STEP 1 Cut the Rafters
Start by using a power miter saw to cut
the six 2x4 rafters to length. Cut the
bottom end of each rafter to 30°. Mea-
sure up from the bottom end 68 in. and
trim the top end to 60°. (If your miter
saw doesn’t cut to 60°, see the sidebar
on pg. 57.) Next, trim off the pointed
tip at 30° to create a 2-in.-wide f lat top.
Also, cut three 2x4 collar ties to 36 in.
long, mitering each end to 30°.
STEP 2 Build the A-Frames
Fasten two rafters together at the top
with one 4-in.-long decking screw, and
then attach the horizontal collar tie to
the rafters with 2½-in. decking screws
[ 1 ]. Be sure to drill counterbored pilot
holes first. Cut two more 2x4s to 28 in.,
mitering each end to 30°. Fasten these
pieces, called collar tie blocking, to the
collar ties on two of the A-frames. The
two frames with the double-thick col-
lar ties are used at the front and back
of the coop. The remaining A-frame,
which has a single collar tie, is situated
in the center of the coop. Once you’ve
assembled the three A-frames, apply
a coat of semi-transparent stain (we
did light blue) to all surfaces. Staining
the parts as you go is much easier and
neater than trying to apply it once the
coop is fully assembled.
STEP 3 Make the Roof
A 4 x 8–ft. sheet of 5/8-in.-thick tex-
tured plywood siding will keep your
chickens safe and dry. Use a circular
saw to rip the sheet in half leng thwise,
creating t wo 24 x 96–in. panels. Apply
a solid-color stain (ours was barn-door
red) to both sides of each plywood
panel. Fasten one of the roof panels to
one side of the A-frames using 15/8-in.
decking screws [ 2 ].STEP 4 Add Wire and Siding
Staple chicken wire to the lower por-
tion of the rafters[ 3 ]. Then screw a
94-in.-long 2x4—called a side plate—
horizontally over the chicken wire
and across the bottom of the rafters
[ 4 ]. Enclose the triangular openings2 341November/December 2021 55