Let’s Talk Chicken Coops (and How Mine Flew Away)

I’m all about finding cost-effective ways to house our chickens—because let’s be honest, those fancy coops at Tractor Supply may look cute, but the price tags? Not so much. I’m a thrifty kind of girl, and with no less than 15 hens at any given time, I need something spacious and functional, not just pretty.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the post where I brag about a Pinterest-worthy setup.
This is the post where I share how my chicken coop literally blew away.

But stay with me—because this idea is still totally doable, and if you learn from my mistake, you might just make it work better than I did.

🛒 The Budget-Friendly Coop Frame

I found a great-looking frame on Amazon that seemed like it could be the perfect base for a large DIY walk-in coop. Affordable, good size, and seemed like something I could build around. Here's the one I used:
👉Click Here

🛠️ My Setup Process

Once I got the frame assembled, it was clear this thing was lightweight—definitely not storm-proof on its own.

So here’s what I added:

• Chicken wire all around the frame

• Scrap corrugated metal sheets along the bottom half (extra predator proofing ✅)

• Corrugated metal roof for cover and rain protection

I was feeling good! The girls were gonna have the luxury coop they deserved. 💅

💨 And Then Oklahoma Happened...

Now, if you’re familiar with Oklahoma weather, you know it’s absolutely unhinged.
Wind gusts one day, a tornado warning the next.

Before I had time to anchor anything down (because, of course, my husband was out of town all week and I was doing this solo), Mother Nature had the audacity to blow my coop into a twisted pile of scrap.

I stood there, heartbroken, staring at what was supposed to be a cozy chicken mansion.

Mother Nature: 1 — Me: 0

💡 What I’d Do Differently (and What You Should Too)

Even though mine flopped (literally), I still think this idea can work.
But here's my biggest advice:

🔨 ANCHOR FIRST. BUILD SECOND.

I don’t care if the forecast says “calm.” If you live anywhere with wild weather, secure your frame down before adding anything else. Cemented posts, deep stakes, sandbags—whatever it takes. Do that step first.

Once anchored, this frame could still make a great:

• Walk-in chicken coop

• Goat shelter

• Portable pen for other livestock

🗨️ Your Turn!

Have you used this Amazon frame for your coop or any other farm use?
I’d love to hear how it worked for you—especially if it stayed on the ground 😅
Drop a comment below and let’s swap ideas!