Chicken House Plans - Chicken Brooder

Materials for this chicken house plans project:

• Cypress or any soft wood.
• 8 pcs. 7/8"x 6 1/2"x20" S 2 S Sides and roof.
• 7 pcs. 7/8"x 4 1/2"x25" S 2 S Back, back door and roof.
• 3 pcs. 7/8"x 6 1/2"x25" S 2 S Bottom.
• 2 pcs. 7/8"x 2"xl8" S 2 S Bottom battens.
• 2 pcs. 7/8"x 6"x25" S 2 S Front.
• 2 pcs. 7/8"x 7"xl2" S 2 S Front.
• 1 pc. 7/8"xl0"x30" S 2 S Roof.
• 4 pes. 3/8"x 1 3/4"x20" S 2 S Roof strips.
• 2 pcs. 7/8"x 2"xl2" S 2 S Roof door battens.
• 2 pcs. 7/8"x2"xl8" S 2 S Front door step.
• 7 pcs. 7/8"x 2"x 4" S 2 S Runway.
• 6 pcs. 7/8"x 2"x25" S2S Runway and door.
• 1 gross small staples. 10 ft. 12" poultry net.
• 1 pc. fly screen 12"xl8". 1 yard 24" poultry net.
• 3 pair screen door hinges. 6 doz. 6d fin. nails.
• 1 pair tight pin butts. 6 doz. 8d fin. nails.
• 3 screen door knobs. 1 doz. 1/2" corrugated nails.

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The Chicken Brooder Specifications

The Bottom

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The bottom may be made of any number of boards; it will not be necessary to join their edges. Nail the bottom boards on the battens, then cut the bottom the size shown in the drawing.

The Ends

The ends of this chicken house plans project, must be made of several boards. They may be cut the proper length and toe-nailed together, or they may be fastened with corrugated nails. Make these two ends, then lay out and cut the gables third-pitch. Be sure the two ends are exactly the same size in every way. With the compasses lay out the ventilator holes. Bore a hole to start and saw them out with the compass saw.

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Front And Back

Prepare the front and back sides. They may be made of several boards nailed together.

The Roof

If possible the front portion of the roof should be one wide board; the rear portion, which receives the door, may be made up of several pieces, provided small strips are tacked over the cracks in the same manner in which the door cracks are protected. The door is fastened in position by hinges at the top, as shown in the drawing of this chicken house plans project.

The Rear Door

The rear door is for the purpose of cleaning out the house. It is not expected to be used to put in chickens; this is to be done at the top door. Notice that this small door also has battens to keep it from warping.

The Front Door

The front door is a mitered frame assembled with corrugated nails. It is covered with screen wire and trimmed with small binding strips. The ventilator holes should also be covered with screen wire. This makes the house rat proof.

The Runway

The frame of the runway is made up of strips fastened with plain butt joints. In cutting the material for this runway care should be exercised to cut opposite sides the same length so it will be square when completed. The door of the runway is a mitered frame construction, the same as the front door to the house; it is also fastened with corrugated nails.

The entire runway should be covered with poultry net, 1" mesh. The door to the runway and both doors to the chicken house plans project should be hung with screen door hinges. This will insure their holding shut without any fastenings and will also allow them to stand open when desired.

Assembling

Assemble the bottom ends and sides with plain butt joints. Nail all the joints securely, testing frequently with the try-square to make sure that all angles are right angles.

Finishing

As this chicken house plans project is to be exposed to the weather, it should be finished with one or two coats of paint. In this lesson no suggestions are offered for original designs; there are, however, a great many ideas which will no doubt occur to you in the construction of this piece of work. The size, shape of the house and the runway may be made to suit your needs.

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