How to Build a Simple Hen House

Choose a level site where you will build your hen house. Place the house in an area with good soil drainage so the water will run off instead of forming muddy puddles. Put the building far enough away from your house to avoid the ammonia-like odors associated with chicken droppings. Locate the hen house near a water source to avoid having to carry water too far. Orient the building to face south during the cold, inclement winter months. Build it where it will get maximum sun exposure for extra warmth.

Procure a ready-made plan for your hen house or design one yourself. Draw out the design on paper before beginning construction. Design a simple, shed-like building with a chicken wire-enclosed run area. Allow 4.5 square feet of room per chicken. Include windows for proper ventilation and air circulation. Have a hatch door open into the run. Estimate the amount of materials you will need by the measurements in your plans.

Level the site and build forms for a cement floor. Make the forms out of 2-by-4s nailed or screwed together edge up and set into the ground. Level the forms. Mix up the cement in a wheelbarrow and pour the floor. Measure and saw up the 2-by-4s for your wall frames and roof rafters. Dig four holes at the corners of the building and cement in pole barn poles. Plumb the poles. Level and nail your framing material horizontally to the poles to provide a base for the siding.

Screw the 3/4-inch exterior-grade plywood to the frame for the walls and roof. Attach tar paper to the roof with roofing adhesive and staples for an underlay base. Shingle the roof using roofing nails. Frame in the outdoor run area with 2-by-4s. Cover it with securely stapled chicken wire or fencing. Bury the fencing at least 8 inches around the perimeter. Frame in and level the rough openings of the windows and doors. Line up the window's nailing fins against the frame. Set the sill in first, then tip the window in and nail it. Nail in the leveled door jambs. Set the door in and shim it. Screw in the hinges and mount the doorknob and latching hardware.

Build perches at the top of the house for the chickens to roost on at night. Allow 9 inches of perch space per chicken. Use small enough poles for the chickens to wrap their claws around. Screw in the round hardware brackets to hold the ends of the poles securely in place. Use 1-by-12 and 1-by-4 boards to construct 12- by 14-inch nesting boxes on shelves along the walls or screw in five-gallon buckets sideways. Fill the nests with wood shavings, straw or shredded paper for nesting material.