead. I’m saving to move out of the city. True hard times are right around the corner.

[@Slowsteading]

Ah I hope not, but the country's not a bad place to be either way ✌️

[@barbaramix1683]

This is a very nice chicken coop.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@eduardozuniga6675]

Awesome video I'm making one now

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for checking it out! I'd love to see your progress, do you have any videos up?

[@BARBSCOUNTRYHOME999]

How exciting to build a new coop for your chicks.. Im going to watch part 2 now.. Thanks! 🐤

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks Barb! Yes, I think the coop will be much better than the cardboard box in the laundry room!

[@BARBSCOUNTRYHOME999]

@@Slowsteading I have baby chicks in my laundry room now lol.

[@coachdeanbrown]

The best wood in contact with the ground for rot resistance and zero chemical leeching is Cedar!

[@Slowsteading]

And it smells great!

[@daleplant5275]

The chemicals used in pressure treated wood have changed. Please check it out before saying they are still dangerous for gradens.

[@Slowsteading]

I'd love to learn more about this, can you recommend some good sources of info?

[@jonilanchenel6795]

Salam hadir... Bagus kandangya bank 👍👍

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks!

[@shaunbell6100]

Simple but very well done and nice. I’m sure I will mess it up 🤣. Everything comes together in my head right but execution. That’s a different story

[@Slowsteading]

Haha have confidence in yourself, you can do it :)

[@emmz....]

Lol same😂

[@Slowsteading]

@@emmz.... Nah you've got it for sure 💪☺

[@timmeyer6974]

I see you connect 2x2s end to end and the connection looks really solid. Is that from the Kreg angled screws? Do you use 2 screws? How do you get that connection to be so solid?

[@Slowsteading]

Good eye! Yes I used two kreg angled screws there for that connection. I wasn't sure how well it would work but I've been surprised with how solid it's been and how well it's held up.

[@luisvalencia4238]

What degree did you cut those pieces at the end to get the slope of the roof? And did you screw the walls into the bricks supporting the coop?

[@Slowsteading]

I can't remember the exact angles for the roof beams, sorry about that! No, the walls are not attached to the blocks, just floating.

[@rowdyrosie6583]

Hi do u have the list of things to buy and cuts to make ? I love this plan

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you like it! I don't have plans at the moment, sorry about that!

[@charlielawson2238]

Watching videos second time through now. Great stuff and going to try and recreate this spring to give my ladies (and one gentleman) a nice upgrade from the garbage that TSC sells… My question is, what is your method for finding gently used materials for cost savings? I feel like lumber cost is the most restrictive component in todays world. I am not in PNW, I am in Ohio, but figured you had some good tips.

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, thanks for checking out the build! Material cost is a serious consideration, so patience and planning pays off. A few places I get my material: 1. Online classifieds/marketplace. I even post "wanted" ads and am surprised by how many calls I get from people who need to clear stuff off their property fast (maybe they sold the house and are moving, for example). 2. Ask friends/acquaintances. Sometimes people have leftovers laying around or know people that do. Or they can just keep an eye out for you. 3. Free piles. This is a big thing where I live, but I've seen it in most cities/towns I've lived in. People put their free junk on the side of the road. The roofing for this project was found that way. I had watched the roofers work on a house in my neighborhood for weeks, then one day all of the old stuff was out front, free for the taking. Saves the owner the hassle of transporting it and paying disposal costs. 4. Thrift stores/yard sales/etc. I get a lot of hardware and tools from thrift stores, and yard sales are a great place to find material. Always ask the seller if they have any, because they are motivated to clear stuff out and may not have taken the time to drag everything out to display. Hope that helps!

[@charlielawson2238]

Excellent, thank you for the thorough response. Looking forward to referencing your page for future projects and inspiration.

[@Slowsteading]

@@charlielawson2238 My pleasure, hope it was helpful. Good luck with your coop projects!

[@johnrodgermugadhuwi2180]

Great stuff. What are the dimensions for this coop?

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, John. The entire structure is 8' x 16' and 6' tall. The enclosed coop is 6' x 8' which equates to about 4 sq. ft. per bird.

[@gailandbaron86]

is there a set of plans for this?

[@purplegirl8036]

Wow wish I knew someone who could show me how to build this?

[@Slowsteading]

You can totally do it!

[@user-qv8fi3th9q]

Vary good in the job comment iraqi💪🇮🇶

[@GratienMARMOUSET]

Hi, what an awesome Chicken coop 👌 I will create the same in the coming days 😎 Please what the dimensions in cm of the building ? Thank you 😃

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks, glad you like it! The entire structure is 245x490x180cm and the enclosed coop area is 245x180x120cm. Can't wait to see your build!

[@michaelmolinajr5735]

Do you have a list of all the materials and how much you used ?

[@Slowsteading]

Not at the moment unfortunately. Was mostly 2x2s and 2x4s, the entire structure is 8'x16'x6' and the enclosed coop area is 8'x6'x4'

[@rickynash4561]

Do you have a material list and plans for this chicken coop, and what is the price...

[@Slowsteading]

Hey not at the moment unfortunately. Using mostly reclaimed and recycled material, I still pushed up to around $500. If buying all brand new material I would guess at least $1k or higher.

[@rickynash4561]

Price for the plans and materials list...

[@user-qv8fi3th9q]

عمل جميل جدا متابع من العراق

[@brianbrowning9064]

Definitely should have accounted for the landing on your top plates. Thought you were gonna use the extra top plate to create an overhang. Not an unsupported top plate landing! I understand that its not a super heavy "Live in" structure but it makes the carpenter bones in me HURT haha. Other than that, Great Job!

[@Slowsteading]

Ha thanks for the feedback! Lots of learning was had in the project, but yeah ultimately it only needs to support about a dozen 5lb birds!

[@jacksonpray2308]

Hey I was wondering if somehow you could give us all the dimensions of this coop. I really like it and would like to build one for my chickens.

[@rdefaoite9413]

Same. I’d like to know how long and how wide the run is. Thanks.

[@Slowsteading]

It's 16' x 8' x 6' tall

[@rogueone5672]

cute kids

[@Slowsteading]

Ha thanks! Yeah they're pretty alright 😬

[@kingjudah7775]

Drill sounds like rooster at 3:27 😆

[@Slowsteading]

Haha I missed that till now, it totally does 😂

[@Sorcor22]

You are inspiring me to do it by myself. Do you consider uploading the plans ?

[@Slowsteading]

Amazing, you can do it! I will try to get some basic measurements up soon :)

[@moathobeidat6124]

@@Slowsteading still waiting for the measurements of this coop

[@patshipp9195]

💖💖

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for the love!

[@muratgunduz9483]

What are the dimensions of the chicken coop? aspect length

[@Slowsteading]

I've included the complete dimensions in the building plans, the link is in the video description!

[@philipdarrah5166]

pressure treated wood is very safe now days.

[@Slowsteading]

That's what I've concluded as well, thanks for confirming that.

[@jeffeco3050]

I think it’s awesome you built this . I want to build one and I typed in how to build a chicken coop . Your video came up but you don’t provide any measurements

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, thanks for checking out the build. The entire structure is 8' x 16' and about 6' tall. The enclosed coop space is 8' x 6' and 4' tall. This is plenty of space for about a dozen birds or maybe a few more.

[@jeffeco3050]

@@Slowsteading I will be trying to recreate this myself soon I hope I can do it !

[@jeffeco3050]

@@Slowsteading are u useing 2 by 6s or is it all 2 by 4 and 2 by 2

[@Slowsteading]

@@jeffeco3050 Mostly 2x2 for the run area and 2x4 for the enclosed coop area, no 2x6. Trying to keep cost down, plus it only needs to be a lightweight structure-not a lot of weight to support really. So far it has held up quite nicely, even to a big dump of snow. Good luck with your build, can't wait to see how it turns out!

[@donaldshearin8068]

Did you follow a certain plan or designed it yourself? I’m interested in your plan.

[@Slowsteading]

The design was mostly influenced by how many birds we wanted to have allowing approx. 4 sq ft of space in the enclosed coop and about 10 sq ft in the run per bird.

[@donaldshearin8068]

Would you happen to this plan written down. Love the design.

[@user-ur6qb6oe1t]

💙🌱

[@Slowsteading]

I agree, totally planting the seeds of something great here!

[@user-ur6qb6oe1t]

@@Slowsteading That would be great I recommend the Paulownia tree, which is very fast in growth, but do not forget the original species in your country. I wish you all the best, brother. Greetings to you from Egypt 🇪🇬

[@Slowsteading]

@@user-ur6qb6oe1t Very cool I will check that out, thanks for sharing

[@Broodismanifest]

Awesome video, can you possibly give me the dimensions? i WANT TO DO A SIMILAR BUILD WITH MY OWN TOUCHES AND THE DIMENSIONS would greatly assist me! Thank you in advance. God Bless!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it! The whole structure is 16' x 8' and 6' tall. The enclosed coop section is 8' x 6' and 4' tall. Hope that helps!

[@Broodismanifest]

@@Slowsteading That's a good start. Gives me a general idea on what it'll cost me and that's what I needed! Thanks so much!

[@mlacher100]

Nice job, would gave you huge props if you were to build it with just handtools!😅

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks! Haha that would have been special for sure, maybe next time.

[@mlacher100]

@Slowsteading I'm getting ready to start mine tomorrow. You gave me alot of good ideas

[@rogerward185]

What are the dimensions of this coop and run?

[@Slowsteading]

The entire structure is 8'x16'x6' and the enclosed coop area is 8'x6'x4'. Hope that helps!

[@lindsaydembinsky9650]

It’s not full of a bunch of nasty chemicals, it’s copper.. about as much a 5-6pennies worth

[@Slowsteading]

Awesome, thanks. My intuition felt it was nasty chemicals but I guess I was wrong. Can you share any resources on where you can learn more about pressure treated wood?

[@jenniferpocaigue2508]

There's a bit more than copper... lol

[@Slowsteading]

@@jenniferpocaigue2508 has anyone tried googling this? The answers must be out there!

[@jenniferpocaigue2508]

@@Slowsteading chromium, copper, and arsenic is what kept popping up in my Google searches. I'm using pressure treated lumber on my chicken coop so that it will last longer in the elements, and to prevent termites (which will drive chickens nuts).

[@ang3lofdeath7]

PT isn't meant for contact with the ground it will still rot just not as quick.

[@bobwilliams1676]

Do you have the measurements?

[@carlraimondo2487]

Do you have blue prints for this

[@Slowsteading]

Not at the moment unfortunately. The whole structure is 8'x'16'x6' and the enclosed coop part is 8'x8'x4'. Hope that helps!

[@Saky_jede]

nice chicken coop. Aren't you afraid that the wood on the ground will soon rot? it will still be wet

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking it out! I used pressure treated wood on the very bottom, so that should last for a few years longer than untreated lumber at least.

[@Slowsteading]

What would you have done differently?

[@BerkshireHillFarm_Homestead]

Depending on the predators you have near by, nothing...but if you have predators...I would have put some sort of mesh on the bottom into the ground so they couldn't dig under...

[@Slowsteading]

@@BerkshireHillFarm_Homestead This is great advice. I added some mesh to vulnerable areas but not a full apron. Certainly room for improvement but thankfully I haven't encountered any digging predators yet 🙏

[@Bluetouchwiz]

Great coop, looks awesome and easy to build. Only thing I would have done is used treated lumber on the bottom so it won’t rot in years to come, looked like you just used salvaged regular lumber. I didn’t get to watch with audio though, maybe you did and talked about it.

[@Slowsteading]

@@Bluetouchwiz Thanks so much for checking it out! Haha yes I did use treated wood on the bottom layer. Some people thought it was not the best choice and left some interesting comments below 😂 What's your take?

[@MosaicHomestead]

After watching this video, maybe I am over building, I understand why you're cutting cost, materials are super expensive, but you're doing the right thing in building a coop. I'm building a chicken bunker made out of steel reinforced block and concrete lol, but I'm in the tropics, Hurricanes 🌀 don't forgive.

[@MWYouTubeTV]

なるほどね、そんなやり方もあるだ

[@Gymgurly1610]

Around how much did it cost??

[@Slowsteading]

It would depend on how much new vs. recycled material you use. My total cost was only a few hundred dollars as I salvaged as much free and used material as possible.

[@MA-vm6jl]

Size of coop? Do u have plans?

[@Slowsteading]

8' x 16' x 6' for the entire structure, and the enclosed coop portion is about 8' x 6' x 4'. Unfortunately I don't have plans available.

[@dukeduke2790]

why did you turn off the comments to shutting down homestead?

[@TribalGlobe]

For permaculture It takes at least a year to just observe what is going on before you can even really begin and it takes a hell of a lot more than just one year to become sustainable. Young people these days just give up on everything early these days. Life is not instagram.

[@kellysharp5520]

Can I ask the dimensions of this coop please?

[@Slowsteading]

It's 16' x 8' x 6' tall 🙂

[@n8mail76]

I'm glad that you don't have to be masculine to build things and grow stuff. Great work fella!

[@Slowsteading]

Haha thanks! Just working with what I got here 💪

[@PNWTone]

Bro didn’t even show us the finished product. Awesome build though.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking it out! This was only part 1, you gotta check out parts 2 and 3 for the rest of the build 😂

[@catemc2323]

🌈💚🍀

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for checking out my coop project!

[@catemc2323]

@@Slowsteading You’re welcome. I’m just beginning to think about getting some back yard chickens 🐓 But my garden is about the floor space of your coop 😂🤣 Your coop turned out great 🥰

[@Slowsteading]

@@catemc2323 Backyard chickens are so much fun! Even in a small space, two laying hens would be a great fit. You could also consider quail who need even less of a footprint but provide abundant (and adorable!) eggs ☺

[@catemc2323]

@@Slowsteading Two is what I’m thinking too. My Granda had two wee quails years ago. I don’t ever remember them laying eggs, but maybe they were both male 🤷🏻‍♀️ You might be able to tell me this…I have a tiny yard, with a wall with a wee arch cut out at the bottom. Rabbits come in for a nibble at my grass 🌱🐇 There’s a farm field behind. Would chickens be ok to free roam in and out to the field too 🤔 There are cows in there in summer and in a barn over winter, but they free roam between the three fields out back and they’re always friendly. Come and look over the wall etc. 🐄🐄🐄🐄 😂

[@catemc2323]

And I live in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland ☘️

[@tombrockhoff3081]

did you use pocket hoes for the roof ?

[@Slowsteading]

The metal roofing itself is secured with roofing screws (the kind with the built in pvc washers), The rafters are just screwed straight through into the support below. Hope that makes sense!

[@amyexner]

Noise or smell? If you keep your chicken coop the way it should be done, they don’t smell; Noise, chickens are not noisy if you have comparable breeds living with each other.

[@Slowsteading]

Roosters though 😅

[@Daniel-lo4ec]

😅

[@user-le9ul2kc6r]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العالمين الرحمن الرحيم مالك يوم الدين اياك عبدو اياك سعين ديناصورات مستقيم لذيذه لعب لعب مغ بي عيم ورتارني امين

[@Futoy]

The suggested video thumbnail said "Designing and Building the Ultimate Sustainable Chicken" and the sentence stopped there, I feel cheated that thats not what the video is about :(

[@Slowsteading]

I'd love to meet that chicken!

[@AlbuquerqueBandit]

I'm unsure why one would quit homesteading just because exploiting animals requires daily care. Plants don't, so why not just grow plants? Why do we have this attitude of "if I can't exploit animals in my back yard, I'm not going to grow plants that I eat either"?

[@TiaraPoodles]

Crack dealer? We got to see enough!

[@Slowsteading]

Haha whaaaat! Are you talking butt crack? Time stamp please or it doesn't count 😂

[@jayhemfindsyou]

7:40 From an engineering standpoint, as an engineer. That floor joist design is terrible. Would have been far better off with full span with the 2x4 joists. That center beam which is only a single 2x4 is carrying the full floor load! Don't do this!

[@Slowsteading]

This is excellent feedback, thanks for sharing! Ultimately this coop is only going to hold about 40lbs pounds worth of hens and maybe some bedding, so I think it will be sufficient for this purpose. But great to keep in mind. You'll love the 1/4" plywood I use as flooring later on 😂

[@beomjinhan6908]

Well this isn’t going to last long

[@Slowsteading]

Why not?

[@fordguyfordguy]

What is a "sustainable" coop? When you use the words of Klaus Schwab, you just give him more credibility. Nothing is sustainable. Nothing except the Lord Almighty. Edit: also, that's NOT minimalist. LOL Come on. Did you just toss in some buzzwords to get clicks?

[@Slowsteading]

Recycling and re-using materials keeps them out of the waste stream and does not require the production of new material or virgin lumber, seems pretty sustainable to me. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I don't quite get the lord almighty reference, can you elaborate on His sustainability?

[@jeffbeck0101]

I am also interested in the theory of sustainability with the lord... what does that even mean.... seems like a buzzword to me...