🖼️
The project:
When my wife casually mentioned she'd love some chickens in the backyard, I gave the classic husband response — enthusiastic in tone, lukewarm in conviction. But a genuine wish to keep her happy, an abundance of spare time, and a supermarket egg shortage conspired to spur me into action. I had no grand plan at the outset, just good intentions and a vague idea of what "a chicken coop" might look like. What emerged surprised even me and delighted my wife. Proof that sometimes the best projects begin not with a blueprint, but simply with the will to try.
- Materials:
The following products from Bunnings were used in the construction of the Chicken Coop.
https://www.bunnings.com.au/colorbond-steel-762-x-16mm-xrw-s-rib-corrugated-42-bmt-steel-roofing-per-metre-deep-ocean_p1140731
https://www.bunnings.com.au/100-x-100mm-2-4m-post-h4-treated-pine-sawn-cca-2-4m_p0051257
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-aquanamel-semi-gloss-white-enamel-paint-4l_p1400051
https://www.bunnings.com.au/dulux-4l-1step-prep-primer-sealer-undercoat_p1370234
https://www.bunnings.com.au/solar-wall-light-aluminium-astin-sinclair_p0698470
https://www.bunnings.com.au/1200-x-596mm-18mm-plywood-pine-bc-grade_p0390159
https://www.bunnings.com.au/goliath-150mm-chrome-plated-handle_p4230073
https://www.bunnings.com.au/lemaar-dda-d-pull-300-x-75-x-2-5mm-stainless-steel-on-plate_p4020495
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-65mm-chrome-plated-cabin-hook_p4080501
https://www.bunnings.com.au/pinnacle-150mm-stainless-steel-heavy-duty-tee-hinge_p4150034
https://www.bunnings.com.au/titan-14g-x-75mm-cl3-gal-bugle-batten-screw-100-pack_p0579092
https://www.bunnings.com.au/titan-12g-x-50mm-class-3-galvanised-polydome-roof-screw-200-pack_p0912034
https://www.bunnings.com.au/140-x-45mm-outdoor-framing-h3-treated-pine-5-4m_p8032274
https://www.bunnings.com.au/cabot-s-4l-merbau-aquadeck-exterior-decking-oil_p1520084
https://www.bunnings.com.au/120mm-nellie-kelly-grafted-black-passionfruit-passiflora-edulius_p3661562
https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-1800-x-600mm-pre-oiled-merbau-garden-fence-panel_p8500298
https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-42-x-42mm-2-7m-merbau-pre-oiled-solid-screening_p0517074
https://www.bunnings.com.au/42-x-11mm-5-4m-moulding-white-pine-fj-primed-dar_p0020887
https://www.bunnings.com.au/92-x-11mm-5-4m-moulding-white-pine-fj-primed-dar_p0021266
https://www.bunnings.com.au/specrite-70-x-19mm-2-7m-merbau-pre-oiled-solid-screening_p0517075
- Tools:
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ryobi-18v-one-4-piece-kit-r18x4c1422b_p0539762
https://www.bunnings.com.au/trojan-20oz-framing-steel-hammer_p0492158
https://www.bunnings.com.au/paint-partner-4-piece-paint-brush-set_p0794487
https://www.bunnings.com.au/paint-partner-270mm-roller-tray_p0794475
https://www.bunnings.com.au/paint-partner-230mm-roller-frame_p0202230
https://www.bunnings.com.au/uni-pro-230mm-you-can-do-it-microfibre-paint-roller-cover-3-pack-10mm-nap_p1660693
- Step 1:
Step one was consulting the Port Stephens Council website to understand the regulations governing backyard chickens. With those requirements clear, I turned my attention to the yard itself, scouting for the ideal spot to site the coop.
- Step 2:
Step two was designing a coop suited to the space available in the yard. With the design settled, construction began with the chicken house itself, starting from the ground up with the foundations. The timber used, pictured below, is detailed in the materials list above.
- Step 3:
With the base secured, the floor was laid and the wall frames raised. For this build, I turned to the Ryobi tool set, which proved reliable, intuitive, and perfectly suited to the task at hand.
- Step 4:
With the wall framing complete, I fixed V-Grooved plywood lining panels to the exterior and fitted the windows. Bunnings proved a wonderful source for almost every material in this build, though windows were one item I had to source elsewhere, as they weren't part of their range.
- Step 5:
With construction of the external walls complete, it was time to apply an undercoat. The Dulux 4L 1 Step Prep, Primer, Sealer & Undercoat proved perfect for the job, offering excellent coverage and a smooth base for the topcoat to follow.
- Step 6:
Next came a splash of colour. Having settled on Deep Ocean for the corrugated roof, I chose a matching Dulux paint for the walls, tying the whole structure together beautifully.
- Step 7:
With the paintwork complete, it was time to attach the coop doors and white external trim, before preparing the base for the roof to follow.
- Step 8:
With the roof in place, work began on the first section of the enclosure. Beneath the coop, I fitted silver wire mesh panels, keeping the chickens safely contained while preserving a clear view through to the garden beyond.
- Step 9:
The next challenge was designing an enclosure that balanced several priorities: generous space for the chickens to free-range, protection from predators, good ventilation, and easy access for feeding, watering, and cleaning. I was also determined to preserve the established trees, so the garden retained its character while offering the chickens natural shelter and shade overhead. Through the creative use of merbau, chicken wire, and some strategically placed posts, I was able to bring this vision to life.
- Step 10:
With construction complete, I applied a couple of coats of Cabot's Aquadeck Exterior Decking Oil to the merbau, then planted a Nellie Kelly passionfruit vine in the corner of the enclosure — hoping the rain and nutrient-rich runoff from the chickens would reward me with a bumper crop in years to come.
