Best Chicken Coops in 2024 Reviews

Best Chicken Coops – More and more people are getting into the idea of owning livestock. In particular, many are interested in owning chickens so that they can have a fresh, reliable, and clean source of eggs.

Despite this interest, those interested (like you!) may not know what kind of coop they should get. Setting up your small flock of chickens can’t be complete without a coop to protect them and the eggs that they produce.

Coops don’t have to be large, and you can keep chickens in many backyards, pending your local rules and regulations.

Owning chickens is a valuable experience for many people, and those who don’t have experience with these pets may be surprised at just how much joy they can bring into your life.

Best Chicken Coops Review

To find out more about the best chicken coops to house your flock, we found products perfect for both beginners and experienced chicken owners. You simply need to find out which chicken coop will work best for your particular needs.

Pets Imperial Double Savoy Chicken Coop

The Pets Imperial Double Savoy Chicken Coop is a large coop that is, in many ways, quite fancily fit for a flock of around six to ten birds depending on their size.

It’s a high-end option that absolutely belong on our list of Best Chicken Coops that has nearly everything that you need to have for a great chicken set up.

The Double Savory from Pets Imperial is a high-end, well-outfitted chicken coop that offers a wide number of things for every chicken owner: two nesting boxes, lots of space, four perches, an openable roof, and more.

The animal-treated tinder should last for years of use, and there is a galvanized droppings tray that can you can remove easily. This coop comes disassembled, but it does include the instructions needed to make it into the perfect coop.

Consider this coop if you have any large chickens, such as cochin chickens.

Pets Imperial Double Savoy Chicken Coop Good and Bad

Each bird, if you keep six chickens in this coop, will have their own comfortable resting spot at night because the two nesting boxes are divided into six individual compartments; this can make chickens very happy.

Additionally, this large coop has been built to last for a long time.

It has plastic caps on the feet to prevent rotting, animal-treated timber to ensure the wood doesn’t rot, a high-quality roofing material, and galvanized metal for the tray so that it doesn’t get rusty or wear out easily.

This coop does not include its own run, so you will need to have it built. That said, Pets Imperial does market their run, which you can set up easily in conjunction with this coop for great chicken-raising results.

Easy to assemble
Elevated, predator-proof design
Roof opens for easy cleaning
Attractive design
Good ventilation
No run included
Hard to repair yourself

We also like the Pets Imperial Clarence Chicken Coop / Rabbit Hutch.

Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop

Next up is a mid-range option, the Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop. This coop and nesting box combination offers a good amount of space and quality alongside an appealing, red barn-inspired design.

The Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Coop is made from solid, rain-resistant wood that is very durable, so you can expect this to last for a long time.

It has gaps in the bottom for ventilation and removable floor panels for easy cleaning. It also has nesting boxes on the side with compartments for two hens, and you can remove the eggs by opening the top of it since it is hinged.

This specific coop is big enough for three or four chickens, and you will need to set up a separate outdoor run as one is not attached.

Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop Good and The Bad

This is an affordable coop that has a tiny footprint that can hold up to four chickens.

The architecture of this coop is better than most since it has an appealing exterior design, and you can put it easily into a yard or fenced area where you intend to let your chickens roam around.

One of the big drawbacks of this coop is that you cannot remove the top, which makes it more challenging to clean. However, you can remove the bottom so you can simply use a hose to hose it down and then let all of the water go out the bottom.

Also, the chicken nesting boxes, thankfully, have tops that can open so that you can clean the area more easily when needed.

Easy to put together
Compartmentalized
Attractive exterior
Lightweight
The roof doesn’t open; can add hinges to it
Paint wears out over time

BestPet Chicken Coop

The BestPet Chicken Coop is a great run for chickens that you can set up easily next to an existing hen house or another nesting area. The BestPet Chicken Coop Playpen is a large, secure run area that you can easily move around and organize as needed.

You can use it when chickens need outdoor time and space to run or when you want to bring them indoors from a dangerous storm or other elements.

Pros and Cons of BestPet Chicken Coop

This coop is a very lightweight setup that is easy to use, offers some rain protection with an included tarp, and you can move around to set your chickens up in a new area when necessary.

The name-of-the-game with this playpen is “ease”. This playpen cannot be used as a standalone chicken coop but is a great way to turn a hen house into a complete chicken compound.

Chickens need indoor space for sleeping and nesting when possible, and they can also use this type of outdoor run space to exercise, get sun, and play in the dirt.

Easy to set up
Lightweight
Can be made portable
Can be used inside or outside
Needs to be used in conjunction with nesting box or hen house
Small size; you may need more than one

Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop

Next, we will take a closer look at the Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop. It is one of the best options for those who are completely new to chickens, and it is, in many ways, all-inclusive.

This 80” chicken coop is made from weather-resistant, animal-treated natural fir wood, so you expect it to be very durable. Also, the chicken wire used is galvanized and stands up to the elements.

The setup includes a henhouse as well as a small outdoor exercise area, a nesting box, and a rooftop that you can open and close when needed. This small coop-and-pen setup is big enough for about three to four birds, so it is especially ideal for those who are just getting started.

Best Choice Chicken Coop

This product is a complete setup, and you can get started with raising your chickens without the need to buy much more than feed and bedding once you have it.

Many henhouses or coops do not have an attached run, so you have to either let chickens roam your yard or set up your own run before you can use the coop.

This coop has it all included for you, so you can just focus on your new flock and what they need most from you.

One problem that people had with this particular setup was that the hinged door to the nesting box doesn’t lock, so some smart critters like raccoons will eventually learn how to open it and steal the eggs.

You can prevent this easily by just adding your own lock or latch mechanism and then using that to get to the eggs when you need to.

Beginner-friendly
Two nesting spots in a single box
Good for two to four hens
Easy to assemble
Can be painted
Need to treat the wood for extra weather resistance
Need to add a lock to the nesting box top

SnapLock Formex Chicken Coop

Finally, the last among our top options is the SnapLock Formex Chicken Coop, which is a high-end coop made to be as easy as possible to set up, clean, and manage.

But is it worth the extra cost? This SnapLock Formex Chicken Coop can hold up to four to six large hens or six to 12 bantams depending on what you are raising, and it is made from highly durable Formex plastic.

This material is resistant to water, chemical, UV, and impact, and is also very easy to clean. The coop also has three, 36-inch long roosts as well as four nesting spots with removable dividers.

SnapLock Chicken Coop

The two main things that this coop offers is convenience and comfort. For you, it’s convenient because it takes less than fifteen minutes to snap together, and everything from cleaning to gathering eggs will take less time thanks to its smart design.

For the chickens, it’s comfortable because there are lots of elevated roosting bars, many egg-laying areas, and good ventilation that will keep them happy and healthy.

There is no attached run for this coop, and it’s already expensive on its own.

Still, you can invest in it, knowing that it will last for a long time, even if you decide to change up the size or location of the run so that you can easily use it through many configurations.

Easy to assemble
High-durability
Hinged roof and nesting box doors
Can be locked
High-end item
No attached run

Chicken Coop Buyer’s Guide

There are hundreds of different chicken coop options on the market, and there are even more chicken coop designs that you could build yourself if you wanted to go that route.

How can you know which type of coop will be right for your home and family? Ultimately, you should prioritize four things when you are shopping around for the best chicken coop: safety, space, ventilation, and ease of cleaning.

Safety

Make sure that any chicken coop that you choose is set up for safety. You want to protect the chickens from outside dangers such as predators, the weather, and disease.

It is best to choose a chicken coop with an elevation or elevating since it will help to deter predators, which usually dig holes to come through the ground into the coop.

If the coop you choose rests directly on the ground, though, you can deter predators with a layer of stone underneath of the coop.

You also want to be sure that the roof and general construction will keep the chickens safe from the elements. Chickens don’t like rain, in particular, so ensuring that the roof will keep water out is very important for the overall happiness of your flock.

Space

You always want to be sure that your coop has enough space for your chickens. Depending on the number of chickens that you own or want to own, you will want to be sure that the coop can fit them all without being overcrowded since crowding can cause both social and medical problems.

Generally speaking, you should make sure there are at least three square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop as well as an additional 10 square feet per chicken for the outside run area.

Consider also chicken size. Bantams will require less space than large chicken breeds such as the Lavender Orpington.

If chickens don’t have enough space, it will cause a slew of problems.

Another size factor that you want to consider is whether or not the coop has nesting boxes.

Nesting boxes provide a cool, dark place for your chickens to lay eggs, and you can expect each chicken to lay at least one egg every day, except in winter.

Nesting boxes are extra areas in the coop that aren’t disturbed and are locked lower than any perches so that laying the eggs is easy, and the box remains clean.

If your coop doesn’t include its own nesting boxes in the space, you will need to set these up and have them attached to the coop and run. That would mean more setup work for you, though.

Ventilation

Chicken coops need to be airy because, without proper ventilation, they will become smelly houses of health problems and coop problems for your pets and eggs. Having ventilation and keeping the coop clean will go a long way to preventing common chicken diseases,

An ideal coop will have a minimum of two points of ventilation, preferably with those points located in or near the roof.

If the ventilation points are right at chicken-height-level, the chickens will be unhappy because they do not enjoy it when drafts ruffle their feathers. This is a vital feature, so make sure that you check into the ventilation type and areas that are available in any coop you are considering to buy.

Ease of Cleaning

Nobody will want to say this upfront, but chicken coops are very messy! That’s just a fact of owning chickens, and it is something that you will need to accept about this life.

As such, it’s key that you choose a chicken coop that is as easy to clean as possible. What does this look like? Ideally, any coop that you choose should include the following:

An easy way to get inside
Removable roof
Removable or large door
Multiple ways to get into every area
Removable nesting boxes and perches

With all of those features, it will be easy to get inside and clean up all the extra feathers, dirt, and droppings. You will also be able to hose down the entire coop from time to time if you can remove the nesting boxes and perches.

Otherwise, cleaning will become quite difficult because the layout and size of the coop will restrict you!

Chicken Coop FAQs

1. What Do Chicken Coops Need?

There are a few essential things that every chicken coop needs to have in order to for it to be a successful and practical setup:

Nesting boxes for the safe, protected laying of eggs
Perches
Outside run area (at least 10 square feet per chicken)
Inside coop area (at least four square feet per chicken)
At least two ventilation holes for airflow
Removable roof for easy cleaning
Elevated base or stone under the coop to deter predators
Feeder and water containers
Feed
Chicken wire and wood for constructing outdoor run, if applicable

As you can see, there can be quite a lot of things that you need to set up your chicken coop.

If you buy a coop that includes a run area and nesting boxes, you can save money by not needing to get as many additional items as possible.

2. What Size Coop Do You Need for Six Chickens?

Generally, you should have at least four square feet of inside coop space per chicken and 10 square feet of outdoor run space per chicken.

For a six-bird flock, you will need to have a coop with at least 24 square feet to prevent any social or medical issues.

These numbers are a little bit flexible, but you should never have less than three square feet in the coop per chicken. Learn about how much space do chickens need.

3. Why Are Chicken Coops Elevated?

Chicken coops are typically elevated. Raising them will help prevent predators, such as foxes, from breaking into the coop by digging underground and coming up through the bottom area.

Additionally, a raised coop prevents both mice and rats from finding the coop to be an appealing place for nesting. The elevation also helps to ensure that air flows around the entire coop, which can regulate temperature and create a safer environment.

Chickens also have the instinct to go up and above ground, especially at night, so an elevated coop encourages them to go inside to roost.

4. How Often Should You Clean Chicken Coop?

Most chicken coop owners clean out their coop every week or every other week. The frequency will depend on your climate, weather conditions, and how messy your chickens are.

We recommend cleaning your coop every week. You may want to make sure that you rake out droppings from inside the actual henhouse area every single day to make this job easier.

It is imperative to clean out the coop at least every week because ammonia released from the chicken droppings can actually be very damaging for your chicks and hens.

Every week, here is what you should try to do:

Remove all chicken droppings
Clear out old bedding
Use a mixture of white vinegar and water to scrub any problem spots
Hose off the whole coop, if possible
Allow it to air dry before adding new bedding
Add new bedding

5. Do Chickens Need Light in Their Coop?

Chickens do not need light in their coop. However, some chicken owners choose to add different types of lights for various reasons.

In areas where there is limited sunlight, you can use lights to simulate daylight. This can help chickens to continue their egg-laying cycle even when there isn’t enough sun.

Chickens originate from equatorial climates. This means they do not usually lay eggs in the winter. Chickens need at least 12 to 14 hours of sunlight a day to be regulated properly.

Adding lights, however, can also be stressful for hens. Do it in limited amounts and with a great deal of caution.

Preferably, this kind of light would only be used for an hour or two at most. It will help to extend the egg-laying season.

Other chicken owners add a simple light on a timer that they only use when they are cleaning their coop, gathering eggs, or feeding their flock.

Finally, some chicken owners set up a red light in the coop that runs for longer periods because of the perceived benefits. Some of these include being able to see better, helping to prevent pecking, and just generally keep them happier.

Best Chicken Coops for Your Backyard

As you can see, there are many great choices when it comes to the best chicken coops. Each of the coops we reviewed has a set of unique features. Finding the one that fits best for your flock will take some time.

To make your decision easier, remember that you need to focus on the primary things from our buyer’s guide. These include safety, space, ventilation, and ease of cleaning.

If you focus on these areas when you are choosing your coop, you will be less likely to regret whichever coop you end up with because it will fit the needs of managing your flock successfully.

The top option, in our eyes, is the Pets Imperial Double Savoy Chicken Coop because of its great size, easy cleaning setup, and high level of durability.

Factor in how many chickens you want to raise. Always plan on the fact you will end up raising more than you originally think. This is chicken math! In that case, you may want a coop with more nesting boxes than you think you will need.

Owning chickens can be rewarding in many ways as long as you take time to choose the right chicken setup. Hopefully, we made that process easier for you to find the Best Chicken Coops!