Chicken Coop Plans - 5'x6' - Cottage Style w Cedar Shakes

DIY Chicken Coop Plans
Model: 5ft x 6ft Cottage Coop

Lovely cottage-style DIY chicken coop plans for 6-10 chickens with cedar shake roof.

Estimated total build cost: $800-950 USD

We wanted to build an affordable coop that fit nicely into our suburban neighborhood, that would be an aesthetic feature of our backyard and provide a safe and enjoyable habitat for our chickens. This easy-to-implement design is a great project for first-time coop builders or if you're looking to upgrade your backyard chicken coop!

The Cottage Coop was developed in CAD by a design engineer with nearly 20 years experience. It has been a great family project and is now home to Poppy, Goldie, Buttercup, and Fuzzy Feet.

The plans are provided as a PDF instant download file. This design package includes:
➤ comprehensive plans with dimensioned CAD drawings and instructions
➤ pictures of the construction process
➤ detailed materials lists
➤ lumber cut lists
➤ recommended tool list
➤ contact information to reach the designer with any questions
➤ Email support can be provided in Spanish as well.


Design Highlights:
➤ Floor square footage 5'x6' (not including nest boxes)
➤ External height 6-1/2'
➤ Option to increase height so that space below coop can be used as part of a run
➤ Three (3) nesting boxes and ability to maintain separate bedding, keeping the nest boxes and eggs cleaner
➤ Cedar shake installation details (don't be intimidated! It's easy and so worth it!)
➤ optional features such as a sliding door, bedding retainer, and poop board
➤ All measurements are provided in imperial units and instructions are in English



★ Design Features ★

This coop is designed optimally for about 6-10 chickens, depending on their size. Most readily available commercial coops are undersized. One adult chicken should have a minimum of 2 square feet of floor space but optimally 3-4 square feet should be allotted per adult bird (not including the nesting boxes).

Additionally, coops often have more nesting boxes than are needed. It is recommended to have 1 nesting box per 3-4 birds (they often end up using the same box anyway).

Ventilation in this coop is accomplished through the open eaves under the roof and the main sash window, if opened. Ventilation is critical to keep humidity down, but too much ventilation can create uncomfortable drafts. This design allows airflow above the living area and roosting area of the chickens and eliminates drafts where the chickens spend their time.

Lighting: having lots of sunlight inside the coop facilitates the chickens' natural molting and egg laying cycles and also improves visibility when cleaning the interior. This coop has windows on two sides for all-day natural light supply.

Roost bars: Coops should provide a minimum of about 10" of roosting space per chicken, at least 18" off the ground. Roost bars should also be located away from the nest box and chicken door to keep chicken poop away from busy areas. This design takes all of these considerations into account, and also keeps the roost bar supports off the ground for easy cleaning of the coop floor and bedding.

Estimated construction cost of this coop is approximately $800-$950, depending on your hardware choices and local lumber prices. This is a 2023 estimate.



Feel free to send a chat if you have any questions before purchasing.

Se puede comunicar en español tambien.

📸Check us out on Instagram for more inspiration @yoderscottagecoops