How to Build a Chicken Coop With $50 In One Hour

Who would have thought that you could build a chicken coop within an hour? Yes, you got it right! This is how to build a chicken coop. 

This is just one of the chicken coop ideas you can find on this website.

Interestingly, you like this idea as you may want to raise your backyard chicken. Building an inexpensive coop is an easy-peasy activity, but raising the chicken needs a full-time commitment. They, too, are living things. They need to be sheltered and fed, to thrive and multiply.

There are many online blueprints available to help one decide on what type of coop they can build. And almost everyone who has a common interest, finds the budget to be one of the culprits why simple projects do not prosper.

My husband and I read an article on how to build a chicken coop, and we tried to build it for only $50. The world is still in a pandemic, and we cannot just simply go out and look for fancy materials to set up the coop. Since we live in a rural area where bamboo is locally available, we decided to make it from bamboo, and not from wood (which is also very expensive nowadays). We have some stuff that we can upcycle for as roofing and siding – used galvanized sheets and extra-nets from our garden, previously used as perimeter fence to prevent bugs and flies from entering.

Should I Raise Chicken At Home?

There are plenty of reasons to enjoy raising chickens in your backyard. For starters, fresh eggs are a favorite for breakfast and add flavor to dishes and pastries. Chicken meat is versatile and works well in a variety of meals, making it a reliable source of food.

If you’re looking for extra income, selling poultry products like fresh eggs or meat—whether cooked or pre-cured—can be a great option. For those into zero-waste living, chicken by-products make excellent compost material.

Raising chickens is also a healthy, sustainable, and eco-friendly practice. When you let them roam free-range, they become helpful garden companions by eating worms and bugs that can harm your plants.

Build a Chicken Coop: Location Matters

Your location plays a big role in whether you can raise chickens in your backyard. First, check if your neighborhood allows it. If it does, find out if there are limits on the number of chickens you can keep. Knowing the rules upfront can save you time, money, and effort if raising chickens isn’t permitted.

Next, decide where to set up your coop. Choose a spot that makes cleaning and maintenance easy while keeping predators out. High or slightly elevated ground works best to prevent flooding. Avoid placing the coop near tall, bushy plants since they can block your view and give predators a hiding spot. Protecting your chickens is essential—you don’t want to lose them!

How To Build a Chicken Coop: Design is Important

Do you have enough space to build a chicken coop? No matter what materials you choose, make sure it meets the basic needs. It should include a feeder, a water container, a roosting area, and a nesting box for hens to lay eggs.

We considered our available space and kept the neighbors in mind. We built a simple, low-budget coop that was sturdy enough to protect the chickens from predators. It also kept them from roaming freely and damaging nearby plants. This setup worked well for us without breaking the bank.

Related: 10 Common Mistakes You Should Avoid If You Want To Raise Chickens

The Size Of The Chicken Coop

In building a coop from scratch, we often neglect to consider the size requirement. How small or big the enclosure should be is vital to the health and performance of the chicken. Some studies mention the coop size requirement of most breeds of chicken.

It requires at least three square feet of room in a coop per bird if outdoor range space is available. However, it is safe for backyard chicken raisers to give allowance for about three to five square feet per bird to favor those big-built birds and a sure-ball to make them freely move inside. When you opt for raising outdoor range chicken, it is safe to have a space requirement of eight to ten square feet of room per bird.

Materials Needed

While there are varied options of materials to use – e.g., pallets, plywood, hard-mesh wire, and more, you can assess that one can look better than others but can fully function similarly to what we aim for building a coop. Upcycling things in the yard can help you cut way too far of your expenses in building the structure.

Many coop designs are way so beautiful and sturdy, but end you feeling frustrated by their cost. Try to look around your junkyard. You might never know lots of things in there can be re-purposed into something valuable.

Protection

Know the possible threats to your backyard chickens. Your location might have dogs, coyotes, snakes, raccoons, and other animals that can endanger the life of your chicken. Consider these predators in choosing the materials to use in building your coop.

Suppose you live in a neighborhood that is relatively close to distant houses. In that case, you might consider the building as a more sturdy and safe coop that can’t be easily destroyed by predators so that you won’t end up constantly rebuilding your coop.

How To Build a Chicken Coop: Design & Planning

Raising chickens takes real commitment, but it’s a rewarding journey. Growing your own food is fulfilling, and building a coop adds an extra sense of accomplishment. Don’t let expensive materials or high costs discourage you. Get creative and resourceful. Let your imagination work within your budget.

First, decide on the coop size. Think about your budget, how many chickens you want to start with, and your future plans. Will you grow your flock or just replace older hens as their egg production slows? Make sure the coop has enough space for the chickens to move freely and stay comfortable.

Next, sketch your plan. Write down the design with measurements on paper. A clear blueprint will help you adjust and fine-tune the details as you move forward.

Focus on ventilation when planning the structure. Good airflow keeps chickens cool, prevents suffocation, and helps avoid sickness. Proper ventilation is key to maintaining their health and comfort.

Now, let’s get started on building a coop for your backyard. We’ll use scrap materials from the junkyard and unused items you may already have for your garden. This approach keeps costs low while giving old materials a new purpose.

Materials You Need

Design: 4 square meter

Tools: hammer, scale tape, saw, sharp bolo, mallet, chisel

Materials:

• Three-ply sheets: Galvanized Corrugated Iron Sheets 1m x 3m
• Two poles: Whole Bamboo Poles 2.5 m in length
• 9m x 2m x 2m mesh net (we used recycled garden net)
• Two poles: Whole Bamboo poles 2.0 m in length
• Two poles cut in halves: Bamboo poles in halves 2.25 m in length
• #2.5 Common and Umbrella Nails + #1 Common Nails
• Whole Bamboo Poles 2m in length used for base flooring
• Bamboo Stakes 2m x 5cm (flooring)

How to Build a Chicken Coop Step-by-Step

Homesteading enthusiasts often find raising backyard chickens both fun and rewarding. It gives you the chance to produce your own food. Deciding on how to build a chicken coop design and gathering materials can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure how to find inexpensive options or approach it as a DIY project.

If aesthetics matter most, you might spend over a hundred dollars. These days, you can buy ready-made or custom coops, but they can cost hundreds of dollars. However, building your own coop from scratch with affordable materials doesn’t require expert skills. With some basic tools and determination, you can turn it into an enjoyable DIY project.

When you’re ready, grab your blueprint and start gathering materials and tools. This budget-friendly chicken coop idea may not be new to you, but it shares the same goal: to create a simple, low-cost coop. It’s a frugal way to provide a safe and functional space for your chickens.

Related: Better Than Chickens?

Since we live in an area where we can have access to bamboo, as mentioned at the beginning of the article, we choose to use it instead of wood lumbers. To start with, gather all the tools and materials listed above.

Dig in four holes equidistant to each other at 2 meters intervals with a depth of one foot. The four 1-foot hole depths are enough to firmly hold each structural post of the coop and prevent swinging and moving the whole structure as you nail down other materials.

Bamboo poles as posts.

Pole on top used as roofing support.

Roosting area.

You don’t have to complicate things in building a chicken coop. For a very frugal way of making it, at least the essentials are being provided. Chicken coop requires a waterer, a roosting place, and nesting. Make it simple yet fully functional.

Putting on the recycled garden net.

Installing the removable flooring, enough to elevate the chicken, getting rid of possible flooding.

This DIY chicken coop that will cost you less than $50.

At the bottom, use small bamboo pegs to lock the net and prevent the chicken from escaping the coop. The mesh nets are just simply hooked through nails. One can get in or get out by unhooking the edge of the net. It serves as an entrance.

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