DIY Saltbox Chicken Coop Plans: 16x8 Walk-In, 16x10 Covered Run

DIY saltbox chicken coop plans for a 16x8 walk-in coop and a 16x10 covered run under one long catslide roof, for 20-25 hens. Step-by-step PDF with cut lists.

- Product: Hollis colonial saltbox walk-in chicken coop with a covered catslide run, building plans
- Format: Digital PDF download
- Pages: 70
- Paper Size: US Letter
- Units: Imperial (feet and inches); main sizes also given in mm
- Dimensions: 16' x 8' coop and 16' x 10' run (16' x 18' overall framing); 18' 1-1/2" L x 19' 1-1/2" D over the roof; 13' 0" to the peak
- Style: New England saltbox with a 12/12 front roof and a long 6/12 catslide, golden-ochre lap siding, white trim and a barn-red door
- Skill Level: Intermediate
- Includes: 30 illustrated build steps, shopping list, master cut list, cut diagrams, panel layouts, framing drawings, rafter and cutting templates, siding course tables, elevations and floor plan
- Best For: Backyard flocks of 20 to 25 hens
- Delivery: Instant PDF download after purchase, no physical item shipped

## What's Included in This Saltbox Chicken Coop Plan

The Hollis is a little New England saltbox. From the front it looks like a cottage with lap siding, white trim, two casement windows with flower boxes and an outside nest box between them. From the side it shows the classic saltbox profile: a steep 12/12 front slope over a low front wall and a long 6/12 catslide that rises over the tall back wall and sweeps down over the run, so coop and run sit under one roof.

- 16' x 8' walk-in coop with 114 sq ft of floor inside, 6' 6-1/4" high at the front wall and 11' 1/2" under the ridge beam
- 16' x 10' covered walk-in run with 149 sq ft of ground under the catslide and a 35-1/2" x 74-3/4" run door
- Barn-red coop door 32" x 78-1/2" with a four-lite window in the left end
- Outside nest box on the front wall with 5 nests and a shingled lid for collecting eggs from outside
- Four 86" roost bars with 344" of perch over a removable dropping board
- Guillotine pop door with a ramp into the run
- Two six-lite casement windows, two clerestory windows high in the back wall, three louvered end vents, a screened front eave and a screened high vent along the back wall
- Doubled 2x10 ridge beam on three 4x4 posts, architectural asphalt shingles on 1/2" plywood
- 1/2" hardware cloth on the run with a 24" apron against digging predators
- Estimated material cost of about $6,500 to $8,400 (prices vary by region and season)

## Covered Chicken Run for 20 to 25 Hens

The coop gives 4.6 to 5.7 sq ft per hen and the covered run 6.0 to 7.5 sq ft per hen, so this large chicken coop houses 20 to 25 chickens; add free-range time for 25 hens. The 5 nests follow the rule of one nest for every 5 hens, and the four roosts give about 14" of perch per hen at 25.

## File Format, Paper Size and Measurements

The plan is a 70-page PDF on US Letter paper. All dimensions are in feet and inches for standard US lumber, with the main sizes also listed in millimeters. Drawings are not to scale, so always use the written dimensions.

## Who This Walk-In Chicken Coop Plan Is For

This is an intermediate build for DIY builders who are comfortable with a circular saw, a jigsaw, a drill/driver, an impact driver and basic framing. Two people can build it in about 10 to 12 weekend days, plus painting. Spring is the busiest building season, so fall and winter are a good time to price lumber and prepare the site before new chicks arrive. It also makes a practical gift for a backyard chicken keeper.

## How to Use the Plan

1. Buy the plan and download the PDF.
2. Print the shopping list and the master cut list, or open them on a tablet.
3. Buy the lumber, panels, roofing and hardware.
4. Follow the 30 build steps in order, from the site layout to the final details and move-in.

## Digital Product Note

This is a digital download. No physical item is shipped. The PDF is available for instant download right after purchase.

## Terms of Use

This plan is for personal use. You may build as many coops as you like for yourself. You may not resell, share or publish the PDF, its drawings or its renders, and you may not build coops from it for sale without written permission.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What is a saltbox chicken coop?

A saltbox chicken coop has a short, steep front roof and a long, lower back roof. In this plan the long 6/12 catslide roofs the run with the same rafters that roof the coop, so there are no valleys or flashing between coop and run.

### What size chicken coop do I need for 25 chickens?

For a chicken coop for 25 chickens, plan both coop floor and run space. This plan gives 114 sq ft inside the coop and 149 sq ft in the covered run, or 4.6 and 6.0 sq ft per hen at 25 hens.

### Can I make the covered run deeper?

Not by stretching the catslide, because it would get too low at the back. Add a separate open run beyond the run beam instead, joined by a second door.

### Do I need a building permit for this chicken coop?

It depends on your town. The coop floor is 128 sq ft, the roofed area about 347 sq ft and the peak about 13 ft, so check your local rules before you build.

### How do I download the PDF after purchase?

After checkout you get a download link on the order confirmation page and by email. Click it to download the PDF and save it to your computer, tablet or phone.

## More Building Plans from KRMPLANS

Browse the KRMPLANS shop for more chicken coop plans, sheds, greenhouses and cabins. If you have a question about this plan, send us a message and we will be happy to help.