This DIY cottage core chicken coop combines beauty and functionality, suitable for any small backyard.
We decided last spring to get baby chicks. We knew we wanted to create a chicken coop that wasn’t only functional but that added beauty to our backyard.
After all, we would be spending a lot of time out here collecting eggs, feeding chickens and cleaning the coop. Why not make it beautiful?
Building our chicken coop
We built our coop while the chicks were inside our brooder box for 6 weeks. This gave us plenty of time to research, plan and build. You can find the plans we used to built our chicken coop here.
The coop is 4×4, equipped with 3 laying boxes. This is suitable for 6 chicks.
The front door is super large, which gives you easy access inside to clean the coop while there is a smaller door for your chickens to enter in and out.
Although our chickens free range, we do plan to build a matching run this summer. A run will keep your chickens safe from predators (and also the poo off your porch!).
Chicken Coop Details
After building the coop, it was time for paint. I knew I wanted to tie in some blue to match the house while leaving most of the coop a creamy white.
Ultimately, we decided on Sherwin Williams, Alabaster for the frame, nesting boxes and interior of the coop and went with Sherwin Williams, Buxton Blue for the two doors.
We left the ladder unstained. Which you can see, the chicks didn’t mind as they were dying to check out their new home, anyhow.
Then it was time to decorate the chicken coop
Now the fun began, Decorating the chicken coop.
Now, I know what you are thinking, who would decorate something to get poo’d on? But in all honesty, our chickens free range during the day and only sleep in their coop besides when they come in to lay their eggs and nearly a year later, everything pretty much looks the same.
As always, we were trying to keep this DIY budget friendly so, we shopped around our house for decor items first. Most items we ended up using were items that I had thrifted prior. The three chicken related signs came from our local dollar general.
I made the curtains from fabric placemats that I thrifted a few weeks prior for $2. A staple gun and ten minutes later, the chickens had curtains, tiebacks and all. Fancy, huh?
Believe it or not, the curtains actually serve a purpose. Curtains provide the chickens with a more private, secluded spot to lay their eggs although I have to admit, they are probably my favorite part of the coop.
Next, we repurposed an old shutter to act as a ladder for the chicks to climb up to roost.
All in all, we had less than $10 in thrifted items for decor. So if it got messed up later, it was okay.
Moving the chickens in the coop
After keeping our chicks inside the brooder box in our 900sqft house (with 2 kids and a very pregnant momma) for the last 6 weeks, I would say our ladies were more than ready to have a cute and functional space to enjoy and we were more than ready to stop explaining to all of our visitors that our home would not forever smell like a barnyard!
Me and the girls would take the little chicks out daily for some sunshine and snacks! We slowly eased the chicks into their new home.
I sure miss them being little chicks. The little chirp was the sweetest spring time noise.
Come see our coop decorated for Fall!
Come see how we get our backyard coop ready for fall by decorating and cleaning the coop out. Ps….We added that run onto the chicken coop!
SEE RELATED POST
- Getting your coop ready for fall
- Chicken themed birthday party idea-This chick is three!
- 5 cottage style home ideas
- Fall decor for a small front porch
So there you have it, friends. I hope you are feeling inspired to build your own backyard chicken coop, soon!
If you loved this farmhouse style chicken coop, I just know you will love this backyard chicken party!
Let me know what you think in the comments,
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