A 2 ft square box of ground-contact 2x6s with a plywood floor and a hinged rain lid, filled with loose dirt, sand and ash.
Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
24 x 24 x 11 inSize
6 inFill depth
up to 10Hens served
1 to 2 hrBuild time
$74.57Materials
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinishedFront elevationRight elevationPlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
4
2x4 PT
11
Corner post
inside the corner, screwed through the sides
2
2x6 GC
24
Side front
on edge
2
2x6 GC
24
Side back
on edge
2
2x6 GC
21
Side left
on edge
2
2x6 GC
21
Side right
on edge
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
Floor
1/2 ply
24 x 24
under the boards, drain holes drilled
Lid
1/2 ply
26 x 26
hinged at the back
Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim
2x4 PT x 8 ft
Corner post 1 11Corner post 2 11Corner post 3 11Corner post 4 11
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side front 1 24Side back 1 24Side front 2 24Side left 1 21
2x6 GC x 8 ft
Side back 2 24Side right 1 21Side left 2 21Side right 2 21
Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out
Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Shopping list $74.57 checked / $0.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x4x8 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
1
$4.68
$4.68
see lumber cutting diagram
2x6x8 ground-contact pressure-treated
Home Depot
2
$9.78
$19.56
see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheet
Lowe's
1
$32.26
$32.26
see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 1 lb box
Home Depot
1
$11.47
$11.47
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)
Home Depot
1
$6.60
$6.60
lid
Total before tax
$74.57
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
Cut the boards and corner posts from the cutting diagram. Cut the plywood floor and lid.
Screw each course of four boards together at the corners, long sides over the short ends. Screw the four corner posts inside the corners.
Stack the second course on the first and screw it to the posts. Drill six 1/2 in drain holes through the floor.
Set the floor under the boards and screw it to the bottom edge every 6 in.
Hinge the lid at the back so it can stay open in dry weather and shut in the rain.
Fill with 6 in of a loose mix: 2 parts dry soil, 1 part sand and 1 part wood ash. Keep it dry and top it up each season.
Before you start
Hens clean their feathers and skin in dry dirt. One box serves up to 10 hens.
Wood ash is safe from untreated wood only. Do not use ash from treated lumber, painted wood or charcoal briquettes.
Set it in a sunny spot under cover. Wet dust bath material turns to mud and does the hens no good.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.