14 DIY Chicken Coop Ideas Easy Cheap

Your backyard dreams involve fresh eggs but your bank account is currently screaming at you.

Building a home for your feathered divas does not require a second mortgage or a degree in architecture.

Check out these simple ways to house your birds without losing your sanity.

1. The Pallet Palace

• Best For: Budget hunters with a truck
• Vibe: Rustic and recycled
• Why it works: Free wood is the best wood for your wallet.

Scour local businesses for heat-treated pallets to ensure your birds stay safe from nasty chemicals. Slap on some weatherproof stain in a dark walnut to hide the imperfections of the reclaimed timber. This build costs almost nothing if you have a box of screws and a decent pry bar.

Pro Tip: Use a reciprocating saw to cut through pallet nails instead of prying them by hand to save your back.

2. The Repurposed Armoire

• Best For: Thrifters who hate measuring
• Vibe: Shabby chic boutique
• Why it works: The frame is already built and just needs a few tweaks.

Find a solid wood cabinet at a yard sale and rip out the drawers to create open space. Replace the door panels with hardware cloth to allow for maximum airflow and predator protection. Paint it a soft sage green to help it blend into your garden landscape.

Pro Tip: Line the bottom with a removable plastic tray for the easiest cleaning session of your life.

3. The Trampoline Frame Fort

• Best For: People with junk in their yard
• Vibe: Industrial dome
• Why it works: The circular shape provides a massive footprint for almost no money.

Flip an old trampoline frame upside down to create a sturdy geodesic structure on your lawn. Cover the top with a heavy-duty tarp and wrap the sides in poultry netting to keep the hens contained. Your chickens will have a massive run area for the price of a few zip ties.

Pro Tip: Secure the base with ground anchors so a stiff breeze does not send your coop to the next county.

4. The Plastic Shed Conversion

• Best For: The tool-challenged crowd
• Vibe: Modern minimalist
• Why it works: It is waterproof and predator-proof right out of the box.

Grab a small polypropylene storage shed and cut out a few ventilation holes near the roofline. Install a simple wooden roosting bar across the middle using basic metal brackets. It wipes clean with a garden hose and never needs a new paint job.

Pro Tip: Use a hole saw attachment on your drill for perfectly round and professional-looking vents.

5. The A Frame Scrap Wood Special

• Best For: Small backyards
• Vibe: Geometric and tidy
• Why it works: The triangular shape requires very little structural support.

Lean two sheets of exterior grade plywood against each other to form a simple tent shape. Use 2×4 lumber for the base frame to keep the structure off the wet ground. This design is naturally aerodynamic and handles high winds like a total champ.

Pro Tip: Put wheels on one end so you can move it around your lawn like a chicken tractor.

6. The Swing Set Salvage

• Best For: Parents of grown kids
• Vibe: Playful and airy
• Why it works: The tall height makes cleaning a breeze for your posture.

Strip the swings off that old metal or wood set and use the A-frame supports as your skeleton. Wrap the bottom half in welded wire and build a small nesting box on the slide platform. It gives your birds a high-rise view while keeping them safe from neighborhood cats.

Pro Tip: Paint the metal frame with rust-oleum to prevent the elements from eating your coop.

7. The Crib Rail Coop

• Best For: Extreme upcyclers
• Vibe: Farmhouse vintage
• Why it works: The slats are already spaced perfectly for ventilation and light.

Take two old wooden cribs and use the side rails as the walls for your chicken run. Combine them with a corrugated metal roof for a high-end look on a thrift store budget. It looks intentional rather than just a pile of backyard junk.

Pro Tip: Sand down any old paint to ensure there is no lead residue for your birds to peck.

8. The IBC Tote House

• Best For: Small flocks
• Vibe: Industrial utility
• Why it works: These plastic cubes are virtually indestructible and very cheap.

Cut a door into a 275-gallon IBC tote and remove the metal cage where it blocks the entrance. Use the plastic bladder as the main housing unit because it is incredibly easy to disinfect. This setup is perfect for someone who wants a coop that lasts a lifetime.

Pro Tip: Paint the exterior with plastic-bonding paint to prevent UV rays from making the plastic brittle over time.

9. The Dog House Upgrade

• Best For: Lazy weekend projects
• Vibe: Classic suburban
• Why it works: Most of the heavy construction is done by the original manufacturer.

Find a large wooden dog house and add a small extension for nesting boxes on the side. Attach a pre-made wire run to the front door to give the girls some leg room. It fits perfectly in a corner of the yard without looking like a massive eyesore.

Pro Tip: Add a latch to the roof so you can lift it up and grab eggs without crawling inside.

10. The Cable Spool Condo

• Best For: People who like circles
• Vibe: Whimsical and round
• Why it works: The heavy wood provides excellent insulation and natural stability.

Stand a large wooden cable spool on its side and use the center core as the main coop area. Add vertical slats around the edges to create a secure perimeter for your hens. It looks like a piece of art in your backyard while serving a practical purpose.

Pro Tip: Check with local electric companies to see if they have damaged spools they are giving away for free.

11. The PVC Pipe Pavilion

• Best For: The non-carpenter
• Vibe: Lightweight and mobile
• Why it works: You only need a saw and some glue to build the entire frame.

Construct a frame using one-inch PVC pipes and heavy-duty plastic connectors. Drape poultry fencing over the top and secure it with hundreds of zip ties for a quick build. This is the lightest option for anyone who needs to move the coop daily.

Pro Tip: Fill the bottom pipes with sand to add weight so the coop stays put during storms.

12. The Dresser Drawer Den

• Best For: Tiny flocks
• Vibe: Eccentric upcycle
• Why it works: Each drawer serves as a perfect individual nesting box for your hens.

Stack sturdy dresser drawers inside a simple frame made of 2×2 lumber. Use linseed oil to protect the wood from moisture and chicken droppings naturally. It creates a multi-level apartment complex for your hens that looks surprisingly organized.

Pro Tip: Stagger the drawers slightly to create natural steps for the chickens to climb to the top.

13. The Greenhouse Hybrid

• Best For: Cold climates