How big should a chicken coop be?

The size of your chicken coop should be determined by the number of chickens you're planning to keep. It's best to start larger rather than smaller in case you want to expand your flock. If your chickens have access to outdoor foraging, you'll want to allow at least two to three square feet per bird inside the coop. If your birds will stay cooped constantly, give them around five to 10 square feet per chicken.

What do you need to have inside a chicken coop?

Your chicken coop needs will depend on what kind of birds you have inside. If you have laying hens, they'll need nest boxes. You'll want at least one nest box or one square foot of community nesting space for every four to five hens. You'll also need roosts for laying hens which should be two feet off the ground with six to 10 inches of roosting space per bird. Additionally, there should be shade, ventilation, dust baths, and predator protection. Dust baths are an area of dry soil where birds can dust bath, which helps control parasites. Predator protection is also key to keep away unwanted animals like dogs, cats, and foxes.

How do you clean a chicken coop?

If you have a fixed coop, you'll have to muck it out several times a year. For most other coops, you'll want to start by cleaning out old droppings, feathers, dirt, and nesting materials. Hose it down, scrub the surfaces, and let it dry before replacing any nesting materials. Adding things like floor bedding make cleaning the bottom of your coop easier as it helps keep droppings from sticking to the floor.

How do you insulate a chicken coop?

There are various ways to insulate a coop including buying a wall mount heater. Other more budget-friendly options include using simple and inexpensive materials like styrofoam or cardboard. You can place these materials between the studs of your ceiling to help lock in heat at the top. Other materials like straw can also be used on the bottom of your coop to help insulate from the cold ground during the winter.

The 7 Best Chicken Coops of 2021

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Producer's Pride Sentinel Chicken Coop at Tractorsupply.com

With a durable steel frame, reinforced wood walls, and an asphalt roof, this sturdy coop will keep your flock safe.

Read Review

Best Splurge:

Williams Sonoma Cedar Chicken Coop & Run with Planter at Williams-Sonoma

The spacious interior has a large roosting bar and two easily accessible nesting boxes.

Read Review

Best Design:

Omlet Eglu Cube at Omlet.us

Made of sturdy steel with anti-tunnel mesh skirting, this coop keeps predators and curious pets at bay.

Read Review

Best Walk-In:

Tucker Murphy Pet Gooding Walk In Chicken Run at Wayfair

This barn-style coop comes with a mesh chicken run with walk-in access.

Read Review

Best Large:

Petmate Superior Construction Chicken Coop at Tractorsupply.com

With three nesting boxes and three roosts, this coop can accommodate up to ten hens.

Read Review

Best Small:

Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop Hen House at Amazon

It has one nesting box in the cozy indoor area, making it the perfect size for up to three hens.

Read Review

Best Automatic Door:

JVR Automatic Chicken Coop Door at Amazon

Thanks to its programmable settings, you can set the lock to open in the morning and close back up at night.

Read Review

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust The Spruce

If you have chickens or are thinking about raising some, a durable coop is essential for safeguarding your flock. Beyond durability and weather-resistance, you'll need an enclosure that's roomy enough to house all your hens. Additionally, your chicken coop should have inviting nest boxes, roosts, proper ventilation, and shade.

So, what are the best chicken coops? We rounded up standout models with all the must-have chicken coop features, and then some. Check out our picks below.

View On Tractorsupply.com

Size: 144 square feet | Nesting Space: 1 x 1 foot | Capacity: 6 | Chicken Run: Yes

What We Like

Durable construction
Generous size
Easy to clean

What We Don't Like

Doesn't have any windows

Our number one pick is the Producer's Pride Sentinel Chicken Coop. With a powder-coated steel frame, an asphalt roof, and thick reinforced wood panels, it's sturdy enough to keep predators at bay. This chicken coop has three sizable nesting boxes and a long extendable roosting bar. It's big enough to house as many as six hens, providing safe and cozy shelter.

Your hens can walk up the wood ramp and enter through the sliding door. The slide-out metal tray helps with cleaning the chicken coop, too. And when your chickens want fresh air, they can make their way down the ramp and spend some time on the shaded ground.

View On Williams-Sonoma

Size: 59 square feet | Nesting Space: 1.85 x 5 x 0.54 ft. | Capacity: 5 | Chicken Run: Yes

What We Like

Durable construction
Generous size
Prevents water from entering
White-glove delivery

What We Don't Like

Expensive

If you're looking for a more high-end option, we recommend the Cedar Chicken Coop & Run from Williams Sonoma. Handcrafted from milled red cedar, surrounded by a heavy-duty mesh enclosure, and topped with a galvanized metal roof, this hen house is built to last. Not only that but the chic yet rustic appearance is the stuff of our homesteading dreams.

The spacious, watertight interior has two easily accessible nesting boxes and a T-shaped roosting bar. It also has an attached planter box complete with a built-in drainage system to prevent water from running into your hen's home.

This coop is designed to comfortably house four chickens. That said, you can fit up to six if they're able to roam freely throughout the day. Like many other Williams Sonoma products, it comes with white-glove delivery. This means it'll be expertly assembled and placed in your yard.

How to Start Homesteading Now

View On Omlet.us

Size: 52.10 square feet | Nesting Space: Available Sizes: 6 feet, 9 feet, 13 feet | Capacity: Up to 6 Large Hens or 10 Bantams | Chicken Run: Yes (upon selection)

What We Like

Durable construction
Generous size
Puncture-proof wheels
Easy to move around

What We Don't Like

Expensive

The Eglu Cube is a multifaceted chicken coop with a standout design. Made of exceptionally sturdy stainless steel with twin-wall insulation, it'll keep your flock comfy and secure year-round.

This hen house is big enough for six large hens or as many as ten bantams. Puncture-proof wheels make the coop portable, so you can move it around your property, and unique anti-tunnel mesh skirting helps the coop stay predator-proof and free of curious pets.

View On Wayfair

Size: Varies | Nesting Space: Varies | Capacity: 15-40 | Chicken Run: Yes

What We Like

Generous size
Easy assembly

What We Don't Like

Doesn't have a bottom
Expensive

The Gooding Walk In Chicken Run is an extra-large chicken coop with walk-in access. With two nesting boxes and four roosting bars, it comes in three different sizes, with the largest accommodating as many as 40 chickens. Its sturdy steel frame can be held firmly to the ground with the included ground pegs, and the mesh helps keep chickens contained and safe from certain predators. You can easily walk in through the hinged door to clean the coop and access your hens.

View On Tractorsupply.com

Size: 24 square feet | Nesting Space: 1 x 1.1 feet | Capacity: 8 to 10 Chickens (depends on breed) | Chicken Run: Yes

What We Like

Generous size
Rear door for collecting eggs
Durable construction
Can paint or stain the wood

What We Don't Like

Can be time consuming to stain wood

This chicken coop by Petmate can house up to ten hens, depending on the breed. It has three nesting boxes with a rear door for collecting eggs, plus two roosting bars on the inside and one on the outside.

Extra-thick wood panels, a durable plastic roof, and adjustable ventilation keep your flock safe and comfy year-round. Also, you can paint or stain the wood to complement your existing outdoor decor or leave it as is.

Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop Hen House Poultry

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Size: 14.6 square feet | Nesting Space: 1.7 x 1.0 feet | Capacity: 3 to 5 Chickens (depends on size and breed) | Chicken Run: Yes

What We Like

Rainproof
Great for small spaces
Affordable
Easy to clean
Durable construction

What We Don't Like

Doesn't offer great security from predators

If you're looking for something a little smaller, you might consider this rainproof fir wood hen house by Best Choice. With one nesting box in the cozy, compact indoor area, it's the perfect size for two or three chickens.

Your hens can walk up the ramp and go through the sliding door at their leisure to enter the raised interior space. When they crave the open air, they can head back down to stretch their legs in the caged outdoor area.

View On Amazon

Size: 1 square foot | Nesting Space: 1.7 x 1.0 feet | Capacity: 1 | Chicken Run: Not Applicable

What We Like

Can create a custom schedule
Easy to install
Rainproof

What We Don't Like

No backup battery included

With the JVR Automatic Door Kit, you'll have peace of mind knowing your chickens are safe and secure while you're away. It's easy to install—no wiring or cables needed—and fits most coops.

Thanks to the programmable LCD screen, you can set it to automatically open at sunrise and close back up at sunset or create a custom schedule. This means you can set it and forget it—no more worrying about whether you remembered to lock the automatic chicken coop door. Plus, a safety sensor ensures it won't close on your hens.

Final Verdict

If we had to recommend just one chicken coop, we'd go with the Producer's Pride MDC001 Sentinel (view at Tractor Supply). It has a sturdy steel frame, reinforced wood paneling, and an asphalt roof, plus three large nesting boxes and an extendable roost. However, if you're interested in something a little sleeker and can swing the price tag, you might consider the spacious, multifaceted Williams Sonoma Cedar Chicken Coop & Run with Planter (view at Williams Sonoma).

Size

Allow for about 3 to 4 square feet per chicken inside the coop, though up to 10 square feet per chicken may be necessary if you live in a cold climate where your chickens will spend ample time "indoors."

Chicken run

Some chicken coops come with attached runs. If your coop doesn't come with a run, you'll need to build one or place your coop inside a fenced-in area.

Nesting space

Look for a chicken coop with space for roosting and nesting about 2 feet above ground level. Each chicken needs about 6 to 10 inches of roosting space and the nesting box should be about 1 square foot.

FAQ

How big should a chicken coop be?

The size of your chicken coop should be determined by the number of chickens you're planning to keep. It's best to start larger rather than smaller in case you want to expand your flock. If your chickens have access to outdoor foraging, you'll want to allow at least two to three square feet per bird inside the coop. If your birds will stay cooped constantly, give them around five to 10 square feet per chicken.
What do you need to have inside a chicken coop?

Your chicken coop needs will depend on what kind of birds you have inside. If you have laying hens, they'll need nest boxes. You'll want at least one nest box or one square foot of community nesting space for every four to five hens. You'll also need roosts for laying hens which should be two feet off the ground with six to 10 inches of roosting space per bird.
Additionally, there should be shade, ventilation, dust baths, and predator protection. Dust baths are an area of dry soil where birds can dust bath, which helps control parasites. Predator protection is also key to keep away unwanted animals like dogs, cats, and foxes.
How do you clean a chicken coop?

If you have a fixed coop, you'll have to muck it out several times a year. For most other coops, you'll want to start by cleaning out old droppings, feathers, dirt, and nesting materials. Hose it down, scrub the surfaces, and let it dry before replacing any nesting materials. Adding things like floor bedding make cleaning the bottom of your coop easier as it helps keep droppings from sticking to the floor.
How do you insulate a chicken coop?

There are various ways to insulate a coop including buying a wall mount heater. Other more budget-friendly options include using simple and inexpensive materials like styrofoam or cardboard. You can place these materials between the studs of your ceiling to help lock in heat at the top. Other materials like straw can also be used on the bottom of your coop to help insulate from the cold ground during the winter.

This article was researched and written by Theresa Holland, a freelance writer specializing in pets and home design with particular expertise in wire mesh enclosures. She's been writing for The Spruce since 2019, primarily covering home and garden content. You can find more of her work on Byrdie and MyDomaine. To make this list, she considered each pick's size, chicken run, and nesting space.