A-Frame Chicken Coops – 10 Brilliant Plans for Any Experience Level

Building an A-frame coop is fast and easy, even if you are not the most experienced DIYer.

A-Frame chicken coops are a favorite for many chicken owners since they are not only lightweight and portable, but their wide bases give them excellent stability. Moreover, the web is packed to the brim with affordable plans for this style of coop.

And while the A-frame design is fairly simple, there are many unique features that can be added to the structure to make them your own.

Below, we share 10 of our favorite A-frame chicken coop designs with you.

10 A-Frame Chicken Coop Plans to Consider

To find out more about the benefits and drawbacks of A-frame coops, scroll down below the recommended products.

1. Easy Coops 7×6 DIY Chicken Coop Plans (6 chickens)

If you need an A-frame coop that is the right size for half a dozen chickens, the Easy Coops 7×6 DIY Chicken Coop Plans offering 42 square feet of space is a plan worth considering.

Easy Coops put a lot of thought into this design, ensuring that the coop is well-ventilated, insulated, and lit. That way, your chickens are comfortable in warm or cold weather.

The roomy design also makes cleaning and egg collection easy. The shelter is raised up above the ground with room underneath for foraging.

This plan is available for purchase and digial download on Etsy from the EasyCoops store.

Basic Features:

• 42 square feet
• Two nesting boxes
• Up to 6 chickens
• Foundation plans are included

Tips for the Easy Coops 7×6 DIY Chicken Coop Plans (6 chickens)

This plan assumes you will use one nesting box for three hens. So, if you want to change the ratio, you might consider a larger plan from the same designer.

The nice thing are these chicken coop plans is they are all designed by certified professional builders. They also come with detailed step by step instructions & tips to make sure your project is a success.

Best For:

True to its name, Easy Coops has come up with a plan that is truly easy to build. Both the design itself and the simplicity of the instructions make this project a great option for a beginner.

2. Ana White Updated A-Frame Chicken Coop Plans

This is the updated version of the chicken coop plan that Ana White created about a decade ago. You can build it with basic materials and tools.

On either side, there are doors that are perfect for free-ranging chickens. You can add wheels to the coop to move it. Best of all, the plans are free.

Basic Features:

• Accommodates 3-5 chickens
• 10 square feet inside the coop, 40 square feet of run underneath
• Room for 1 built-in nesting box

Tips for the Ana White Updated A-Frame Chicken Coop Plans

Being as this design is meant to incorporate one nesting box, we think it is most suitable for three chickens, not five. But you can always increase all the dimensions if you want to support an additional nesting box and chickens.

Best For:

The greatest appeal of this plan is probably its sheer simplicity. But it is also a great option if you want something that is compact, lightweight, and portable.

3. A-Frame Coop Design by jprussack

These free plans were created by a building designer and consultant in Vancouver. His original project was made largely with salvaged and found supplies, so he was able to put his coop together for just $40.

Its compact, lightweight design makes for excellent portability.

Basic Features:

• Suitable for around 4 chickens
• 6’ long
• 48” wide door

Tips for the A-Frame Coop Design by jprussack

The project’s designer says that while you may be tempted to use nails, screws tend to work better. He adds, “Depending on the boards used for the siding you may need to pre-drill and use smaller screws.”

Best For:

This simple, cost-effective design is suitable for environments where you do not have to worry about predators. If there are predators in your area, you should choose a design that is more secure.

4. Green Willow Homestead: The Mini Chicken Tractor, The Medium Chicken Tractor, and The Mega Chicken Tractor

Our next suggestion is actually a three-in-one recommendation. Green Willow Homestead has put together plans for three sizes of chicken coops.

They are all the same basic design, just scaled up or down. Their names are The Mini Chicken Tractor, The Medium Chicken Tractor, and The Mega Chicken Tractor.

The beauty of this design is a balanced approach between free-ranging your chickens and keeping them safe.

Basic Features:

On the bottom of the A-frame, is the chicken run where they have access to the fresh earth for scratching and pecking.

On top is their hen house, made of white corrugated steel that is impenetrable by predators. And as a bonus the material reflects the sun, keeping the chickens cool in summer.

There are three sizes.

The Mini:

• Sized for 4 to 6 hens, with 1 nesting box
• Measurements: 6 ft w x 8 ft l x 5.5 ft h
• Estimated material cost is about $500

The Medium:

• Sized for 6 to 10 hens with 4 nesting boxes
• Measurements: 6 ft w x 10 ft l x 5.5 ft h
• Estimated material cost is about $600

The Mega:

• Sized for 15 to 20 hens with 4 nesting boxes
• Measurements: 8 ft w x 10 ft l x 7 ft h
• Estimated material cost is about $750

Tips for Green Willow Homestead: The Mini, The Medium, and The Mega                                                                                                           

Worried about snakes? By adding a strip of hardware cloth to the bottom, you can help keep out these predators. Just be aware that it won’t be as easy to move the coop around.

Best For:

Portability is the number one reason to consider this design. The chicken coop was designed to be moved on a daily basis.

And the owner at just 5 foot, 4 inches tall has no problem moving it, so it should be suitable for most people to move by themselves.

You can buy the plans on the GreenWillowHomestead website for about $35 each.

5. Cosmopolitan Cornbread Chicken Coop

This design comes from Constance Smith over at Cosmopolitan Cornbread Chicken Coop.

After designing a variety of chicken coops, she decided this one was her favorite. Benefits she cites include portability, self-cleaning (each time you move the coop), and a simple, fast build.

In her blog post, she lays out pretty detailed instructions with pictures for the build. They include a material list and cutting instructions.

Basic Features:

• Sized for about 15 chickens
• Designed to be pulled like a sled
• Door for easy egg access
• Measurements: 92” long x 64” tall

Tips for the Cosmopolitan Cornbread Chicken Coop

Constance advises that you’ll need either a strong partner or a vehicle to pull it from place to place.

Best For:

If you have a vehicle to move your coop around and you want to keep cleaning and maintenance to a minimum, this design may work for you.

6. Jojochook’s Swing Set to Chicken Coop Conversion

Have you been looking for plans for a walk-in A-frame chicken coop? If so, you may appreciate this DIY project from Jojochook’s Blog.

This is not a complete tutorial and set of detailed plans, but you can follow step by step to see how this chicken coop was built.

Basic Features:

• Walk-in design
• Ready-made frame
• Size and capacity depends on the frame you have

Tips for Jojochook’s Swing Set to Chicken Coop Conversion

This is a project not to build a chicken coop in full, but to convert an existing swing set frame into a coop. So, you will need to base your measurements for the sheeting on the size of the swing set frame you have to work with.

Best For:

Choose this design if you want a chicken coop you can easily walk into to clean.

But note that it is pretty much a wide-open design, with no barrier between the coop and the run. So, if there are predators in your area, it may not be a good choice.

7. A Frame Chicken Coop Tractor by Your Digital Plans

A small portable plan that has a chicken run at the base with an interior living space in the loft. A small ladder leads your flock upstairs to their nesting box and perch.

The top of the chicken coop opens for cleaning and access to your hens. This plan is available for purchase on Etsy.com @ the My Digital Plan store.

Basic Features:

• 40 square feet of run space
• 10 square feet of interior space
• Dimensions are 5 x 8 feet at the base

Tips for the Your Digial Plans A Chicken Coop

Use this plan if you have just a few backyard chickens. With ten square feet living space, it should house 3-4 chickens.

Best For:

If you want a simple, basic coop for the backyard, this design is fairly easy to build.

8. The ReStore A-Frame Chicken Coop

The standout feature of this A-frame chicken coop is its door. You can actually lift up one whole section of the roof on one side.

The story behind the Re-Store is a cool one. They are a non-profit organization that houses recycled building materials for the community as well as vintage and other dontated items.

They have a free download of this plan on their website in PDF format.

Basic Features:

• 6’ long
• Lifting door feature
• 1 nesting box

Tips for Using the ReStore A-Frame Chicken Coop X

Don’t skip step 26. While the 2×2 may seem optional, how functional and helpful the door is really depends on this prop. Having to hold open the door while you try to clean inside would be a pain.

Best For:

If you want a small chicken coop that is easy to clean, this is the one.

The tight quarters of small chicken coops traditionally can make them difficult to clean. But in this case, being able to lift up the roof and fully open up the structure makes it a breeze.

And because it is a small coop, the roof is not too heavy.

9. Flatcity Farms Chicken Coop

The Flatcity Farms Chicken Coop is a beautiful coop that features a run underneath. They designed it to be both functional and act as a centerpiece for their backyard.

Basic Features:

• 4’x4′ footprint
• 53 1/2″ tall
• 69 degree A-frame angle

Tips for the Flatcity Farms Chicken Coop

Full details on dimensions, materials, and tools are included at the source link. Alas, there are no step-by-step instructions. So, we would only recommend you try this project if you are pretty good at reverse-engineering from a few photos.

Best For:

This DIY A-frame coop is suitable for those who are looking for something that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Like the ReStore A-Frame Chicken Coop, this one has a roof you can lift. And the design is beautifully done and pretty cool in just about any backyard.

10. Recycled Pallet A-Frame Chicken Coop

There are no detailed instructions for this DIY A-frame chicken coop project, but the whole thing is based around recycling 3 regular pallets. Being as that is the case, it looks simple to reverse engineer, even for a relative novice.

Basic Features:

• Small chicken coop
• A single shelf serves as a nesting box

Tips for the Recycled Pallet A-Frame Chicken Coop

Be aware that reaching all the way to the back when cleaning out the bottom of the coup could be difficult. You might want to build in doors at both sides.

Best For:

This project may be a good one for beginning DIYers with minimal skills. It is only appropriate if you need a very small coop, however.

Pros and Cons of A-Frame Chicken Coops

Now that you have had a chance to check out our recommended A-frame chicken coop plans, let’s briefly go over the pros and cons for this construction style.

Benefits of Building an A-Frame Chicken Coop

• Even a beginner can construct an A-frame chicken coop with basic tools and instructions.
• It is possible to erect a coop inside a single day.
• You should not need to spend more than a couple hundred dollars to build a high-quality A-frame chicken coop.
• Cheap plans aplenty abound online.
• As A-frame coops are lightweight, you can move them around your yard, presenting chickens with different feeding spots (i.e. with a floorless design).
• The wider-at-the-base triangular design of an A-frame coop is stable.
• A-frame coops are beautiful to look at, adding visual appeal to your yard.

Drawbacks:

• You may not be able to fit as many nesting boxes as you might require in an A-frame coop.
• Ventilating an A-frame chicken coop may be a little more difficult than ventilating a box-shaped coop.
• In some cases, reaching inside to clean out this type of coop may be a challenge. Smart door placement can help.

There are ways you can get around the drawbacks listed above.

A custom ventilation solution may keep your chickens comfortable year-round. As to the nesting boxes, you could always build to larger dimensions and/or just build more than one coop.

Are You Ready To Build Your A-Frame Chicken Coop?

You have now had a chance to check out plans for some of the most well-designed A-frame chicken coops out there. As you can see, many plans for A-frame coops are cheap, and the coops themselves are cost-effective and easy to build.

If you are ready to build your own A-frame chicken coop now, click on any of the links in this article to get your A-frame chicken coop plans.

Enjoy giving your chickens a safe and beautiful place to live!

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