A makeshift chicken coop is the easiest to make if you compare it to the other types of chicken coops out there. When talking about makeshift solutions to keeping chickens in the backyard I am going to make some assumptions:

1) You only have a few chickens to take care of (say about 2 to 6),
2) You need something that can be made with minimal effort,
3) your need is urgent and you need solution now. if you find your need somewhere in there, then read on.

First of all you need to gain some perspective. Many people discuss about turning dog kennels, rabbit houses and the likes into chicken coops to meet their needs now. Although this is a very creative way to deal with the problem, it is not suited to their need. Chicken coops are specialized constructions that are designed specially keeping in mind the chickens. To that effect since you require a coop for a small number of birds your best bet will be a chicken tractor which has the following advantages to offer:

a.should allow enough air and sun: any poultry house should have plenty of room for air for sunshine. this should be easy here as chicken tractors are (relatively) open constructions.

b.Protection from animals around you: this is sort of a primary function of any poultry house; your coop must provide enough protection from both land and air based predators.

c.should be floor less: so that the chickens can easily access the ground. this has numerous advantages; the chicken can reach the grass so that they can eat the weed and pests from your backyard.

d.Easy to move around your backyard: this means that it should be easy to move around your backyard. this is one of the key features that a Chicken tractor has to offer. By moving it around your chicken can access a greater area in your backyard thereby ridding just that much area of all the weed and pests.