Best Chicken Coop Ideas: for happy chickens!
Chickens are easy to raise, but there are some important things to consider before getting laying hens for fresh eggs.
When building your chicken coop, think about shelter, the floor design, nest boxes, extreme weather, predators, and feeding.
Look for great chicken coop ideas to start your flock of laying hens for fresh eggs every day!
Chicken Coop Ideas for the Best Hens:
BEST TIPS for RAISING CHICKENS
- SHELTER / HOUSING
- THE COOP – IDEAS FOR THE BEST HEN HOUSE
- ROOST SPACE
- NEXT BOXES
- FLOOR LITTER
- OUTSIDE RUN
- HEATING AND COOLING
- BATHING FACILITIES!
- FEEDERS & WATERERS
- SUPPLEMENTS
- FEED STORAGE BINS
- DIVIDED COMPARTMENT FOR RAISING CHICKS
Here are some chicken coop ideas for the best hen house ever! Taking a little time in the beginning to plan your chicken coop will make it so much easier, safer and healthier for your homestead, farmstead or backyard flock!
These chicken coop ideas and tips have worked well for us.
Laying hens have very basic needs like all animals: food, water and shelter.
#1. SHELTER / HOUSING:
Location matters for your chicken coop!
The best location is where your coop is protected from the wind and has windows that face south. Your hens need sunlight in winter, so windows are important.
On cold winter days, chickens may not want to go outside. Sunlight through the windows keeps the coop warm and comfortable.
Even a window in the door can help if it gets direct sunlight in winter.
Related Post on The Best Egg Laying Breeds
#2. THE COOP – main house
Basic Chicken Coop Requirements:
Chicken Coop Styles
You can buy or build different styles of chicken coops. Chickens need protection from bad weather and predators.
They require enough floor space, nesting boxes, and roosts. Close up your flock each night by adding a chicken door and making the coop secure against pests.
As a rule, each chicken needs at least 4 square feet inside the coop and 10 square feet in the outside run. This space allows them to move freely and scratch in the litter.
Avoid overcrowding by following the “4+ Square Feet per Bird” guideline when designing your coop. Some might say 3 square feet per bird is enough, but 5 square feet is better if you have the space.
Too many chickens in a small area make it hard to keep the litter clean and dry. Wet litter can spread illness. This rule is especially important during winter when chickens stay indoors more due to bad weather.
Dirt Floors
If your coop has no wooden floor, consider adding one or burying wire at least a foot deep around the outside.
Bend the wire at a 90-degree angle and lay about 12 inches flat at the bottom of your trench to stop digging predators like coyotes and foxes.
Make sure to trap any rodents in your coop.
Electricity
We added electricity to our chicken coop for lighting on dark winter days.
The coop has a wall switch, overhead lights, and an outlet. We also use a timer to provide extra light during winter, which helps with egg production.
This extra light gives the hens more time to eat and move around, supporting egg production during the dark winter months.
Many chicken coop ideas and designs are available to fit any budget.
Small Chicken Coop from Amazon
Mid Size Wooden Chicken Coop from Amazon
Backyard Chickens’ Guide to Coops and Tractors from Amazon
#3. ROOST SPACE:
Chickens need roosts to sleep on at night. Without roosts, they will huddle on the floor.
Perching is how chickens naturally sleep. Roosts help them stay close when it’s cold or spread out when it’s warm.
If they have enough space, hens will find their own comfortable spots to roost.
A good guideline is to provide at least 12 inches of roost space per bird. Offering 14 to 16 inches makes it more comfortable for them.
#4. NEXT BOXES:
Chickens like to lay their eggs with a little privacy! Providing individual nesting boxes has worked out the best for our flocks. Discoverwhen chickens begin laying their eggs!
We have had store bought metal nesting boxes as well as DIY plywood nesting boxes, and they all work well as long as the dimensions are correct.
The nesting boxes should be approximately 14″ x 14″ x 14″ with divider walls. We received our first set of store-bought nesting boxes as a Christmas gift from our dear old friends, Dell and Lorraine.
I will never forget our boys helping Dell put these together on their kitchen floor. Great memories!
Dell and Lorraine taught me most everything that I know about chickens! It is fun to pass their knowledge on to you!
Take a look at these nesting boxes from Amazon.
Large Coop Metal Nesting Boxes
If the nesting boxes are too small, hens feel cramped and may accidentally break their eggs while moving around.
On the other hand, if the boxes are too large, chickens may feel exposed and seek out a dark corner in the coop.
The size of the nesting boxes is important for happy chickens. Many people provide community nesting boxes for several hens to use at once.
We usually provide individual nest boxes, but sometimes two hens share a box, and that’s fine!
We have tried different types of nesting material but prefer wood shavings because they are easy to use and not dusty.
Wood shavings work well and can be found in large bales at local hardware stores.
Our nest boxes are accessible from the outside. The lid lifts up over the nest boxes, making it super easy to gather the eggs.
You can also see the bottom corner vents that provide air circulation for the coop. These vents can be opened in the warmer months but closed during the winter.
#5. FLOOR LITTER:
Chickens enjoy scratching on the ground or coop floor. Adding litter to the coop gives them something to scratch and helps keep the floor clean.
You can use sawdust, wood chips, straw, hay, or leaves as litter. Choose what you have on hand, but make sure it is clean and dry.
#6. CHICKEN COOP IDEAS for OUTSIDE RUN:
Chickens love fresh air and sunshine, along with space to run and spread their wings. Each morning, our hens eagerly gather at the small chicken door and jump out as soon as it opens.
They flap their wings and start scratching in the grass or dirt for seeds and bugs.
You can also feed your flock leftover garden plants. They enjoy tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, bread, and fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, and peaches!
Take a look at Can Chickens Eat Peaches?
It’s important to have a secure outdoor area for your chickens. Some people let their chickens roam freely, known as free-range.
This is fine if the chickens are safe. However, watch out for dangers like dogs, hawks, foxes, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, weasels, and minks, which can quickly harm your flock.
We had a terrible experience when two foxes nearly wiped out our flock of 40 young chickens overnight. They worked all night to get in and out of the enclosure and even buried some dead birds. We only managed to save 2 or 3. It was a costly lesson, so it’s best to plan ahead.
Evaluate your location and the potential threats, and take the right precautions. Losing even one chicken is sad, let alone an entire flock.
#7. HEATING AND COOLING:
Our chicken coop is insulated, but we do not heat it with any type of electric heat. We have south-facing windows that warm the coop in the winter.
So far, we have not lost any chickens during the winter due to freezing temperatures. We live at just under 7000 ft, and our winters get cold. Our hens roost close to each other to stay warm.
We do use an electric heated water bowl in the coop during winter. Chickens need fresh water all the time.
Chickens breathe quickly, so they require a lot of water. If they are laying eggs, those eggs also need moisture. Always provide enough fresh water, even in winter.
Our coop isn’t airtight because chickens’ breathing can create moisture inside. Too much damp air can lead to respiratory issues for chickens. It’s important to keep the coop insulated while allowing for some airflow.
We have vents in the top and bottom corners of the coop. We can open or close these vents based on the weather. We open them in summer and close them in winter.
In summer, chickens need shade from the coop or from trees and shrubs.
#8. BATHING FACILITIES!
Chickens love to take dust baths. They need loose dirt or dust to roll around in.
Dust bathing is a crucial part of a chicken’s daily routine. If they have access to an outdoor area, they will often find a favorite spot and dig holes for dusting.
Dust baths help keep chickens free from bugs and insects. They don’t need water—just dirt or dust!
If your chickens can’t go outside, you can provide a small rubber tub or child’s pool filled with clean dirt and sand in their coop.
Dusting keeps chickens healthy and lively. Plus, it’s fun to watch them enjoy their dust baths!
#9. FEEDERS & WATERERS: in Chicken Coop Ideas
Feeders:
Hanging Feeders are very useful in your chicken coop. The feeder shown in the photo can hold about 30 pounds of layer feed.
Make sure to hang the feeder high enough for your chickens to reach the food easily, but low enough so they can’t spill it.
Make sure to hang the feeder high enough for your chickens to reach the food easily, but low enough so they can’t spill it.
Hanging feeders also saves space on the floor. We like to put a small dish of scratch grains in a rubber feed dish under the hanging feeder, and this has worked well.
Waterers:
In spring, summer, and fall, we use a rubber feeder pan for water. They are flexible and easy to clean.
If the water freezes, you can easily break the ice out. These rubber pans are very useful for livestock and poultry.
Always keep your feeders and waterers clean.
Double Wall Poultry Drinker keeps your laying hens’ water clean. Remember to wash and rinse it regularly.
In winter, we use an electric heated water bowl inside the coop. Chickens need fresh water all the time.
Birds breathe quickly, so they need more water. If they are laying eggs, those eggs also need moisture.
Always provide enough fresh water, even in winter.
#10. SUPPLEMENTS:
Chickens need extra calcium for strong eggshells. Adding a natural oyster shell alternative helps keep eggshells strong. It is better to use real oyster shells instead of a processed oyster shell supplement. You can easily provide the natural oyster shell in a small wall hopper for the chickens to eat whenever they want.
#11. FEED STORAGE BINS
We added a useful wooden storage area for grain and feed sacks. It was easy to include in our design.
This storage can hold four 50-pound sacks of feed. Having it inside the coop saves time and makes it easier to handle the sacks.
The wooden lid is hinged and has a hook and eye to keep it open while we scoop out grain or load in feed sacks.
#12. DIVIDED COMPARTMENT FOR RAISING CHICKS
Our chicken coop has a separated compartment that we have used to when raising baby chicks.
We put our 6-week-old pullets in after they are fully feathered and ready to be moved out of the brooder. Besides that, this fenced area is helpful when separating out injured birds.
There is a small roost in this area, plus there is plenty of room for a waterer and feeder. It has been the perfect transition area from brooder to coop!
IN CONCLUSION on Chicken Coop Ideas:
Chickens are simple to raise if you have a good plan. Here are the key points to consider:
- Shelter that is predator proof with plenty of windows for natural light
- Provide enough floor space for each chicken.
- Include nest boxes for laying eggs.
- Set up roosts with enough space for each bird to rest.
- Use feeders and waterers for food and water.
- Add natural oyster shell for calcium.
- Store feed properly.
Thanks for reading Chicken Coop Ideas and Tips!
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