How to Build a Chicken Coop for Under $200

Want backyard chickens but don’t want to spend $500+ on a coop? Build your own for under $200. You’ll save money, get exactly what your flock needs, and walk away with a serious sense of pride.

TL;DR: Yes, you can build a secure, functional chicken coop for under $200 — here’s the full how-to.

Why Build Your Own Chicken Coop?

Cost Savings: How to Build a Chicken Coop for Under $200

Can you really build a coop for under $200? Yes! I did it, you can too. The trick: smart material sourcing and focusing on essentials.

HomeAdvisor’s June 2025 data shows average coop costs around $650, but DIY can start at $100. We’re aiming for that low end.

Imagine: a solid home for your flock, costing less than half of basic kits. That extra cash buys feed, chicks, or even a cool automatic door.

This direct link between cost-effective materials and your budget goal is key to making that “under $200” dream a reality, because you control the cost by choosing materials and doing the labor yourself, avoiding the markups of pre-made options. Plus, building it yourself often means you can use more durable, long-lasting materials than cheap kits, which can significantly reduce future maintenance costs and extend the coop lifespan.

Customization and Control

Buy a coop, and you’re stuck with someone else’s design. Build it? Total freedom. Need a big run? Want it in a tight corner? No problem.

You control size, layout, and features. Your ability to tailor the coop design directly addresses your specific needs, ensuring it perfectly fits your space and flock, unlike off-the-shelf solutions, because you’re the one making every decision.

Learning and Self-Sufficiency

There’s a great feeling seeing a coop you built. It’s proof of your skill. You’ll gain carpentry skills for other projects.

It sparks self-sufficiency, knowing you provide for your animals. My first rabbit hutch gave me that “I made this!” buzz. It’s addictive. This personal growth is a significant DIY benefit beyond just the financial savings, building confidence and practical know-how.

Essential Considerations Before You Start

Hold on! Before hammering, plan. Skipping these steps causes headaches, wastes money, or leaves you with a bad coop. A little planning saves a lot of trouble.

Coop Size and Chicken Count

How many chickens? Overcrowding means stress, disease, and pecking. Rule of thumb: 2-4 square feet per bird inside, 8-10 square feet per bird in the outdoor run.

As Oregon State University Extension recommends, adequate space reduces stress and the spread of disease, directly ensuring happier, healthier hens.

Here’s a quick guide to space requirements:

Always lean towards more space. You’ll never regret it. For a more in-depth look at calculating the perfect coop size for your flock, check out our detailed guide: How Big Should a Chicken Coop Be?

Beyond just coop space, if you’re wondering how many chickens your family needs for a steady supply of eggs, our guide breaks it down for you: How Many Chickens Do You Need for a Family of 4?

Location, Climate, and Predators

Where will it sit? Think it through.

• Sunlight and Shade: Chickens need shade in heat, some sun in cold.
• Drainage: Avoid soggy spots. Damp coops cause health issues.
• Wind Protection: Position your coop to shield from harsh winds.
• Predators: This is critical. Foxes, raccoons, coyotes, even dogs. Your coop must be a fortress. A crafty fox once breached my “secure” fence. Heartbreaking.

Understanding these threats is crucial for effective predator proofing, because different predators require different deterrents. For instance, raccoons are notorious for their dexterity, requiring extra secure latches that they can’t simply open.

Legal Requirements and Neighbors

Before you dig, check local rules.

• Local Zoning Laws: Many areas restrict backyard chickens: numbers, coop distance from property lines, noise. Check with your local council or HOA. To ensure you’re fully compliant with local regulations, explore comprehensive chicken laws by state: Chicken Laws by State
• Neighbors: Even if legal, be a good neighbor. Position your coop to minimize smell and noise. Fresh eggs can smooth things over! These considerations are part of responsible backyard chicken keeping, ensuring your hobby doesn’t become a nuisance for those around you.

Budgeting for Your Under-$200 Coop

Hitting that “$200” goal is doable with smart material and tool choices. This section is all about budgeting effectively.

Cost Breakdown: DIY vs. New Materials

Here’s a general cost breakdown for different coop types, highlighting how reclaimed materials keep you under $200:

As you can see, leveraging free or low-cost reclaimed and repurposed items is key to staying within your budget.

Affordable Materials: Reclaimed, Repurposed & Discounted

This is where savings happen. Don’t buy everything new. Get creative!

• Reclaimed Wood: My favorite. Look for free pallets (check for “HT” heat-treated mark, avoid “MB” chemical treatment), old fences, or construction scraps (with permission!). Facebook Marketplace and local classifieds are goldmines.

Using reclaimed wood directly contributes to cost-effective materials because you’re getting them for free or very cheap, drastically cutting down on lumber expenses.

• Discounted Materials: Check hardware store “oops” or “cull” piles for cheap lumber, roofing scraps, mis-tinted paint. These small savings on individual items add up, making your overall budgeting more manageable.
• Repurposed Items: Old swingsets for frames, used dog kennels for runs, cabinet doors for walls or nest boxes. I once used a cut-in-half plastic barrel for water collection—free! Repurposing helps keep your budgeting on track by eliminating the need to buy new, specialized items.

Tools: What You’ll Need & How to Borrow

No need for a huge workshop. Essential tools:

• Measuring Tape: Accuracy is key.
• Saw: Hand saw works, circular saw is faster.
• Drill/Driver: For screws.
• Hammer: For nails.
• Pencil: To mark cuts.
• Pliers/Wire Cutters: For hardware cloth.

Don’t own them? Ask friends, family, neighbors. Many lend tools. Tool libraries are also an option. Borrowing tools significantly reduces your overall budgeting needs because you avoid the upfront cost of purchasing equipment you might only use once.

Essential Components: Prioritizing Your Build

To stay on budget, focus on critical safety and function:

1. Structural Integrity: Sturdy frame. This relates to the overall coop design because a strong frame provides the necessary support for all other elements, ensuring the coop doesn’t collapse or warp under stress.
2. Predator Proofing: Non-negotiable. Use hardware cloth, not chicken wire. This is paramount for safeguarding your flock’s well-being as it directly prevents attacks from common predators, because chicken wire is simply not strong enough to deter them.
3. Roofing: Keep birds dry. Metal scraps or tarps work. Essential for protecting your flock from illness because it shields them from rain, snow, and harsh sun, preventing discomfort.
4. Ventilation: Essential for air quality. Also vital for ensuring happier, healthier hens as it prevents ammonia buildup and respiratory issues, which can quickly make chickens sick.

Choosing Your Chicken Coop Design

Budget and considerations are set. Now, pick a design! The best chicken coop design for under $200 is simple, efficient with materials, and easy to build.

Coop Styles: Budget-Friendly Options

Here’s a comparison of popular budget-friendly coop styles:

Curious about whether a dedicated run or free-ranging is right for your flock? Dive deeper into the pros and cons here: Chicken Run vs. Free Range: Pros & Cons

Design Features: Safety & Comfort Essentials

No matter the style, these features are vital for your flock’s health:

• Adequate Ventilation: This is HUGE. Chickens produce moisture and ammonia. Poor airflow causes respiratory problems. Use high and low vents for cross-ventilation, above roosts to avoid drafts. As Cornell University’s Poultry Fact Sheet emphasizes, proper ventilation is a core component for happier, healthier hens because it removes harmful gases and moisture, keeping the air fresh and preventing illness.
• Secure Roosting Bars: Chickens sleep off the ground. Provide sturdy, rounded bars (like a sanded 2×2) 18-24 inches high, 8-10 inches per bird. Roosts are essential for their well-being as they provide a natural, safe place for chickens to sleep, protecting them from ground moisture and pests.
• Comfortable Nest Boxes: Hens need private, dark, safe spots to lay. One box per 3-4 hens. Keep them off the ground and easy for you to access. Nest boxes contribute to successful egg laying and keeps your chickens thriving by providing a clean, secure environment that encourages hens to lay in designated spots, rather than hiding eggs elsewhere.
• Easy Access for Cleaning: You’ll thank yourself later. A large door or removable roof section makes cleaning easier. This feature directly impacts maintenance by making the necessary chore of cleaning quicker and less physically demanding, which means you’re more likely to keep the coop hygienic.

Coop Plans: Simple & Free Blueprints

No engineering degree needed. Lots of free chicken coop plans online. Check Pinterest, chicken forums, university extension offices. Look for plans using common lumber sizes and simple cuts. Many include material lists. These plans guide your coop design and budgeting by providing a clear roadmap and helping you estimate material needs, reducing guesswork and potential costly errors.

Step-by-Step Construction Guide – How to Build a Chicken Coop for Under $200

Time to build! Steps vary by design, but core principles are universal.

Materials List (Example for a Basic Coop)

Here’s a sample of what you might need, focusing on affordability. Remember, sourcing reclaimed wood and other cost-effective materials is key to staying under $200.

Construction: Foundation & Frame

1. Site Preparation: Clear and level the area. Ensure good drainage. A gravel or sand layer helps drainage and deters burrowing predators. This sets up a solid base for your coop design, preventing issues like water pooling that can compromise your flock’s health.
2. Foundation: For stationary coops, use concrete blocks or treated lumber as a base to prevent rot. For tractor coops, the frame is the base. A strong foundation is crucial for the structural integrity of your coop, directly impacting its coop lifespan and ability to withstand weather, because it provides a stable, durable base.
3. Framing: This is the coop’s skeleton. Use reclaimed 2x4s or 2x2s for floor, wall, and roof frames. Measure twice, cut once! Use a drill and exterior-grade screws for strong connections. For a 4×4 coop, build a base, four corner posts, then top plates. This step heavily relies on your chosen coop design and the tools you have, as precise cuts and strong joints ensure overall stability and safety.
   • Expert tip: Pre-drilling pilot holes prevents wood splitting, especially with reclaimed or dry wood. Trust me.

Construction: Walls, Roofing & Flooring

1. Flooring: Some coops (tractors) have no floor. A solid floor makes cleaning easier and adds predator protection. Plywood or salvaged boards work. Seal it or cover with durable, easy-to-clean vinyl. Flooring protects your flock from illness by providing a dry, clean surface, and simplifies maintenance by making waste removal easier.
2. Walls: Reclaimed wood shines here. Pallet wood, old fence boards, salvaged siding. Cut to fit, attach securely. Add tar paper or house wrap under siding for weather protection. Using reclaimed wood for walls keeps your project within budgeting goals while still providing essential shelter for your flock from wind and rain.
3. Roofing: Essential for dry, healthy chickens. Sloped roofs shed water. Use corrugated metal (often cheap scraps), asphalt shingles (if used), or heavy-duty tarps. Ensure overhangs direct water away from walls. A good roof protects chickens from rain and cold, directly reducing illness and moisture buildup, and extending the coop lifespan by preventing water damage to the structure.

Construction: Roosts, Nest Boxes & Ventilation

1. Roosts: Install sturdy roosting bars inside. A 2×2 with rounded edges is perfect. Position them so chickens aren’t pooping on each other. 8-10 inches linear space per bird. These roosts are key for their well-being, providing a natural and hygienic sleeping area off the ground, which reduces exposure to parasites and moisture.
2. Nest Boxes: Create private, dark laying spots. Old plastic buckets, wooden crates, simple plywood boxes. Line with straw or pine shavings. Place lower than roosts to prevent sleeping. Nest boxes are crucial for successful egg laying and ensure happier, healthier hens by providing a clean, secure environment that encourages hens to lay in designated spots, which means fewer broken or dirty eggs.
3. Ventilation: Cut openings near the top (above roosts) and bottom for airflow. Cover all openings with 1/2-inch hardware cloth to keep predators out. Add hinged covers for winter to control airflow. This ensures proper ventilation for air quality and effective predator proofing, both critical for protecting your flock from illness, because good airflow prevents illness and hardware cloth physically blocks intruders.

Essential Features for a Healthy Coop

Building a coop is about creating a healthy home. Neglecting these means sick chickens and frustration. These features are central to your flock’s well-being.

Ventilation: Ensuring Airflow

I can’t stress this enough: VENTILATION IS PARAMOUNT. Chickens have sensitive lungs. Poor airflow traps ammonia from droppings, causing serious health issues.

• High and Low Vents: Vents near the roof (hot, moist air escapes) and lower vents (fresh air in). This creates natural airflow. As the USDA’s Small Farms program often advises for poultry, good ventilation prevents respiratory issues by constantly exchanging stale, ammonia-laden air with fresh air, which is vital for lung health.
• Cover with Hardware Cloth: Every. Single. Opening. Must be 1/2-inch hardware cloth. Chicken wire is useless; raccoons tear through it. This is a critical aspect of predator proofing, as even small gaps can allow entry, because hardware cloth’s small mesh and strong wire are impenetrable to most common predators.
• Avoid Direct Drafts: Airflow, yes. Cold drafts on roosting chickens, no. Position vents smartly, especially in winter. This balances ventilation with protecting chickens from uncomfortable or harmful drafts, preventing chill and stress.

Cleaning: Easy Maintenance Tips

A clean coop is a happy coop. Design for easy cleaning from the start.

• Large Access Doors: Make sure you can easily get inside to shovel bedding. A human-sized door is ideal. This directly impacts maintenance by making regular cleaning much less of a chore, which encourages consistent hygiene.
• Removable Roosting Bars/Trays: If possible, make roosting bars easy to remove for cleaning. “Poop boards” or trays under roosts, scraped daily, reduce cleaning burden immensely. This simplifies maintenance and ensures happier, healthier hens by preventing the buildup of droppings directly under their sleeping area.
• Smooth Surfaces: Avoid rough surfaces where mites and bacteria hide. Seal wood or use washable materials. Smooth surfaces aid maintenance and hygiene, as they are easier to clean and less hospitable to pests and pathogens.

Predator-Proofing: Fortify Your Coop

Your under-$200 coop needs to be Fort Knox. Predators are relentless and smart.

• Hardware Cloth is King: I’m repeating this because it’s vital. Use 1/2-inch hardware cloth for all windows, vents, and the run. Bury a hardware cloth skirt (at least 12 inches deep, bent outwards) around the run perimeter to stop burrowing. This is the cornerstone of effective predator proofing, directly safeguarding your flock’s well-being from digging animals like foxes and raccoons, because its small, strong mesh prevents them from reaching through or chewing it.
  • 🧠 Pro Tip: Always choose hardware cloth over chicken wire — raccoons and foxes can rip chicken wire apart like tissue paper. ½-inch hardware cloth is your best friend.
• Secure Latches: Raccoons are clever. Use sturdy, predator-proof latches. Spring-loaded barrel bolts or carabiners work. I once had a raccoon try to open a simple hook latch; a barrel bolt saved my flock. Secure latches enhance predator proofing by preventing intelligent animals from simply opening doors with their paws or teeth.
• No Gaps: Inspect your coop for any gaps, cracks, or holes. Patch them immediately. Predators squeeze through tiny spaces. Eliminating gaps is part of thorough predator proofing, as even a small opening can be an entry point for snakes, weasels, or rats, which can decimate a flock.
• Solid Foundation: Keeping the coop off the ground or having a secure floor prevents digging from below. This contributes to overall predator proofing by denying ground-based predators easy access into the coop.

Finishing Touches and Coop Management

Coop built! High five! Now, make it a home and manage your flock. This section focuses on maintenance and caring for your backyard chickens.

Bedding: Options & Litter Management

Bedding keeps the coop clean, absorbs moisture, and insulates.

• Pine Shavings: My favorite. Absorbent, available, smells good. Avoid cedar shavings (harmful to lungs). This is a common bedding option that helps with waste management and keeps the coop dry, which prevents foot problems and odors.
• Straw: Good for insulation and nesting, less absorbent. Another bedding choice, particularly good for nest boxes because it’s soft and easy for hens to manipulate.
• Sand: Can be used, but needs regular sifting. A less common bedding option, but durable and can help with dust bathing.
• Deep Litter Method: Low-maintenance. Add layers of carbon-rich bedding over time. Microbes break down droppings. Clean fully only a few times a year. Creates compost, keeps coop warmer. This is a specific waste management strategy for maintenance that reduces cleaning frequency and provides natural warmth through decomposition, making the coop more self-sufficient.

Waterers & Feeders: Essential Setup

Clean food and water are fundamental for your flock’s well-being.

• Waterers: Chickens need constant fresh water. Hanging waterers stay cleaner. Buy cheap plastic ones or DIY a nipple waterer from a five-gallon bucket. Proper watering is vital for hydration and preventing illness, because stagnant water can harbor bacteria.
• Feeders: Protect feed from pests and moisture. Treadle feeders (chickens step to open) deter wild birds/rodents, but are pricey. Simple hanging feeders or repurposed containers work. Keep them off the ground. Effective feeding prevents waste and disease by keeping feed clean and inaccessible to pests like mice or rats, which can spread illness.
• Expert tip: Try fermented feed. Soaking feed for days boosts nutrition and digestibility. Chickens eat less, get more nutrients, saving you money! This relates to feeding and budgeting, showing how smart practices can reduce ongoing costs by making feed more efficient.

Introducing Chickens: Their New Home

Coop ready. Time for the big reveal!

1. Evening Introduction: Best time to move chickens. Gently place them on roosts. They’ll settle for the night.
2. Food and Water Ready: Fill feeders and waterers, make them accessible inside.
3. Confine Them Initially: For the first few days, keep chickens in the coop and run. They learn it’s their safe home. This process ensures your backyard chickens adapt well to their new environment and understand where to roost at night, reducing stress and confusion.

If you’re just starting your flock, understanding the best age to introduce new chickens can make a big difference: What’s the Best Age to Start Raising Chickens?

Common Mistakes: Avoid & Fix

Even experienced builders mess up. Here are common pitfalls for budget chicken coops and how to fix them.

Mistake: Underestimating Space

Most common mistake. Chicks grow fast! Overcrowding leads to stress, pecking, disease. This directly prevents stress-related issues, because limited space increases stress hormones and makes chickens more susceptible to illness.

• The Fix: If too small, add a secure run for outdoor space. If the coop itself is cramped, build an extension or a second coop. It’s a pain, but happy chickens are worth it. Increasing space ensures happier, healthier hens by allowing birds to spread out and express natural behaviors.

Mistake: Neglecting Ventilation

Beautiful coops, but sealed boxes. This traps ammonia and moisture, causing respiratory problems. Poor ventilation is a major threat to your flock’s well-being.

• The Fix: Add more vents! Cut openings near the roof and lower down. Cover all with 1/2-inch hardware cloth. In cold climates, add removable covers, but always leave some airflow. They need fresh air. Improving ventilation directly addresses respiratory issues by ensuring constant air exchange.

Mistake: Skipping Predator-Proofing

Thinking chicken wire is enough? No. Raccoons, foxes, even dogs tear through it or squeeze through gaps. Inadequate predator proofing leaves your backyard chickens vulnerable.

• The Fix: Replace all chicken wire with 1/2-inch hardware cloth. Bury a hardware cloth skirt around the run perimeter. Check all latches and gaps. I had a raccoon try to open a simple hook latch; a barrel bolt saved my flock. Don’t risk it. This is the most crucial step for effective predator proofing, directly preventing loss of your flock, because hardware cloth is physically robust against digging and chewing.

Mistake: Improper Drainage

A soggy coop breeds bacteria and parasites. This affects your flock’s well-being and maintenance.

• The Fix: Ensure your coop is on an elevated, well-draining spot. Add a gravel base or a simple French drain if water pools. Dry chickens are healthy chickens. Proper drainage is essential for protecting your flock from illness and overall coop lifespan, because it prevents moisture-related diseases and wood rot.

For more insights on common pitfalls and how to avoid them, read our guide on Mistakes Every First-Time Chicken Keeper Makes.

Enjoying Your DIY Coop: Happy Chickens!

You did it! You built your own homemade chicken coop for under $200. Now, enjoy your hard work and your flock.

The rewards are immense:

• Fresh Eggs: Nothing beats a farm-fresh egg from your own hens. This is a primary benefit of backyard chickens, providing fresh, healthy food that’s literally from your backyard.
• Pest Control: Chickens eat bugs, slugs, garden pests.
• Natural Fertilizer: Their droppings make great compost.
• Entertainment: Chickens have personalities. They’re fun to watch.
• Connection to Food: Deep satisfaction knowing where your food comes from.

Maintenance is simple: daily checks (food, water, eggs), weekly spot cleaning, and a full clean-out a few times a year (especially with deep litter). HomeAdvisor’s 2025 data suggests average chicken upkeep costs around $60 per month, covering feed, bedding, and basic health supplies. This ongoing maintenance ensures the longevity of your coop design and the well-being of your backyard chickens, contributing to a longer coop lifespan and continued fresh eggs.

Building a low-cost chicken coop is more than a project. It’s an investment in self-sufficiency, sustainable living, and a healthier you. Go on, gather your bits, build, and enjoy fresh eggs and happy, clucking chickens!

FAQs – How to Build a Chicken Coop for Under $200

Oladepo

Oladepo Babatunde is the founder of ChickenStarter.com. He is a backyard chicken keeper and educator who specializes in helping beginners raise healthy flocks, particularly in warm climates. His expertise comes from years of hands-on experience building coops, treating common chicken ailments, and solving flock management issues. His own happy hens are a testament to his methods, laying 25-30 eggs weekly.