Building a Chicken Coop: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Keeping your own chickens – fresh eggs straight from the garden – it sounds idyllic and it is! But the dream starts with the right foundation: a safe, species-appropriate chicken coop. If you want to build your own chicken coop, you need a well-thought-out plan, the right materials, and some basic knowledge about the needs of chickens. In this comprehensive guide (updated 2026), we'll show you how to build a chicken coop step-by-step that provides your animals with a species-appropriate home – and brings you years of joy.
Table of Contents ▼
- Planning: How big should the chicken coop be?
- Materials and Tools
- Step-by-Step Building Instructions
- Electricity, Light, and Water in the Chicken Coop
- Securing the Outdoor Enclosure Properly
- Hygiene and Care
- Legal Basis in Switzerland
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions about Building Your Own Chicken Coop
- At least 1 m² indoor coop area per chicken (Swiss Animal Welfare Act) – 1.5–2 m² recommended.
- Foundation and floor must be dig-proof – foxes, martens, and rats are the biggest threats.
- Secure all runs with poultry netting (max. 25 mm mesh) and 30 cm deep ground mesh.
- In Switzerland, registration is mandatory for all poultry holdings – including hobby farms.
- For coops larger than 8–10 m², obtain a building permit depending on the canton.
1. Planning: How big should the chicken coop be?
Before the first nail is hammered, there's the planning. The size of the coop depends on the number of your chickens. As a rule of thumb:
- At least 1 m² coop area per chicken
- Outdoor enclosure: at least 4 m² per chicken
- Ceiling height: at least 1.80 m
- Nesting box: 1 nest per 4–5 hens
- 1.5–2 m² coop area per chicken
- For 5–6 chickens: approx. 8–10 m² coop
- Outdoor enclosure: 25–30 m²
- It's better to plan generously – you'll quickly want more chickens!
Consider the cardinal direction for the location. A south or east orientation of the coop ensures optimal sun exposure and helps keep the coop warm in winter.
2. Materials and Tools
For a sturdy wooden chicken coop, you'll need the following basic materials:
- Square timbers 10 x 10 cm or 8 x 8 cm for the framework
- Tongue-and-groove boards or OSB panels for walls and floor
- Roof battens and roofing felt or bitumen shingles
- Pressure-treated wood for all ground-level parts
- Exterior paint or wood preservative glaze (non-toxic, animal-friendly)
- Rabbit wire or poultry netting (max. 25 mm mesh size)
- Coop bolts, hinges made of stainless steel or galvanized steel
- Concrete slabs or foundation for the base plate
- Screws and nails (galvanized)
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3. Step-by-Step Building Instructions
A stable foundation protects against foxes, martens, and rats. Options: pour a concrete slab (approx. 10 cm thick) for permanent coops, concrete block spot foundations as a cheaper alternative, or a sub-construction of pressure-treated wood on concrete feet for easily movable coops. The floor must be dig-proof – a foundation slab or buried wire mesh (at least 30 cm deep) is mandatory.
Build the basic frame from square timbers. Erect the four corner posts and connect them with horizontal crossbeams. Fill the wall surfaces with tongue-and-groove boards or OSB panels (at least 2 cm thick). Seal joints, plan at least 2 ventilation openings, and secure them with wire mesh.
A gable roof or pent roof drains rainwater optimally. Install roof beams with a slope of at least 10°, screw on roof battens, lay roofing felt underneath, and apply bitumen corrugated sheets or roof shingles. Overhang of at least 30 cm on all sides – 50–60 cm on the south side for optimal shade in summer.
Plan a large cleaning door (min. 70 x 80 cm), one or more windows with wire mesh protection, and a chicken flap (approx. 25 x 30 cm) for access to the outside. Important: Solid bolts on all doors – martens can easily open standard snap locks!
Perches: approx. 25–30 cm per chicken, round (Ø 4–5 cm), 50–80 cm above the floor. Nesting boxes: 1 nest (30 x 30 cm) per 4–5 hens, slightly raised and darkened, filled with straw or wood shavings. Floor: 5–10 cm wood shavings, straw, or sand.
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4. Electricity, Light, and Water in the Chicken Coop
If you want to ensure good egg-laying activity for your chickens even in winter, you should consider lighting. 14–16 hours of light daily is optimal – a simple LED timer is completely sufficient. For water supply, hanging nipples or automatic drinkers are recommended, as they are more hygienic than open bowls. In winter, these must be heated.
- LED timer for 14–16 hours of light per day in winter
- Automatic drinkers instead of open bowls – more hygienic and easier
- Plan for frost-proof drinkers for the Swiss winter
- Install all cables and sockets splash-proof (IP44 or higher)
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5. Securing the Outdoor Enclosure (Run) Properly
The run must also withstand predators. A securely fenced outdoor enclosure protects your chickens from foxes, martens, and birds of prey – around the clock.
- Poultry netting or rabbit wire – max. 25 mm mesh size
- At least 1.80 m high fence posts
- Bury wire mesh in the ground: 30 cm deep and 30 cm horizontally outwards
- Net or foil roof – against birds of prey and rain
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6. Hygiene and Care: How to Keep Your Coop Clean
Regular coop hygiene is essential for the health of your animals. Diseases usually arise where bedding is not changed often enough and drinkers are not cleaned regularly enough.
Collect eggs, refill water and food, remove coarse dirt.
Loosen bedding, clean drinkers and feed troughs, check perches for mite infestation.
Completely change bedding, scrape coop walls and perches.
Complete thorough cleaning with coop-appropriate disinfectant.
Sprinkle diatomaceous earth regularly into the bedding and under the perches. This works preventatively against coop mites and external parasites – completely natural and chemical-free.
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7. Legal Basis in Switzerland
In Switzerland, clear regulations apply to chicken keeping. Knowing these avoids annoying rework and expensive fines.
Every poultry holding – including hobby holdings with a few animals – must be registered with the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (BLV). This has been mandatory since 2010 and serves to monitor animal health. For coops over 8–10 m², a building permit is required depending on the canton – inquire with the municipal administration beforehand!
- Animal Welfare Ordinance (TSchV): Check minimum areas and equipment requirements
- Registration with the BLV (Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office)
- Inquire about building permits at the municipal administration (from approx. 8–10 m²)
- Choose coop location so that neighbours are not excessively bothered by odours
Conclusion: Building Your Own Chicken Coop is Worth It!
With a bit of planning, the right materials, and this guide, you can build a chicken coop that will provide your animals with a species-appropriate home for decades. The initial investment pays off – not only with fresh eggs, but also with the joy these charming animals bring.
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