homestead.fyi / COOP-4

4-Hen Coop

A raised 4 x 4 ft reach-in coop for 4 hens, built from 2x4s, plywood and a metal roof, with a full-height clean-out door and 1 nest box you open from outside.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
4Hens
48 x 48 inFootprint
16 sq ftFloor
1 x 12 inNest boxes
40 inRoost
615 sq inVentilation
8 to 12 hrBuild time
~$366.73Materials, part estimate

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
3D view, framingsiding and roof removed
3D view, framing
Front elevationdoor and vent
Front elevation 48 in floor 24 1/2 in 70 3/4 in 26 in 24 in
Right elevationnest box side
Right elevation 48 in 59 3/4 in 59 1/2 in 13 in
Front wall framingseen from outside
Front wall framing 47 in 26 in rough opening 40 in
Left wall framingseen from outside
Left wall framing 40 in 40 in 32 5/8 in
Floor framing, from abovelegs inside the rims
Floor framing, from above 47 in 47 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
32x459 3/4Rafterboth ends plumb cut 10.4°
12x447Front bottom plate
12x447Front top plate
12x447Back bottom plate
12x447Back top plate
12x440 3/4Left top platelaid flat, ends cut 10.4°
12x440 3/4Right top platelaid flat, ends cut 10.4°
12x440Left bottom plate
12x440Right bottom plate
12x440Roostlaid flat, edges rounded
42x437Front stud
12x437Left studtop cut 10.4°
12x437Right studtop cut 10.4°
12x434 1/4Left studtop cut 10.4°
12x434 1/4Right studtop cut 10.4°
12x432 1/2Right studtop cut 10.4°
12x429 7/8Left studtop cut 10.4°
12x429 7/8Right studtop cut 10.4°
32x429Back stud
12x424Front door headerlaid flat
22x421Door battenlaid flat
22x415 1/2Roost cleat
12x413Nest headerlaid flat
12x413Nest ledgerscrewed through the siding into the studs
12x49 1/2Front cripple
12x4 PT47Front rimon edge
12x4 PT47Back rimon edge
32x4 PT44Floor joiston edge
44x4 PT23 3/4Leg
2roof59 3/4Roof panelcut to length, lap one rib

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Floor3/4 ply47 x 47
Roof deck1/2 ply48 x 59 3/4
Front siding1/2 ply48 x 43 3/4door is the cutout, re-hung
Back siding1/2 ply48 x 35 3/4
Left siding1/2 ply47 x 48pop door is the cutout, re-hung
Right siding1/2 ply47 x 48
Front eave screen 1cloth21 1/4 x 4 1/4
Back eave screen 1cloth21 1/4 x 3 1/2
Front eave screen 2cloth21 1/4 x 4 1/4
Back eave screen 2cloth21 1/4 x 3 1/2
Front vent screencloth40 x 9 1/2
Nest end 11/2 ply12 1/2 x 16 1/2
Nest end 21/2 ply12 1/2 x 16 1/2
Nest bottom1/2 ply12 x 12
Nest front1/2 ply12 x 12 1/2
Nest lid1/2 ply14 3/4 x 14hinged at the wall, latched
Ramp1/2 ply10 x 36add cleats every 3 in from scrap

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

2x4 x 10 ft
Left bottom plate 40Front door header 24Door batten 1 21Door batten 2 21Nest header 13
2x4 x 10 ft
Right bottom plate 40Front stud 1 37Right stud 3 32 1/2Front cripple 1 9 1/2
2x4 x 10 ft
Left stud 3 29 7/8Back stud 1 29Back stud 2 29Roost cleat 1 15 1/2Roost cleat 2 15 1/2
2x4 x 10 ft
Roost 40Front stud 2 37Back stud 3 29Nest ledger 13
2x4 x 10 ft
Left top plate 40 5/8Right top plate 40 5/8Front stud 3 37
2x4 x 10 ft
Front stud 4 37Left stud 1 37Right stud 1 37
2x4 x 8 ft
Front bottom plate 47Front top plate 47
2x4 x 8 ft
Back bottom plate 47Back top plate 47
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter 1 59 3/4Left stud 2 34 1/8
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter 2 59 3/4Right stud 2 34 1/8
2x4 x 8 ft
Rafter 3 59 3/4Right stud 4 29 7/8
2x4 PT x 12 ft
Front rim 47Back rim 47Floor joist 1 44
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Floor joist 2 44Floor joist 3 44
4x4 PT x 8 ft
Leg 1 23 3/4Leg 2 23 3/4Leg 3 23 3/4Leg 4 23 3/4
roof x 10 ft
Roof panel 1 59 3/4Roof panel 2 59 3/4

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Left siding47 x 48Right siding47 x 48
Sheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Roof deck48 x 59 3/4Back siding48 x 35 3/4
Sheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Front siding48 x 43 3/4Ramp36 x 10Nest end 112 1/2 x 16 1/2Nest end 212 1/2 x 16 1/2Nest lid14 3/4 x 14Nest front12 x 12 1/2Nest bottom12 x 12
Sheet 4: 3/4 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Floor47 x 47

Shopping list $342.98 checked / $23.75 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot6$5.46$32.76see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPFHome Depot5$4.15$20.75see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x12 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$7.18$7.18see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$4.68$4.68see lumber cutting diagram
4x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treatedHome Depot1$11.28$11.28see lumber cutting diagram
Corrugated metal roof panel, 26 in x 10 ftHome Depot1$23.75$23.75see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's3$32.26$96.78see sheet cutting diagrams
23/32 in (3/4 in) CDX plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$46.57$46.57see sheet cutting diagrams
Hardware cloth 1/2 in, 2 ft x 25 ft, 19-gaHome Depot1$30.40$30.40uses about 55 1/2 in of the roll
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)Home Depot3$6.60$19.80clean-out door, pop door, nest lid
Galvanized staple safety hasp, 3-1/2 inHome Depot3$6.78$20.34clean-out door, pop door, nest lid
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb boxHome Depot1$29.97$29.97
Roofing screws #10 x 1-1/2 in with neoprene washer, 200 ctHome Depot1$17.98$17.98
Poultry staples 3/4 in, 1 lbSouthern States1$4.49$4.49
Total before tax~$366.73
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

  1. Cut the 4 legs from the 4x4s and the floor frame from the pressure-treated 2x4s. Screw the rims to the joists, then screw the legs inside the rims. Check square by measuring both diagonals.
  2. Screw the 3/4 in plywood floor to the frame every 8 in.
  3. Frame the front and back walls flat on the floor: plates, studs, and a header laid flat over each door opening.
  4. Frame both side walls. Their top plates and the tops of the studs are cut at 10.4° to follow the roof. Leave the nest opening in the right wall under its header.
  5. Stand the walls, screw the corners together and screw the bottom plates down through the floor into the frame.
  6. Cut the 3 rafters with plumb cuts at 10.4° on both ends, set them on the walls and toe-screw them with two screws per wall.
  7. Cut the siding from the sheet layouts, including the door, vent, pop door and nest openings. Keep the door and pop door cutouts. Screw the siding on every 6 in around the edges.
  8. Staple hardware cloth over the wall vents from inside and over every eave gap between the rafters. Staple every 2 in and add screws with washers at the corners.
  9. Screw the roof deck to the rafters, then the 2 metal panels with roofing screws in the flats, lapping one rib.
  10. Build the nest box on its ledger: ends, bottom, front, then hinge the lid at the wall and add a latch.
  11. Brace the door cutout with two battens, hang it on strap hinges and add a hasp. Hang the pop door cutout the same way, hinged at the top.
  12. Set the roost on its cleats with the wide face up, round the edges, and set the ramp under the pop door.

Before you start