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A chicken coop doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to work. Believe me, your chickens won’t care if the wood is reclaimed barn board or fresh from the hardware store. In fact, our first chicken coop was made from used lumber we got from a neighbor who had torn down an old deck and used plywood found dumped alongside the road. We not only built a chicken coop, but also helped clean up the area near our home.

Chickens care about four things: shelter from weather, safety from predators, a place to lay eggs, and a perch to sleep on at night. That’s the whole list.

Every decision you make about your coop, whether you build it from scratch or buy one ready-made, should serve one of those four needs. Get them right, and your flock will be healthy and calm. Miss one and you’ll deal with stressed birds, broken eggs, or worse.

Here’s what to plan for, section by section.

As our flock grew, the coop graduated to a larger and fancier coop and pen. See New Chicken Coop and Pen on the “Cheep” for another great idea for making an inexpensive coop.

Start with the Basics of a Roof, Walls, and Door

Start simple. A coop needs a roof, four walls, and a doorway. The materials and style are your call. Wood, metal roofing, and repurposed pallets all work fine. The main rule is that the structure stays draft-free while still allowing airflow. Chickens handle cold better than most people think, but a drafty coop in winter will make them sick.

If you live in an area with a lot of predators, you will probably want to close your hens in at night, but let me tell you, closing the coop door every night can be a pain. My Chick Cozy automatic coop door was the best money I ever spent for my girls. It is something to consider. Just set the timer, and it closes them in.

Size the coop to your flock. Plan for 4 square feet of floor space per full-size chicken and 3 square feet per bantam. These numbers matter. Crowded birds get aggressive and stop laying. And think about cleaning before you finalize your design. Keep your chicken coop in top shape with our Chicken Coop Maintenance Tips.

Protection with a Smart Coop

 

Security: The Part You Can’t Skip

Predator-proofing is the most important job in any coop build. Raccoons, coyotes, foxes, hawks, and rats all want what’s inside your coop. When planning your coop security, you need to consider all threats from the sides, top, and underground.

·     Walls and run fencing. Skip the standard chicken wire since the holes are too large. A raccoon can reach right through and grab a hen. Use ½-inch hardware cloth instead. It keeps everything out.

·    Overhead cover. Hawks are a real threat in most areas, and an open-top run puts out a welcome sign. Cover the top of your run with the same hardware cloth you use on the sides.

·    Ground protection. Rats and mice will burrow under your coop to reach the feed and droppings. To reduce the threat, use a coop with a built-in floor, or bury hardware cloth at least 12 inches from the base on all sides. That stops diggers cold.

The Outside Run

Chickens need time outside. They scratch dirt, take dust baths, chase bugs, and lounge in the sun. A run protects them and gives them the space for their favorite activities.

Plan for 10 square feet of run space per full-size chicken. Bantams need about 7 square feet each. If your birds free-range during the day, you can get by with a smaller run since they’ll only use it at night and on days you keep them penned.

Keep your coop in the best shape possible by reading my Chicken Coop Maintenance Tips.

Nesting Boxes

No nesting boxes, no eggs. Or rather, you’ll get eggs, but it is a matter of finding them. Hens will lay on the ground, in corners, and in places you’ll never find if they don’t have a proper box.

Each box should measure about 12 by 12 inches and sit a few inches off the ground. The standard ratio is one box for every four laying hens. Keep the sides low enough for hens to step in and out easily, and line each box with clean straw or shavings.

Roosting Perches

Chickens don’t sleep on the ground if they can help it. They roost. Your coop needs at least one perch, and an outdoor perch in the run is a good idea, too.

Allow 5 to 10 inches of perch space per bird. If you install more than one bar, stagger them like a ladder. Place the highest bar several inches above the next one down. Chickens will compete for the top spot, and the staggered setup gives every bird a place to land.

The Bottom Line

You can spend hundreds on a beautiful pre-built coop or prefab kit, or build one from scrap lumber over a weekend with little investment other than your time. Either way, the checklist is the same. You want solid walls and a roof, predator-proof fencing on all six sides, nesting boxes, a roosting perch, and enough outdoor space for your birds to act like birds. Cover those five items, and your flock will thrive, and everything else is a bonus.

Need more chicken coop info? Learn how to care for your coop with Chicken Coop Maintenance Tips.