From Junk to Gem: Our Cottage Core DIY Chicken Coop

When you come across a photo like this, it’s often surrounded by countless other flawless images. That’s why I want to be completely open about what really goes into creating those impressive results and also share some highlighted tips that made this very inexpensive! 

This was a passion project, which made the process much more relaxed and enjoyable—far better than stressful DIY jobs with higher stakes, like fixing appliances or doing home repairs. Since it was a hobby, we had plenty of time. Over many chilly winter evenings, my husband and I talked, brainstormed, and planned out our chicken coop, considering features and researching what others had done. These discussions constantly sparked new ideas and questions, and since we love dreaming up plans together, it was a rewarding experience. 

We quickly ruled out buying a pre-made coop kit because they tend to use cheap, soft wood that doesn't last. Instead, we started drawing up our own plans, decided on a flock size of 6–10 birds, and calculated the space we'd need to keep them comfortable. We chose a 6x8-foot footprint, which seemed most cost-effective, though a 4x8 might've been cheaper—but we didn't like how it would look. The design was shaped as much by material sizes and costs as by practical needs; using standard 8-foot walls eliminated waste and made construction straightforward. 

The best part came after finalizing our design: building our materials list and slowly collecting supplies over six weeks from our local hardware store's cull lumber section. Sometimes we’d score barely usable boards, but other times we found stacks of quality lumber at great prices. We picked up plywood sheets for just $12 each and gathered everything patiently. Some bent pieces needed straightening, but overall, material quality was good. We chose sturdy 2x4s and pressure-treated wood only where it touched the ground, used plywood siding with 1x2 furring strips, and kept costs down—spending around $100 for siding compared to $300 for T1-11 panels. 

Construction went smoothly. Our coop is solid, with two feet of buried hardware cloth all the way around for protection. Once built, we added details to make it look even nicer than our house: shed windows, “Shade Grown” paint, flower boxes, a faux Dutch door, and lights. For water, we repurposed two food-safe barrels (adding a spigot and connecting valve so they fill and empty evenly), installed a gutter, and redirected rainwater to the barrels—giving fresh water for both chickens and our garden. 

I hope this walkthrough shows how resourcefulness and a bit of creativity helped us build something beautiful and affordable. You would never guess the wood was nearly destined for the scrap pile!