homestead.fyi / COOP-24

24-Hen Walk-In Coop

A 12 x 8 ft walk-in coop for 24 hens, built directly on the ground on a ground-contact base with a dirt floor, a 32 x 74 in door, two shuttered windows, a 6-hole nest box you open from outside and a hardware cloth apron against digging predators.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.

24Hens

144 x 96 inFootprint

96 sq ftFloor

6 x 12 inNest boxes

336 inRoost

3503 sq inVentilation

20 to 30 hrBuild time

~$1,331.64Materials, part estimate

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished

3D view, framingsiding and roof removed

Front elevationdoor and windows

Right elevationnest box side

Front wall framingseen from outside

Left wall framingseen from outside

Base and roost stand, from aboveapron laid flat outside

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

Qty	Stock	Length	Part	Cut
3	2x2	29	Door batten	laid flat
1	2x3	75 1/2	Nest ledger	screwed through the siding into the studs
1	2x4	143	Front top plate
1	2x4	143	Back top plate
3	2x4	112	Roost	laid flat, edges rounded
10	2x4	107 3/4	Rafter	both ends plumb cut 7.5°
1	2x4	88 3/4	Left top plate	laid flat, ends cut 7.5°
1	2x4	88 3/4	Right top plate	laid flat, ends cut 7.5°
10	2x4	81	Front stud
1	2x4	81	Left stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	81	Right stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	79 3/4	Right stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	78 1/8	Left stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	75 1/2	Nest header	laid flat
1	2x4	75 1/2	Nest sill	laid flat
1	2x4	75 1/4	Left stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	75 1/4	Right stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	72 1/2	Left stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	69 5/8	Left stud	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	69 5/8	Right stud	top cut 7.5°
7	2x4	69	Back stud
1	2x4	50 1/4	Right cripple	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	48 1/4	Right cripple	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	47 3/4	Right cripple	top cut 7.5°
1	2x4	45 1/4	Right cripple	top cut 7.5°
6	2x4	32 1/2	Stand leg
1	2x4	32	Front door header	laid flat
3	2x4	30 1/2	Stand rail	on edge
2	2x4	27 1/2	Front cripple
2	2x4	24	Front window header	laid flat
2	2x4	24	Front window sill	laid flat
2	2x4	18 1/2	Front cripple
4	2x4	14	Right cripple
1	2x4	5 1/2	Front cripple
1	2x4 PT	143	Front bottom plate
1	2x4 PT	143	Back bottom plate
1	2x4 PT	88	Left bottom plate
1	2x4 PT	88	Right bottom plate
1	2x6 GC	143	Base front	on edge, on level gravel
1	2x6 GC	143	Base back	on edge, on level gravel
1	2x6 GC	92	Base left	on edge
1	2x6 GC	92	Base right	on edge
6	roof	107 3/4	Roof panel	cut to length, lap one rib

Cut list: sheet goods

Part	Stock	Size	Note
Roof deck 1	1/2 ply	96 x 48	H-clips at the row joints
Roof deck 2	1/2 ply	48 x 48	H-clips at the row joints
Roof deck 3	1/2 ply	48 x 48	H-clips at the row joints
Roof deck 4	1/2 ply	96 x 48	H-clips at the row joints
Roof deck 5	1/2 ply	96 x 11 5/8	H-clips at the row joints
Roof deck 6	1/2 ply	48 x 11 5/8	H-clips at the row joints
Front siding 1	1/2 ply	48 x 88 1/2	window cutout becomes its shutter
Front siding 2	1/2 ply	48 x 88 1/2	door is the cutout, re-hung
Front siding 3	1/2 ply	48 x 88 1/2	window cutout becomes its shutter
Back siding 1	1/2 ply	48 x 76 1/2
Back siding 2	1/2 ply	48 x 76 1/2
Back siding 3	1/2 ply	48 x 76 1/2
Left siding 1	1/2 ply	47 1/2 x 92 1/2	pop door is the cutout, re-hung
Left siding 2	1/2 ply	47 1/2 x 86 1/4
Right siding 1	1/2 ply	47 1/2 x 92 1/2
Right siding 2	1/2 ply	47 1/2 x 86 1/4
Front eave screen 1	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 1	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 2	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 2	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 3	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 3	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 4	cloth	14 1/2 x 4
Back eave screen 4	cloth	14 1/2 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 5	cloth	14 1/2 x 4
Back eave screen 5	cloth	14 1/2 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 6	cloth	14 1/2 x 4
Back eave screen 6	cloth	14 1/2 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 7	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 7	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 8	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 8	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 9	cloth	14 1/8 x 4
Back eave screen 9	cloth	14 1/8 x 3 1/2
Back vent screen	cloth	136 x 9 1/2
Window screen 1	cloth	26 x 34
Window screen 2	cloth	26 x 34
Apron front	cloth	192 x 24
Apron back	cloth	192 x 24
Apron left	cloth	24 x 96
Apron right	cloth	24 x 96
Nest end 1	1/2 ply	12 1/2 x 16 1/2
Nest end 2	1/2 ply	12 1/2 x 16 1/2
Nest bottom	1/2 ply	12 x 74 1/2
Nest front	1/2 ply	74 1/2 x 12 1/2
Nest divider 1	1/2 ply	12 x 16
Nest divider 2	1/2 ply	12 x 16
Nest divider 3	1/2 ply	12 x 16
Nest divider 4	1/2 ply	12 x 16
Nest divider 5	1/2 ply	12 x 16
Nest lid	1/2 ply	14 3/4 x 76 1/2	hinged at the wall, latched

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x2 x 8 ft

Door batten 1 29Door batten 2 29Door batten 3 29

2x3 x 8 ft

Nest ledger 75 1/2

2x4 x 12 ft

Front top plate 143

2x4 x 12 ft

Back top plate 143

2x4 x 12 ft

Left stud 4 72 1/2Back stud 2 69

2x4 x 12 ft

Back stud 3 69Back stud 4 69

2x4 x 12 ft

Back stud 5 69Back stud 6 69

2x4 x 10 ft

Left top plate 88 3/4Stand rail 2 30 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Right top plate 88 3/4Stand rail 3 30 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Left stud 5 69 5/8Right cripple 2 48 3/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Back stud 1 69Right cripple 3 47 3/4

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 4 81Stand leg 1 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 5 81Stand leg 2 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 6 81Stand leg 3 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 7 81Stand leg 4 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 8 81Stand leg 5 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 9 81Stand leg 6 32 1/2

2x4 x 10 ft

Front stud 10 81Front door header 32

2x4 x 10 ft

Roost 1 112

2x4 x 10 ft

Roost 2 112

2x4 x 10 ft

Roost 3 112

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 1 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 2 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 3 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 4 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 5 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 6 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 7 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 8 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 9 107 5/8

2x4 x 10 ft

Rafter 10 107 5/8

2x4 x 8 ft

Right cripple 1 50 1/4Right cripple 4 45 1/8

2x4 x 8 ft

Front cripple 3 27 1/2Front window header 24Front window sill 24Right cripple 5 14Front cripple 1 5 1/2

2x4 x 8 ft

Stand rail 1 30 1/2Front cripple 5 27 1/2Front cripple 2 18 1/2Front cripple 4 18 1/2

2x4 x 8 ft

Front stud 1 81Right cripple 6 14

2x4 x 8 ft

Front stud 2 81Right cripple 7 14

2x4 x 8 ft

Front stud 3 81Right cripple 8 14

2x4 x 8 ft

Right stud 4 69 5/8Front window header 24

2x4 x 8 ft

Back stud 7 69Front window sill 24

2x4 x 8 ft

Left stud 1 81

2x4 x 8 ft

Right stud 1 81

2x4 x 8 ft

Right stud 2 79 3/4

2x4 x 8 ft

Left stud 2 78 1/8

2x4 x 8 ft

Nest header 75 1/2

2x4 x 8 ft

Nest sill 75 1/2

2x4 x 8 ft

Left stud 3 75 3/8

2x4 x 8 ft

Right stud 3 75 3/8

2x4 PT x 12 ft

Front bottom plate 143

2x4 PT x 12 ft

Back bottom plate 143

2x4 PT x 8 ft

Left bottom plate 88

2x4 PT x 8 ft

Right bottom plate 88

2x6 GC x 12 ft

Base front 143

2x6 GC x 12 ft

Base back 143

2x6 GC x 8 ft

Base left 92

2x6 GC x 8 ft

Base right 92

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 1 107 5/8

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 2 107 5/8

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 3 107 5/8

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 4 107 5/8

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 5 107 5/8

roof x 10 ft

Roof panel 6 107 5/8

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 4: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 5: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 6: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 7: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 8: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 9: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 10: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 11: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 12: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 13: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 14: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 15: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Sheet 16: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft

Shopping list $1,189.14 checked / $142.50 estimated

Item	Store	Qty	Each	Line	Note
2x2x8 furring strip	Home Depot	1	$2.97	$2.97	see lumber cutting diagram
2x3x8 stud, SPF	Home Depot	1	$3.48	$3.48	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPF	Home Depot	16	$4.15	$66.40	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x10 stud, SPF	Home Depot	24	$5.46	$131.04	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 stud, SPF	Home Depot	5	$7.12	$35.60	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treated	Home Depot	2	$7.18	$14.36	see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treated	Home Depot	2	$4.68	$9.36	see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x12 ground-contact pressure-treated	Home Depot	2	$14.18	$28.36	see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x8 ground-contact pressure-treated	Home Depot	2	$9.78	$19.56	see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated metal roof panel, 26 in x 10 ft	Home Depot	6	$23.75	$142.50	see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheet	Lowe's	16	$32.26	$516.16	see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 3 ft x 25 ft, 19-ga	Home Depot	3	$38.88	$116.64	uses about 831 5/8 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)	Home Depot	5	$6.60	$33.00	clean-out door, pop door, nest lid, window shutters
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 in	Home Depot	5	$6.78	$33.90	clean-out door, pop door, nest lid, window shutters
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box	Home Depot	4	$29.97	$119.88
Roofing screws #10 x 1-1/2 in with neoprene washer, 200 ct	Home Depot	3	$17.98	$53.94
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lb	Southern States	1	$4.49	$4.49
Total before tax				~$1,331.64

Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

Pick a high, level, well-drained spot. Level a pad 12 in wider than the coop all round and spread 4 in of gravel on it.
Set the ground-contact 2x6 base on edge on the gravel and screw the corners. Check square by measuring both diagonals and level it with gravel, never with wood shims.
Frame the front wall flat: pressure-treated bottom plate, top plate, king studs and headers at the door and both windows, sills and cripples under the windows, and studs at 24 in on center.
Frame the back wall the same way, then both side walls. Side top plates and stud tops are cut at 7.5° to follow the roof. Frame the nest opening in the right wall with a header, a sill and cripples.
Stand the walls on the base, screw the corners together and screw the bottom plates down into the base.
Cut the 10 rafters with plumb cuts at 7.5° on both ends and set them at 16 in on center, toe-screwed to both walls.
Cut the siding from the sheet layouts with the door, windows, pop door and nest openings. Keep the door and window cutouts. Screw the siding on every 6 in. Every joint lands on a stud or cripple.
Staple hardware cloth behind both windows, the back vent strip and every eave gap between the rafters.
Lay the roof deck in rows across the rafters with the joints staggered and H-clips between rows, then screw down the 6 metal panels, lapping one rib.
Build the 6-hole nest box on its ledger outside the right wall, hinge the lid at the wall and latch it.
Brace the door cutout with three battens and hang it on strap hinges with a hasp. Hang each window cutout as a shutter hinged at the top, and the pop door the same way.
Lay the hardware cloth apron flat on the ground around the outside, staple it to the base and cover it with soil or gravel.
Build the roost stand: three rails on edge on legs, with the 3 roosts screwed across them wide face up. Set it toward the back wall.

Before you start

Sized for 24 standard hens at 4 sq ft of floor each. The floor is the ground: start with 6 in of deep litter and add to it.
6 nest boxes, 12 x 12 x 12 in inside: one per 4 to 5 hens. Use 14 in for large breeds like Orpingtons and Brahmas. The 4 in lip keeps the bedding in.
336 in of roost at 10 in per hen, 36 in off the floor with 42 1/8 in of headroom, and higher than the nest openings so hens sleep on the roost and not in the nests.
The 24 in hardware cloth apron stops digging predators. Foxes and dogs dig at the wall, hit the wire and give up.
Rafters at 16 in on center carry a light snow load. Where snow loads run high, check your local requirement and use 2x6 rafters.
A building this size can lift in a storm. Anchor each corner of the base to the ground with an earth anchor or a 3 ft length of rebar.
Check local rules before you build. Some places need a permit for an accessory building of this size.
Ventilation is 3503 sq in against the 1 sq ft per hen rule. In hot climates add a second vent high on the back wall.
Every opening is covered with 1/2 in hardware cloth. Chicken wire does not keep raccoons out. Latch every door and the nest lid.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.