A 6 x 2 box bank of 12 nest boxes in a plywood carcass on 2x4 legs, with a hinged lid and tilted egg floors.
Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
12Boxes
up to 36Hens
72 x 14 x 49 inSize
6 to 10 hrBuild time
$158.34Materials
Drawings All dimensions in inches
3D viewfinishedFront elevationRight elevationPlan viewfrom above
Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted
Qty
Stock
Length
Part
Cut
2
2x2
72
Landing bar
flat, 3 in out front
1
2x4
65
Base rail front
on edge, between the legs
1
2x4
65
Base rail back
on edge, between the legs
4
2x4
24
Leg
1
2x4
7
Base end left
on edge, between the legs
1
2x4
7
Base end right
on edge, between the legs
Cut list: sheet goods
Part
Stock
Size
Note
Bottom
1/2 ply
72 x 14
cut 72 x 14
Middle
1/2 ply
72 x 14
cut 72 x 14, the floor of the upper row
Back
1/2 ply
72 x 24 1/2
cut 72 x 24 1/2
End left
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
End right
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
Divider 1
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
12 in between dividers
Divider 2
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
12 in between dividers
Divider 3
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
12 in between dividers
Divider 4
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
12 in between dividers
Divider 5
1/2 ply
13 1/2 x 24 1/2
12 in between dividers
Lid
1/2 ply
73 x 16 1/2
hinged at the back, lifts for the eggs
Lip 1
1/2 ply
72 x 4
egg lip, 4 in
Lip 2
1/2 ply
72 x 4
egg lip, 4 in
Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim
2x2 x 8 ft
Landing bar 1 72
2x2 x 8 ft
Landing bar 2 72
2x4 x 8 ft
Base rail front 65Leg 1 24
2x4 x 8 ft
Base rail back 65Leg 2 24
2x4 x 8 ft
Leg 3 24Leg 4 24Base end left 7Base end right 7
Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out
Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ftSheet 2: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ftSheet 3: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Shopping list $158.34 checked / $0.00 estimated
Item
Store
Qty
Each
Line
Note
2x2x8 furring strip
Home Depot
2
$2.97
$5.94
see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x8 stud, SPF
Home Depot
3
$4.15
$12.45
see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheet
Lowe's
3
$32.26
$96.78
see sheet cutting diagrams
Galvanized 6 in strap hinge, each (5-pack $32.99)
Home Depot
2
$6.60
$13.20
lid
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 5 lb box
Home Depot
1
$29.97
$29.97
Total before tax
$158.34
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 1/2 in plywood: the bottom, the middle, the lid, the back, the two ends, the five dividers and the two lips. Each is shown in the sheet layouts.
Screw the legs and the base rails to make the stand, 24 in high. Screw the bottom on, and then the back, ends and dividers on the bottom, 12 in apart.
Screw the middle on the dividers, 12 in above the bottom, and the second set of dividers above it, in line with the lower ones.
Screw the lips on the front of each row, 4 in tall. Cut a 1 in spacing so the nest floor falls 1 in toward the front: shim the back edge of each floor with a 1 in strip and the egg rolls to the lip.
Hinge the lid at the back and fix the two landing bars along the front. Fill each box with 3 in of straw or pine shavings.
Before you start
A 12-hole bank serves 36 hens at one box to three hens. Boxes are 12 x 14 x 12 in, enough for a standard hen.
The floors tilt to the front: an egg rolls into the lip, so it is out of the dirt and the hen cannot sit on it. For a full rollaway, cut a slot.
A bank is a separate unit: bolt it to the wall of any coop or hang it outside with the lid opening to the outside, so you gather eggs without going in.
Draft drawings generated from the model. Build one before selling this plan.