The 8 Best Chicken Coops of 2019

Our top choice for a chicken coop is easy to assemble, weather-resistant, and a safe place to keep your egg layers. The SnapLock Formex Chicken Coop is made from sturdy, double-walled plastic (much like a storage shed) and can accommodate about a half-dozen birds, depending on the breed.

This chicken coop includes three elevated roosting bars with multiple height placement for each bar. Two nesting boxes with removable dividers provide up to four egg-laying locations. Some of the essential features included with this chicken coop are a removable tray for cleaning droppings and changing bedding, adjustable side vents to keep circulation in the coop, and hinged doors above each nesting box for easy egg collection. A hinged roof also allows for easier cleaning. 

People find the SnapLock Formex Chicken Coop to be super easy to assemble—no tools required since the pieces snap together. But if you think this makes the coop flimsy, think again. One reviewer reported that this coop got tossed around by a bear looking for a meal but he wasn’t able to gain access to the birds inside thanks to the locks and sturdy construction. 

Just keep in mind that this chicken coop doesn’t include a window or run. So make sure your birds have plenty of access to roam and forage during the day. It’s an investment compared to some wooden chicken coop kits, but the money spent on this quick-to-assemble chicken coop is well worth it for the comfort of your chickens and the conveniences it offers to you. 

If you’re just starting out with chickens, check out our guide to the best places to buy baby chicks online today.

If you’re looking for a basic chicken coop on a budget, then this simple model from Petsfit is worth considering. Available in either gray or red for under $200, this wooden chicken coop is the perfect size for three or four birds. Since it doesn’t include a run, it’s better for free-range chickens or can be placed inside of an existing enclosure. 

The Petsfit Chicken Coop is easy to assemble, according to reviewers. It’s a ground-level coop that includes a nesting box with a divider. Unlike some other models of chicken coops, this one doesn’t include a pull-out tray under the floor for cleaning. However, the floor comes in three panels that can be removed for a thorough cleaning. An alternative is to modify the roof design with locked hinges so that you can clean the coop from above.

For a small chicken coop that offers your feathered friends a safe place to roost and roam, consider the Dorothy Nantucket Chicken Coop. This chicken coop is cute as a button but earns lots of praise of users for its easy assembly and sturdy construction. 

It’s best suited for small flocks. While the manufacturer recommends it for four birds, people find that it may only accommodate three large birds. Inside the chicken coop you’ll find an elevated roost area, which is a plus for the safety and comfort of chickens since they prefer elevated roost areas. The space is equipped with two roosting bars, two nesting boxes with easy access hinged lids, and a removable tray that lets you easily clean droppings and beddings. 

A ramp leads chickens from the roost to the enclosed pen where they can stretch their legs and forage. A small door allows reach-in access to the pen, while a separate latched door gives access to the roost area above. 

The Dorothy Nantucket Chicken Coop is weather-resistant and water-resistant, but it may be necessary to reinforce it to provide additional protection against the elements or heavy winter weather.

If you have a large army of egg layers, you’ll need a large chicken coop. The Little Hen Big Chicken Coop is our go-to choice if you need space for up to a dozen chickens. 

This large chicken coop resembles a little red barn and has all the coop comforts that your birds are looking for, though you’ll have to add a run separately if your chicks aren’t free-ranging. Three roosting bars provide room to rest, while each side of the coop is equipped with three nesting boxes—accommodating up to 6 egg-laying birds at a time. Some people found the roosting bars to fall out of place easily and suggest screwing them into the side of the coop for better stability, but this and other minor tweaks were simple compromises for most people. 

A pull-out tray makes it easy to clean the bottom of the coop, though it doesn’t span the full width of the coop. However the hinged makes it easy to access the interior of the coop for additional cleaning. While this bigger chicken coop is supposed to hold up to 12 chickens according to the manufacturer, some people found it to be a better fit for seven or eight birds. However, the multiple roosting bars and the expanded number of nesting boxes make this our top choice for a larger chicken coop.

If you’re looking for a starter chicken coop, this wooden model from Best Choice Products offers essential elements with room to expand and customize the coop down the road. 

Constructed of fir wood, the coop has a hen house and enclosed pen and its total dimensions are about 4 x 6 feet. A nesting box with a half-wall divider provides two spots ideal for egg-laying, with an easy-access door. Underneath the hen house is a removable tray for cleaning up droppings and changing the bedding. 

This starter chicken coop is ideal for a small flock (about three or four birds), but many people have paired two of these chicken coops together for a larger set-up. Most people that buy the Best Choice Products chicken coop plan to make modifications to the unit. At the very least, people suggest sealing the wood for better weather resistance and adding a lock to the nesting box access door to prevent other critters from stealing eggs and raiding your henhouse!

Need some more help getting started with raising chickens or homesteading? Read through our article on the best books for small farming.

If you want a multi-level chicken coop, then this model will give your feathered friends an elevated spot to roost along with room to roam about on the ground. 

The Freddy Chicken Coop is a popular option for raising chickens in backyards and small farms alike. The multi-level coop includes an elevated roosting box with a roosting bar and nesting box with partial divider. A door gives you the ability to securely put your chickens away for the night, while a ramp gives them easy access to ground level during the day. 

People like the easy access options of this multi-level chicken coop, including the hinged door over the nesting box for egg collection, the sliding tray for litter changes under the coop, and the additional doors into the hen house and enclosure. However, the most common complaint is that the hardware needs to be upgraded for longevity and better predator protection. It also is on the smaller side, as it accommodates up to four chickens at most.

For easy access to your chickens and their coop, consider a walk-in style chicken coop, like this model from Innovation Pet. The added space will give your birds plenty to squawk about and you’ll have more room to clean the coop, collect eggs, and spend time with your feathered friends. 

This walk-in chicken coop features an elevated roosting box, accessed by a ramp that allows your chicks to come and go as they please. At night, it’s easy to close the door and keep the birds safe inside the hen house. Your chickens will be comfortable thanks to a pair of roosting bars and three nesting bays. 

The coop opens to a secured chicken run, with a shaded area underneath the roost area. A door and the extra height clearance makes it easy for you to come and go as you clean the coop (which includes a slide-out drawer for changing bedding). Keep in mind, though, that the height of this walk-in chicken coop is only about 5 feet, 5 inches. This means that some people may have to stoop slightly when inside the coop. However, it still provides much easier access than small chicken coops and kids especially love the fun of being inside this walk-in chicken coop.

Check out our article on how to collect and clean chicken eggs.

For urban chicken farmers, look for an easy-to-maintain and portable chicken coop. The Omlet Eglu is our top pick for a backyard chicken coop. 

The Eglu stands out in terms of design and simplicity. This molded plastic chicken coop comes in a vibrant green with a steel mesh run that measures almost 10 feet long. Plastic panels, doors, and drawer make it easy to gain access to any part of the coop and are especially easy to clean—a major plus for backyard chicken owners that need to keep odor under control. 

This backyard chicken coop sits on a sturdy metal frame but is light enough to move around your yard to comply with zoning requirements and to give your chicks new areas to forage. We also like those no-spill containers for chicken feed and water attach to the sides of the steel mesh run. This urban chicken coop makes a perfect addition to your backyard. While it does have a higher price point, it’s a safe and secure way to keep your chickens in your yard.