1
Posts
Four 4x4 posts cut to 66-3/4" carry the structure from grade to the top plate.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post A | 4 | 66-3/4" | 4x4 |
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4x6 Duck House Plans for 3-4 Ducks (Free PDF)
4x6 Duck House with 4x12 Run: 16 sq ft of coop and 48 sq ft of screened run for 3-4 ducks. Dimensioned drawings, a complete material list, and every cut length across 19 assembly steps. Beginner build, two weekends (16-24 hrs).
Every dimension, spec table and cut list below is free on this page.
Isometric Overview
The cover sheet from the plan book — the accurate geometry behind the image above. Every dimension, spec and cut length on this page is computed from this same model, so the drawing and the tables cannot disagree.
Specifications
| Coop footprint | 4 ft × 6 ft — 16 sq ft of bird floor |
|---|---|
| Run | 4 ft × 12 ft (48 sq ft), screened |
| Overall length | 216" coop + run |
| Peak height | 85-5/16" (12" roof rise) |
| Access | Reach-in — 30" × 30" hinged panel |
| Interior wall height | 48" |
| Floor height | 8" off grade — screened bay underneath |
| Capacity | 3-4 ducks |
| Nest boxes | 2 in a 34-1/4" bank |
| Ventilation | 3.4 sq ft across 2 windows |
| Floor framing | 6 joists at 16" OC, 42" clear span |
| Build time | Two weekends (16-24 hrs) |
| Difficulty | Beginner |
| Materials cost | $2,150–$2,800 at 2026 prices |
What's Inside the Plans
Sample sheets from the complete 44-page plan book — dimensioned drawings, cut tables and build references drawn at print quality. The previews below are watermarked; the book is not. Everything published on this page stays free.
Material List
The complete bill of materials. Quantities carry no waste allowance — add two or three extra boards if you are new to framing.
| Material | Size | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| 1x2 lumber | 8 feet | 4 pcs |
| 1x3 lumber | 8 feet | 1 pcs |
| 1x4 lumber | 8 feet | 3 pcs |
| 2x2 lumber | 8 feet | 3 pcs |
| 2x4 lumber | 14 feet | 4 pcs |
| 2x4 lumber | 8 feet | 44 pcs |
| 2x6 lumber | 8 feet | 11 pcs |
| 4x4 post (ground contact) | 8 feet | 7 pcs |
| 3/4" plywood | 4' x 8' | 5 pcs |
| 1/2" plywood (partition + header spacers) | 4' x 8' | 1 pcs |
| Lap siding | 12 ft, 8-1/4in exposure | 15 pcs (~100 sq ft of wall) |
| Corrugated metal roofing | 26" x 6 ft | 4 panels |
| Roof screws, neoprene washer | 1-1/2" | 160 pcs |
| Drip edge / eave closure strip | 10 ft | 4 pcs |
| 1/4" hardware cloth, 19 ga | 36" roll | 100 ft + 25 ft (101 ft needed) |
| Fender washers + screws for cloth | 1" washer | 404 pcs |
| Heavy-duty staples | 1/2" | 1 box (1000) |
| Coop windows | 18" x 23" | 2 |
| Pier blocks | solid concrete deck block | 12 pcs |
| Gravel, compacted under each block | 3/4" clean | 11 cu ft |
| Coarse sand or 3/8in drain rock (run floor) | 3-4in deep | 1 cu yd |
| 2-1/2" exterior screws | 5 lb box | 3 boxes |
| 1-1/2" exterior screws | 5 lb box | 2 boxes |
| 4" structural screws | — | 24 pcs |
| 3/8" x 4" lag bolts (run to coop) | — | 8 pcs |
| Siding nails or screws | 5 lb box | 2 boxes |
| Exterior caulk | 10 oz tube | 3 tubes |
| Exterior primer + paint | 1 gal each | 1 + 1 |
| Hinges | — | 9 (4 openable parts, buy in pairs) |
| Two-action latches | — | 4 |
| Sheet vinyl or EPDM pond liner | 64" x 88" | 1 pc (one piece — turned 8" up every wall) |
| Mineral-surface roll roofing (ramp surfacing) | 36in x 36 ft roll | 1 roll (9 sq ft of ramp; rubber stair tread or sanded porch paint also work) |
| Rubber or heavy canvas (nest entry curtains) | 10" x 14" | 2 pcs (darkness is what the box is for) |
| Large-flake pine shavings or chopped straw | compressed bale | 1 to fill + ~1/month (1.7 kg/week for 4 ducks) — NEVER cedar |
| 3/8" drain rock (drip-zone pit) | 6in deep | 2 cu ft (under the 24" slat platform) |
Nominal vs actual: the list uses nominal sizes (2×4), the drawings use finished sizes (1-1/2" × 3-1/2"). Check your own stock before cutting.
Floor Framing
6 joists at 16" on centre running the short direction, rim doubled on all four sides, 42" clear span — comfortably inside the published span tables, so no intermediate support is needed. True 16" spacing means plywood seams land on framing.
The 19 Assembly Steps
Every step, with the cut list it needs. The summaries here are the short version — the complete 44-page book carries the full written instruction for each one, plus the stop-and-measure checkpoints.
Every cut length below is computed from the same geometry that draws the PDF, so the numbers on this page and the numbers in the plan set cannot disagree.
2
Base supports
The base ring ties the four posts into a rigid square at grade. Use the 4-inch screws here — this joint carries the racking load for the life of the coop.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base support A (front/back) | 2 | 41" | 4x4 | |
| Base support B (sides) | 2 | 65" | 4x4 | |
| Base blocking | 8 | 20-1/2" | 2x4 |
3
Floor joists
Joists sit 8" above grade on 16" centres, running the short direction across 42" in 2x6, with the rim doubled on all four sides.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rim joist (long sides) | 4 | 72" | 2x6 | doubled |
| Floor joist | 6 | 42" | 2x6 | 16" OC, last bay short |
4
Floor deck, liner and the drip zone
Deck the floor in 3/4" plywood, notched 3-1/2" square at each corner so it drops cleanly around the posts.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floor panel | 1 | 48" x 72" | 3/4" plywood | notch corners |
| Floor liner | 1 | 64" x 88" | sheet vinyl or EPDM | one piece, turned 8" up every wall |
| Liner batten | 4 | cut to fit | 1x2 | traps the liner ABOVE the litter line, all four walls |
5
Wall framing — the method
Every wall is framed FLAT ON THE DECK and then stood up. That is the whole trick: you are working on a level surface, gravity holds the parts where you put them, and you can push the frame square before a single screw goes in.
5a
Front wall (low eave)
The low side. It carries the door and most of the glazing.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bottom plate | 1 | 65" | 2x4 | sits flat on the deck — cut out at the doors AFTER standing |
| B Top plate | 1 | 65" | 2x4 | first plate over the studs |
| C Cap plate (upper top plate) | 1 | 62" | 2x4 | laps the corner — long walls SHORT both ends, end walls LONG both ends |
| D Common stud | 2 | 48" | 2x4 | 16in OC, crown out |
| E King stud (full height, beside the opening) | 4 | 48" | 2x4 | full height, outside the jack |
| F Jack stud (carries the header) | 2 | 44-1/2" | 2x4 | carries the header, sits ON the bottom plate |
| G Jack stud (carries the header) | 2 | 41-1/2" | 2x4 | carries the header, sits ON the bottom plate |
| H Header | 2 | 33" | 2x4 | two pieces + a 1/2in plywood spacer = 3-1/2in thick, flush both faces |
| I Header | 2 | 21" | 2x4 | two pieces + a 1/2in plywood spacer = 3-1/2in thick, flush both faces |
| J Rough sill | 1 | 21" | 2x4 | rough sill under the window |
| K Cripple under the sill | 3 | 17" | 2x4 | between bottom plate and rough sill |
| L Cripple over the header | 3 | 3" | 2x4 | between header and top plate |
5b
Back wall (high eave)
The HIGH side — its studs are longer than the front wall's by the full rise of the roof.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bottom plate | 1 | 65" | 2x4 | sits flat on the deck — cut out at the doors AFTER standing |
| B Top plate | 1 | 65" | 2x4 | first plate over the studs |
| C Cap plate (upper top plate) | 1 | 62" | 2x4 | laps the corner — long walls SHORT both ends, end walls LONG both ends |
| D Common stud | 2 | 58-1/4" | 2x4 | 16in OC, crown out |
| E King stud (full height, beside the opening) | 2 | 58-1/4" | 2x4 | full height, outside the jack |
| F Jack stud (carries the header) | 2 | 14" | 2x4 | carries the header, sits ON the bottom plate |
| G Header | 2 | 37-1/4" | 2x4 | two pieces + a 1/2in plywood spacer = 3-1/2in thick, flush both faces |
| H Rough sill | 1 | 37-1/4" | 2x4 | rough sill under the window |
| I Cripple over the header | 4 | 40-3/4" | 2x4 | between header and top plate |
5c
Left end wall (run end)
The run attaches to this wall and the pop door passes through it. Seen from outside, the roof runs DOWNHILL left to right.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bottom plate | 1 | 41" | 2x4 | sits flat on the deck — cut out at the doors AFTER standing |
| B Top plate | 1 | 41" | 2x4 | first plate over the studs |
| C Cap plate (upper top plate) | 1 | 44" | 2x4 | laps the corner — long walls SHORT both ends, end walls LONG both ends |
| D Common stud | 2 | 48" | 2x4 | 16in OC, crown out |
| E King stud (full height, beside the opening) | 2 | 48" | 2x4 | full height, outside the jack |
| F Jack stud (carries the header) | 2 | 22-1/2" | 2x4 | carries the header, sits ON the bottom plate |
| G Header | 2 | 23" | 2x4 | two pieces + a 1/2in plywood spacer = 3-1/2in thick, flush both faces |
| H Rough sill | 1 | 23" | 2x4 | rough sill under the window |
| I Cripple over the header | 3 | 22" | 2x4 | between header and top plate |
| J Rake plate (sloped) | 1 | 42-1/4" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
| K Rake stud (sloped top wall) | 1 | 10-1/16" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
| L Rake stud (sloped top wall) | 1 | 6-1/16" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
5d
Right end wall
Fixed wall with a window. This wall MIRRORS the left end: seen from outside, the roof runs UPHILL left to right.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Bottom plate | 1 | 41" | 2x4 | sits flat on the deck — cut out at the doors AFTER standing |
| B Top plate | 1 | 41" | 2x4 | first plate over the studs |
| C Cap plate (upper top plate) | 1 | 44" | 2x4 | laps the corner — long walls SHORT both ends, end walls LONG both ends |
| D Common stud | 2 | 48" | 2x4 | 16in OC, crown out |
| E King stud (full height, beside the opening) | 2 | 48" | 2x4 | full height, outside the jack |
| F Jack stud (carries the header) | 2 | 41-1/2" | 2x4 | carries the header, sits ON the bottom plate |
| G Header | 2 | 21" | 2x4 | two pieces + a 1/2in plywood spacer = 3-1/2in thick, flush both faces |
| H Rough sill | 1 | 21" | 2x4 | rough sill under the window |
| I Cripple under the sill | 3 | 17" | 2x4 | between bottom plate and rough sill |
| J Cripple over the header | 3 | 3" | 2x4 | between header and top plate |
| K Rake plate (sloped) | 1 | 42-1/4" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
| L Rake stud (sloped top wall) | 1 | 10-1/16" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
| M Rake stud (sloped top wall) | 1 | 8-3/16" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
| N Rake stud (sloped top wall) | 1 | 4-3/16" | 2x4 | top bevel 14 deg (3:12) |
6
Shed rafters
A single-slope shed roof at 3:12 — 12" of fall across the 48" width, which is the minimum pitch exposed-fastener corrugated metal will shed reliably.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shed rafter | 4 | 55-1/2" | 2x6 | birdsmouth both ends, 6" tail |
| Rafter blocking | 6 | 22-1/2" | 2x6 | between rafters — a row at the LOW wall and a row at the HIGH wall |
7
Roof deck and metal
3/4" plywood over the rafters, then corrugated metal sheets. Metal over shingles because it sheds snow, lasts decades and never needs a tear-off.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roof deck panel | 2 | 4' x 8' sheet | 3/4" plywood | lay the 8-ft dimension UP the slope; seams land on a rafter |
| Metal roof panel | 4 | 6 ft x 26" | corrugated steel | 26in wide, 24in coverage; one piece eave to ridge, no lap partway up |
8a
Siding
Lap siding in 9-foot courses, starting from a level chalk line at the bottom and working up.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lap siding board | 39 | 9 ft | 9 ft lap siding | 5in wide, ~1in lap |
8b
Doors, hatches and lids
Every opening you framed in step 5 now gets something to close it. Cut each slab a quarter inch smaller than its rough opening on all four sides — 3/4in plywood swells in the wet and a door cut to the exact opening size will bind by November.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access panel slab | 1 | 29-1/2" x 45-1/2" | 3/4" plywood | 3 hinges, opens out |
| Access panel batten rail | 2 | 28" | 1x4 | top and bottom, 1in in from each edge |
| Access panel batten diagonal | 1 | 44-1/2" | 1x4 | BOTTOM HINGE corner up to TOP LATCH corner; mitre both ends to suit |
| Pop door slab | 1 | 19-1/2" x 19-1/2" | 3/4" plywood | 2 hinges, opens out |
9
Floor-level nest boxes
2 box(es), 16" x 16" x 16" internal, standing ON THE DECK against the back wall.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nest box side | 3 | 16" x 16" | 3/4" plywood | |
| Nest box back | 1 | 34-1/4" x 16" | 3/4" plywood | screws to the wall studs — the only fixing, so it pulls out to clean |
| Nest box TOP | 1 | 34-1/4" x 16" | 3/4" plywood | OPAQUE, and not optional — a topless box is used half as often as chance |
| Nest box front | 1 | 34-1/4" x 16" | 3/4" plywood | 10" entry cut per box, sill on the deck |
| Nest entry curtain | 2 | 10" x 14" | rubber or heavy canvas | hung over each entry — darkness is what the box is for |
| Egg hatch slab | 1 | 33-3/4" x 13-1/2" | 3/4" plywood | hinged at the top, two-action latch |
10
Pop door, threshold and the duck ramp
The pop-door slab was already cut to fit the opening you framed in step 5c — do not cut another one.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ramp deck | 1 | 62-7/8" x 20" | 3/4" plywood | trim to your measured drop |
| Ramp side rail | 2 | 62-7/8" | 1x4 | 4" above the deck, full length, both edges |
| Ramp batten | 5 | 20" | 1x2 | 12" OC — a stride apart, NOT a tread |
| Ramp surfacing | 1 | 62-7/8" x 20" | mineral-surface roll roofing | or rubber stair tread, or sanded porch paint — continuous, no bare plywood |
11
Run frame
The 4 ft x 12 ft screened run frames off the coop wall, 64" tall.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run post | 8 | 64" | 2x4 | |
| Run top rail | 2 | 144" | 2x4 | |
| Run mid rail | 2 | 144" | 2x4 | |
| Run end rail | 3 | 41" | 2x4 | |
| Run purlin | 4 | 41" | 2x4 | across the top at every post — the mesh roof needs something to span to |
| Run brace | 4 | 33" | 2x4 | 45 deg corner braces, 33in on the long points |
| Run door stile | 2 | 54" | 2x4 | |
| Run door rail | 3 | 26" | 2x4 | finished door 33" wide |
12
Hardware cloth
The step that decides whether you still have a flock in two years. Quarter-inch hardware cloth over every opening, screwed through fender washers rather than only stapled.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Run walls | 1 | 50 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Run roof | 1 | 16 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Buried apron, 12in down and 12in out | 1 | 22 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Window screens | 1 | 3 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Continuous eave vent strip | 1 | 2 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Nest opening and pop-door surround | 1 | 3 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth | |
| Under-floor skirt | 1 | 5 lin ft | 1/4" hardware cloth |
13
Ventilation — sized for a duck, not a hen
A continuous vent strip 8" deep and 62" long under the high eave, hardware cloth over every inch of it, permanently open.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vent strip blocking | 2 | 62" | 2x2 | holds the cloth top and bottom |
| Vent cloth | 1 | 62" x 12" | 1/4" hardware cloth | screwed through fender washers, not stapled |
| Vent trim | 1 | 62" | 1x3 | closes the cloth edge |
14
Bedding, the wet zone and the clean-out routine
This step is a running cost, not a build step, and it is the one that decides whether this house lasts.
| Part | Qty | Length | Stock | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bedding — initial fill | 1 | 1 bale(s) | large-flake pine shavings or chopped straw | 3 kg to 4" — NEVER cedar |
| Drip-zone slat | 8 | 24" | 1x2 | spaced 3/4in apart over the gravel pit — spill drains through |
| Drip-zone frame | 4 | 24" | 2x2 | 24" square, under the drinker and nowhere else |
| Drainage gravel | 1 | 2 cu ft | 3/8" drain rock | pit under the slats, 6in deep |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these 4x6 duck house plans really free?
The 6-page preview PDF is a free download with no email required, and everything published on this page stays free — every dimension, the spec table, the complete material list and all 19 assembly steps with their cut tables. The complete 44-page plan book — every wall on its own sheet with its own cut table, a board-by-board cut plan and a material buy list — is $4.99 on Etsy.
How many ducks fit in the 4x6 duck house?
3-4 ducks. At 16 sq ft of floor, 3 birds get about 5 sq ft each, with 48 sq ft of screened run on top of that. The top of the range (4) assumes the birds spend their days outside rather than shut in.
What's in the full 44-page plan book?
Everything on this page — dimensioned plan and elevation drawings, the complete bill of materials (35 line items) and all 19 assembly steps with per-step cut tables — plus what a web page can't carry: the full written instruction for every step rather than the summary shown here, every wall framed on its own sheet, a board-by-board cut plan, a buy list you can hand to the lumber yard, and stop-and-measure checkpoints at each stage. The free 6-page preview PDF shows the design overview and main dimensions. On-page specs are computed from the same geometry that draws the PDFs, so the numbers can never disagree.
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