Framing A Chicken Coop Roof

My first chicken coop a converted shed doesn t have eaves and i greatly regret that.

Framing a chicken coop roof.

The purlins should be up on edge for stiffness not laid flat and bolted to the studs with inch carriage bolts not nailed. To make a simple roof join two 40 inch 101 6 cm by 84 inch 213 4 cm pieces of plywood with some inexpensive hinges. From the 2 x 4 inch x 12 foot boards cut three 31 inch lengths to form the floor frame. Be sure to join them along the 84 inch 213 4 cm sides so that the roof with cover the entire chicken coop.

Some of my early houses with nailed on purlins had their roof torn off by high winds. Check to see that there is an overhang at both the front and back of the coop. Eaves are the part of the roof that extends beyond the coop building. You can see these eaves on one of my coops pictured below.

With your materials gathered it s time to cut the frame. All of my other chicken coops were built with eaves that extend 1 2 feet. Should your chicken coop roof have extended eaves. This will eventually become your coop s rafters.