DIY Backyard Chicken Coop Tour | How To Build | Easy to Clean

How to build a DIY backyard chicken coop. This is a super easy chicken coop to build and is easy to clean. It is 4x8 and can handle up to 13 chickens. The chicken runs it simply too and provides the chickens with plenty of space to run around and hunt bugs. They are protected by an electric fence to keep predators and neighborhood dogs out.
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[@ckane510]

I built ours based on this video. Made a lot of changes such as a 6/12 pitch roof, enclosed soffits, hard wired and yes we used the same camera as in this video. This is a great video and I referred to it many times. I’m an mechanical engineer so everything is documented and could be used to duplicate exactly as I think this a great design! I would recommend this to anyone who wants to gets some great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@adamb.8200]

Do you have a material list?

[@getbarcode]

can you send the material list?

[@leefcommunity]

Can you post / make a video with your documentation please? That would be very helpful for a lot of people!

[@deannainterlicchia8089]

We built our coop from this design! We love it just as much as my hens do!! There's no shade by our coop, so we fenced in the underside so that it became part of their run. Thank you for posting this tutorial!

[@denisehunt9898]

How many chickens can you have in this size, plz?

[@KeithIrwin-g2d]

I just built one using your design and it turned out great! I attached an old dog kennel to it for their run. So far everyone is happy including Mama. Lol

[@LearnToFlyWithPilotGuy]

Great video! BTW, sand with a little granular SweetPDZ makes a superior substrate to straw, wood shavings. The only change I think I'd make to this would be to notch out one side so that I could include a metal deep tray loaded with a layer of sand or/and sweet pdz granules. I like sand as a substrate because all I have to do is use a very long handled metal kitty scoop and scoop out the poop from a droppings tray. The other big advantage is that the sand with a little Sweet PDZ mixed in tends to dry up the droppings almost immediately which helps with the odors and the sweet PDZ mixed in the sand substrate absorbs the ammonia very effectively. Sweet PDZ for the uninitiated is a horse stall referesher made from the mineral zeolite (I think that is the mineral). In any case, there is no issue if the chickens eat it as it is non-toxic. Again, thank you for posting this excellent video and for including your lovely assistant, in the production! ;) Will be making use of this video for a coop I want to build.

[@macystrawn1382]

Thank you so much for this! A definite non-architect here trying to draw up plans for a backyard coop. Shrink this down to a 4x4 and it's exactly what I had in my mind. Thank you for all the details!

[@JLJohnson]

Planning on the same here for 6 chickens.

[@solovable1ify]

I'm cheap. I used my kids old playhouse for my chicken coop. Super easy conversion. Hardware cloth over the windows, a new door and nest boxes. Painted the outside the traditional Barn Red, inside had to be all Pink. Pink everything for the girls. No roosters aloud in the hens clubhouse.

[@kevinharris8094]

I love this - I live in an apartment in London and now I want I live somewhere where a I can build a chicken coop ! 🤩👍🏻

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

That’s awesome, we just built a chicken coop that’s very similar to yours. That 4x8 design really helps maximize the amount of materials you have to use.

[@taliboo1030]

Ultimate is right! You had me when you showed how easy it is to clean

[@Twomidgetsonahorse]

Great info on a simple coop build. One pointer I can offer as a poultry keeper for well over 4 decades. If you want to ensure your birds stay in their pen. Clip the wing feathers on the right side of your birds. Simple procedure with regular fiskar scissors or even better, pinking shears. Take each bird in turn extend the right wing and clip feathers about an inch away from wing. What this does is makes them non aero dynamic, lopsided basically. Doesn't harm the bird and keeps them safe from any predators that may be lurking around outside the pen. Once they hit about 2-3 years old they become too heavy to fly and you will no longer need to clip wings. Unless of course you have banties then it's a once yearly procedure. Keep up the great work.

[@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving]

Thanks for the tip.

[@Twomidgetsonahorse]

@@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving No problem

[@suzanne2730]

Great build. They sell a fitted foam to close the gap between the roof and framing. Even that small of a gap can be used by some pred. Hens need a certain number of daylight hours to lay eggs. A brooder lamp in fall will extend production levels. Nice details on the build especially like the nesting box lid fitting snug with the box.

[@kevinambrocio8676]

Hey Martin, I love your channel. I am 14 years old and me and my dad were inspired by your chicken coop so we build it off the video! I would love for u to see them, if u can send an email or something to show you

[@joeybez5464]

dude u have been blessed with your family and way of life

[@pobo6113]

I am still getting my homestead up and running. I enjoyed your video very much. Thank you for posting it. This is what I am hoping to build soon. 👍🏻

[@kimberlyfiegl8689]

My husband and I just built this coop for our chickens, thank you so much, we love it and if I can figure out how to download the video on here, I'll show you guys how it turned out. Thanks again for posting this

[@girdarby]

"An egg a day or you get the axe" "We average about 8 eggs a day" RIP whoever's slacking

[@asmuni16]

The chicken coop you build was quite neat and engineered. Thumbs up.

[@samiamdj8603]

Greetings from Wardner Idaho. Thanks for the Chicken Coop idea. I've been looking all over the Internet and your coop is my favorite. I live up Wardner Canyon on the east side of the mountain. There's nothing but wilderness between my property and Silver Mountain, so all kinds of critters lurking about. Another challenge I have is that I don't receive any sunlight for most of the winter. No Solar up here. God Bless Idaho!

[@alishaberrey4479]

This door is so simple! I was making it way more complicated than it had to be. Thank you so much!

[@tngardener231]

Great coop, we will be building one soon so I needed ideas. You wife is adorable, too I love how she smiles when she talks, you can tell she’s friendly 🙂

[@nordeenabdellah9371]

The hinge is so artistic. Beautiful

[@iresearched6873]

Thank you for posting. My 4 hens and rooster are doing well but I am going to find a handy man to give them some warmth this winter. Thank you for the great ideas!

[@emrobika]

This chicken coop looks smart and good. I think you could use shorter screws on the top of the nesting box or just cut off the ends of the screws. Otherwise I really like this project!

[@GAironhead]

Funny you said that, I am 60% complete with my coop (based off this video) and I'm tempted to send a Dremel with a few cut-off wheels to Martin.

[@keithleder8971]

I like the height....and your reason why convinced me, and I'm sure it will convince my wife also. Thanks for sharing!

[@craiginbatonrouge8161]

Yes, yes, yes... this Saturday, that’s what I’ll be doing... building a coop for my Sis ... thanks for the inspiration.

[@imnotthatsocial]

Your sis or for her chickens. 😂😂

[@roblentz33]

You mentioned bees. I have been tending bees for years now. I would recommend horizontal hives as that is what I am transitioning too. You can build your own as well. Look at Off grid with Doug and Stacy and they have a few videos that show a guy that has a website with free plans. They are better suited for our climate. I am your neighbor by the way as I have property in Blanchard.

[@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving]

Cool. We hope to get them next spring.

[@roblentz33]

@@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving There is an apiary in Deer Park WA that you can get nukes from if you order in the winter. They are really good to work with and I have bought bees from them before. I can help a bit when you get closer as its not easy these days. Best of luck!

[@mutzicat]

wow, thank you, just moved from the city to the countryside, and a have small backyard, ... hoping to have enough room for a few chickens. Building a home for them will be a fun project . thanks for the inspiration.

[@ni4ni775]

Great video... I appreciate that you explained everything in great detail... Just what I needed.

[@pennynewell3459]

I love it. But I wouldn’t have their feed and water in the coop.

[@tamaradevault9333]

Food and water in the coop is ok, keeps birds out (sort of). Just don't have food n water under roosts!

[@JESSICASKAMTheRealJessicaKam]

Chicken coop looks amazing. My brother made the same coop for our chicken.

[@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving]

Cool. How does he like it?

[@JESSICASKAMTheRealJessicaKam]

Martin Johnson - Off Grid Living We loved it, we have 2 property of land, one have 15 acre and the other 20 acre. We grow our own food also.. But the price of land here are over (Million) for land.

[@SKEN457]

Coop came out great..just try to cut the screws on the nesting back door..also just a suggestion for your wife when cleaning the coop to use a mask because of the dry chicken poop...👍🙏🙏

[@danm1319]

Your place is a dream!

[@touristfromearth]

why does chicken coupe have 2 doors? coz if it had 4 doors, it's called chicken sedan

[@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving]

Good one. Hahaha

[@laylatorres991]

There are many components to creating an amazing design. One resource I found which succeeds in merging these is the coop magic tactic (google it if you're interested) definately the best course i've seen. look at this extraordinary resource.

[@yamilcarlosrojasplata8641]

There are several factors in doing a pro job. One resource I found that succeeds in merging these is the Coop Magic Tactic (check it out on google) definately the best course that I have ever heard of. Check out this interesting resource.

[@edgarz7330]

hey ,if anyone else wants to learn about design your own coop try Coop Magic Tactic (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some amazing things about it and my partner got amazing success with it.

[@samaramartinez9606]

the best success that I have had was by using the Coop Magic Tactic (i found it on google) definately the most useful info that I have ever followed.

[@patb7184]

This looks great! Do you happen to have a parts/supply list with the length of boards? I want to use your design but this will be my first real wood project. Thanks in advance!

[@danielplante547]

would like this list also.

[@gregbiske9245]

Been looking for days and saw your video. Love it ! I’m looking to build this winter and get my chickens in the spring. Do you have a build plan? That is exactly what I was looking for

[@springhollerfarm8668]

Pretty smart design. Keep em clean, no stink.

[@the_garden_is_growing]

Thanks for the video! I'm planning my coop and this was very helpful!

[@caroldorsett8170]

Cut their wings to prevent flying very easy and doesn’t hurt them. I Built a coop like this but only up one foot high. Yours is so much better raised up for easy access. Also my egg access is front.. much harder than yours. good job!

[@vijaykumarvijaykumar6607]

"Some really nice innovations to make it easier. Cleaning, water, food, security with that extended skirt, and such is really nice. Great job."

[@erikacharais7950]

I too would LOVE your length measurements... excited to try to recreate your coop! God Bless You :)

[@tomcollier4089]

That was the best (simple) idea so far...thanks!

[@jayurban4313]

Martin, Terrific video! Great editing, smooth transitions, and very clear views and descriptions of your chicken coop, also very clean and elegantly simple plan!! Thanks for your effort! Your two legged chick is a real plus too!!

[@kentuckycowboy7660]

Seen heard a lady do her chicken run with 12 inch plus of natural mulch to keep it from turning into a mud hole. Also you get when it starts to break down in 3-4 months worms and bugs will increase giving the girls plenty of natural meals daily

[@bryanjones14]

Ok ,so I built it this weekend only a few modifications . Took me me about 18 hrs total and was totally free from left over roofing steel from the house and scrap 1x10 pine boards from work ( I build post and beam barns . . I built a drop down door for the vent under the front eve for winter....and a window

[@nateserpico2886]

Just put a small piece of 2x2 board in front of the door on the plywood floor and that should keep alot of that stuff out of the door rails.

[@s.pursell8901]

Well that you very much. I've been looking for super simple chicken coop ideas. And this one seems like the size would be perfect. I have great carpentry skills but everything online is so over built for chickens. And to purchase one they want almost $1500.

[@joshbell5387]

Just finished my chicken coop, thanks for video.

[@christinashawgo6510]

Hope you’re saving the egg shells. You microwave a bit, crush, and feed the chickens. Calcium :)

[@kirkb2286]

Very nice coop ....well thought out and sturdy....oh and your helper isn’t so bad either ...she is the Pied Piper of stray chickens 👍👍

[@jonjeys7824]

I would make two changes. First to add a closure to the vents in case of bad weather, secondly I would purchase my chickens on Col. Sanders birthday.

[@bradbrannon5225]

Thanks for putting these videos up! I built your design in January and have 10 hens in it now. Easy even for me with minimal building skills. One question, how often are you changing out bedding? I'm using pine shavings and throw a few handfuls in when it starts to stink. Thanks!

[@kwhy349]

Love this coup! Looks great!!! ::Suggestion:: grind up the egg shells and add the grounds to their feed for calcium and to eliminate another expense.

[@psmcgowan1793]

If you do that, you must first dry them out in the oven. Remove ANY chicken taste or smell, otherwise the chickens will become "cannibalized" and will start eating their own eggs, and other chickens. Please look into this, as we lost several chickens because of the eggshells. Crush them, spread out on a large cookie sheet wrapped in tin foil and bake them well!

[@ghalyatv7512]

You rock! Grinder to trim; brilliant! Reminds me of when I learned you could use a trim bit to cut door/window holes in sheer panel!

[@cyborggamerz770]

coopodoit offers great manuals for building a chicken cop. I build my coop with them. Leave a like if helped you :)

[@chiyolate]

I love that Egg machine!

[@SurvivalLiving]

Hahaha egg a day or you get the ax 👍 😃

[@syderaz]

Flash the AXE to them as motivation.. 🍗🍗🍗

[@shelmmii9425]

I died

[@philanthropchic2238]

"Just makin' some eggs...nothin' to see here...thanks for the condo, we love it." signed, "The Girls"

[@goingbonkerswithmyhonkers9374]

Great video Looking to leave the crazy pack and stacks and get back to country living.

[@diymanbelfast2897]

Thanks for sharing, you 2 are easy to listen to. This is something we keep talking about but just havent taken the plunge just yet.

[@inspirationsforyou1671]

Really cool solutions in this chicken coop. And visually very nice 👏👍

[@samorsamantha4346]

Love this design. Have you thought about spray insulation or foam insulation on the bottom of the coop and to plug the small gaps around the legs both to keep it warmer and to keep rodents from coming in?

[@irgeeksauce4165]

I have a large outdoor enclosure, but it's just tarped on top. I don't want to tear it down because it's great in the summer, but I'm looking into a wet season solution. I think I'm gonna use your build for a 2nd coop for the wet winter months. Nice work.

[@adeshwodan4679]

It’s a good coop

[@afizakidschanel9572]

You make me want to learn how to build stuff amazing

[@RachaelARaines]

If you want to save money, you can raise your own mealworms and crickets to feed your chickens. Red worms are also not hard to raise, you can sell them as fishing bait as well. You should also enclose the bottom and add a door, as it will aid in insulating the floor of the coop keeping it warmer in the winter. If you put a door on both ends, you can open it for ventilation in the hot summer days.

[@VitorMadeira]

Very good. Thank you. Greetings from Portugal.

[@GrandmaSezSo]

Thank you for sharing. Good walk through on your coop. With the price of meal worms I think I'd be getting some clippers out for some wings though.

[@KLU421]

Nice coop! I will be including some of your ideas!

[@Jmen2146]

Sweet.! Thank you guys.!💪🏼🤠

[@MegaJBma]

Hey I like how you talk about chicken coops in this video :)

[@patrickun8655]

This video is 👍 keep up the good work!! Now I'm on a mission to build one

[@tomhorn2118]

Good tips and ideas, thanks.

[@bertric23]

I will have chickens too in the near future!!! Thank you for the vid! Wooh! Happy 420!

[@h.p.5836]

Love the video!!! And thank you so much for the extra resources!! Its sooo helpful!! A garden snake got into my chicken coop yesterday and I freaked out. Trying to improve the coop since I was trying to recycle an old cabinet. I will just have to start over. Thank you again!!

[@jeanyves8585]

Fantastic work, sir! Thanks for sharing! Cheers from France!

[@estellaknox4488]

Awesome chicken coop i am going to copy it for my chicks

[@simplybeautifullandscaping5895]

Great looking chicken coop

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

Nice job thoughts Latches with carabiner holding secure from predators Roof siding. Screen 1/4 hardware cloth or block somehow from rodents Lid could be other way over nest boxes as chickens fear overhead movement You can grow mealworms I would use underneath as well for shelter as someone mentioned Cameras on nestboxes help to know eggs and wait til not occupied One suggested astroturf like nest box fill...straw gets wet and dirty...our chickens do not like coir grass stuff

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

I also read use a tray Or have slotted litter area...save on buying litter material

[@learnjcbskidsterchickensga7594]

If poop falls thru slots then less disease or bacteria spread

[@davidlopata7532]

Try using a concrete rake to clean the floor! It works much better

[@Ramdinohikes]

Did you fence in a yard for the birds through the trees and how did they do?

[@FrankHoage]

Good job , nice video.

[@EcoNeighbor]

New subscriber thanks for sharing!

[@tihs69]

Do you need that many nesting boxes. Chickens use the same nesting boxes.i have 2 double nesting boxes for 8 chickens. Works Awesome.

[@arthursoto4285]

Gleaned some important info from this vid thanks for filming it dude. Much love to your flock from mine

[@rsllife9004]

GREAT VIDEO I REALLY LOVE YOUR COOP

[@enzosoprano6992]

Nice work guys! I love that stuff :) I'd like t buid one like that. I had to build a chicken coop a few years ago and I had to insulate it for winter and even put a little heater in there because I'm up in Canada. It's a little more complicated when it goes down -13 F :)

[@NicklisFamilyAdventures]

Great video

[@bolapromatoqueejogodecampe9353]

Excellent!!! Thank you for the very instructive video.

[@DocJJohnson]

Looks Great

[@berniceluquin4522]

If you don’t mind me asking, about how much did you approximately spend in building the coop? I’m a college student on a budget hoping to build a similar coop.

[@sgtleisure2008]

Great video. Question: how do you provide heat during the cold season?

[@lanesanti3819]

Likely heat lsmp

[@ckane510]

Definitely NOT a heat lamp! Number one cause of a chicken coop fire. Thick bed of straw. They also have coop warmers that are much more safe than a heat lamp.

[@JadeDragon407]

Pretty cool design; really liking the easy maintenance/access of it. Only thing I saw that I would do is screws stick down through the lid for the nesting boxes; may want to break the tips of those screws off with some vice grips, so nobody gets poked. Guess if we hear about a big BBQ at your place, then the slackers kept slacking. :-p

[@marythiel9447]

This is so awesome! Do you have the plans for this coop posted anywhere? My FFA program is starting an egg operation and this is exactly what we are looking for!

[@jeffcauhape6880]

This is brilliant.

[@shyank_life2899]

Nice job! I'm goin to do exactly as u say and take some ideas from this video, add my own to it and build my family a chicken coop this week. I doubt itll have wifi but itll be nice. Thanks for the pointers!

[@whosedoingwhat]

No wifi how could you🙄😁

[@Bull_sheet_Bob]

I really wish we could live like this. Your are so lucky to have this lifestyle. Just one question, why are those pieces of wood going across in the middle of the coup, about half way up.

[@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving]

For the chickens to roost on.

[@Bull_sheet_Bob]

@@MartinJohnsonOffGridLiving ok. Thanks. Do you have to have the feeder hanging like that or can you just place it in the floor ?

[@hendo6321]

I would like to see how this has held up.

[@kcb5336]

Complete newb here. Building my first coop for my first ownership experience. Why do so many folks build them with square cuts of wood as the perches or roosts? whatever they’re called. I’m going to find some nice branches that are naturally round and have a variety of diameter for them to choose their spots.

[@georgevalenzuela2489]

Nicely done, love your electric fence.

[@violentdawg]

Egg a day or it gets the axe, I don't know why that made me laugh so hard lol.