Hen houses are basically your chicken’s private bungalows. They’re designed to provide shelter during the night but, if the space is generous, it also provides a nice area for daytime activities as well. Sure, you can build your own chicken coop, but that’s a project that takes time and resources, so you might be better off buying one that’s already made.
And if you hang in there, we’ve got some good buying tips for you before starting a chicken coop.
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Backyard Boss Best 5 Chicken Coops for the Backyard
| PRODUCT | FEATURES | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | OverEZ Large Chicken Coop |
| Check The Price! |
 | Petsfit Weatherproof Chicken Coop |
| Check The Price! |
 | Pets Imperial Double Savoy Chicken Coop |
| Check The Price! |
 | OverEZ Medium Chicken Coop |
| Check The Price! |
 | Polar Aurora Walk-In Poultry Cage |
| Check The Price! |
Why You Can Trust Us
Chicken coops for the backyard aren’t a new topic here at Backyard Boss. Whether you’re looking for a mobile coop to fit in a corner of your yard, a permanent coop for a growing flock, or anything in between, we’ve reviewed it. We’ve even gone the DIY route and built some of our own. Now we’ve managed to boil all of this experience down into this guide so that you don’t have to go the long way round to find the best chicken coop for your backyard. If you are a chicken owner this article is for you.
Best Large Chicken Coop
Why We Like It: Nothing beats a top-quality product that will last for ages. What’s more, the assembly couldn’t be easier, with just one tool needed. You can rest assured that your flock will be safe and happy for years to come when you buy one of these coops.
For the large backyard flock, you can’t go wrong with this coop. This high-quality product has enough space for up to 15 backyard chickens. Sturdiness and quality are the top features here. As you might expect, you have to be willing to pay for something like this.
The coop arrives partially pre-assembled, and all you need is a screwdriver to put the parts together. Bear in mind that this coop is large, which means you’ll receive a huge, heavy box with all the bits and pieces. Make sure you have someone to help you move things around when you’re ready to put this coop together.
Who Should Buy It: For those who have a large flock of backyard chickens and are prepared to invest in a top-quality henhouse, this is an option for you. If you don’t want to fuss and fiddle and need some quality accommodation for your poultry you can’t beat a one-tool assembly product.
If you want more options for a large flock, have a look at our roundup of large coop plans.
Best Small Chicken Coop
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Big enough for four chickens, with nesting space for two, this simple outdoor chicken coop makes it easy to collect eggs
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Why We Like It: This chicken coop is simple and straightforward. Everything you need comes in the box. So it shouldn’t take you longer than about 30 minutes to put it together. Sometimes you don’t need all the fancy additions, you simply need a safe place for your chickens. Petsfit can fill that need.
If you’re looking for a small coop for a couple of hens, this is the chicken coop to buy. With a relatively simple design, this coop can host up to four chickens, although there’s nesting space for only two chickens. The coop is easy to put together as you’ll receive instructions on how to perform this operation without any headaches.
The coop is made from rain-proof fir wood that promises durability in the long run and it comes with a one-year warranty. The adjustable ventilation system of this coop is provided by the bottom slabs that have gaps between them, allowing air to pass through.
While the top side of the coop can’t be opened, it does have floor panels that can be removed for easier coop cleaning. The nesting box is located on the side of the coop and comes with a removable divider that allows two hens to use it.
Who Should Buy It: If you’re looking for a small nesting box that doesn’t cost a fortune and can hold a maximum of two hens at once, the Petsfit coop is a product well worthy of your attention.
Best Coop for Easy Cleaning
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This coop not only looks fancy, but it's also full of features, too! Give your flock everything they could ever want with this luxury abode
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Why We Like It: This coop is designed with easy cleaning at the top of mind. Cleaning out your coop will no longer be a nasty chore with the Pets Imperial. Not only that, but it’s completely fox and coyote proof as well. You can rest easy knowing that your coop is clean and safe.
Probably one of the nicest hen houses that you can find online. From the moment we laid eyes on this high-quality chicken coop we knew it was designed for royalty. It may cost more than the others, but it does come with the right amount of features to compensate for the higher price. Aside from having all the right compartments for your chicken, it also has plenty of additional measures that will help you care for it in the long run.
The coop is made from animal-friendly timber and promises to last for years to come. The design of this coop was made to give your chicken two nest boxes and six compartments, plus four perches. The bottom side of the coop has a pull-out tray that makes it easier for you to clean.
Note that the chicken coop arrives in two separate boxes, and chances are you might not get both of them at the same time, which might be inconvenient.
Who Should Buy It: The Pets Imperial chicken coop is designed for those of you that want a fancier coop and nesting place for your birds, but also for those worried that cleaning such a coop may be too complicated. Best for four to six chickens.
Best Chicken Coop Kit
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Built by Amish trained craftsmen, the OverEZ product range is built to last. You won't have to worry about your flock's comfort for years to come with one of these in your backyard
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Why We Like It: Durability is the name of the game with this hen house. This thing is built to last. There’s also a run that’s sold separately if you want to give your chickens some extra space to scrounge around.
If you’re after a top-quality chicken coop kit that doesn’t require an advanced engineering degree to put together, you’re in luck. This kit arrives partially pre-assembled. All the panels and trim are already painted and assembled. The hardware, windows, doors, and nesting boxes are pre-installed. All that’s needed from you is one tool and an hour of your time.
This kit comes in three sizes, and the medium size has space for up to 10 chickens. You can buy a run that attaches to the coop as an optional extra.
While the company is reputable and the product is high quality, it’s worth noting that the shipping company is not gentle with the products. However, if your kit arrives damaged, we’re confident that a company of this stature would fix the problem quickly.
Who Should Buy It: If you want luxury accommodation for your hens and are prepared to invest in a hen house that will stand the test of time, this is the coop for you. Assembly is quick and only requires one tool.
Best Chicken Coop With Run
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This metal cage is perfect for letting your chickens get some exercise in safety. It can be easily modified to act as a coop.
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Why We Like It: This is a sturdy outdoor run that keeps chickens (and other small pets) safe from hawks and raptors. The galvanized steel frame and PVC coated mesh are top-quality and built to last.
If you want to keep your chicken protected from predators or simply to prevent them from wandering off, this coop made by Polar Aurora is just what you’ll need. It’s basically a large metal cage that comes with a cloth cover to give your chicken a spot sheltered from the sun.
The door of the coop has a latch that will secure it in place and give you peace of mind knowing your animals are safe. The frame features a quick-connect mechanism that should allow you to assemble the coop in record time.
The waterproof cover that’s included in the kit will more than just protect the chicken from rain. Its UV protection will make sure that the cover doesn’t crack or peel in time. The pen itself is made from solid wires, and the frame will keep it anchored to the ground.
Who Should Buy It: This chicken coop is designed for those looking for a way to keep their animals safe during the day, but also for those looking for a pen large enough to hold other animals, like rabbits, sheep, or goats.
Best for Ease-of-Use
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This easy to clean, top quality hen house is designed to keep your chickens off the ground. This ensures your flock is safe and healthy all year round
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Why We Like It: Big enough for 10 chickens, easy to move (it has wheels), and simple to clean. The dark green color that blends into the background is also a nice touch.
This awesome hen house is built with quality and can contain chickens as well as other small animals. It comes with no-spill food and water containers. What does that mean? It means less clean-up for the owner, but also a better living situation for your backyard birds.
It’s built to keep your chickens off the ground and comfortable no matter the season. Collecting eggs is easy with the simple egg collector. Weekly clean-up is an easy task because all the droppings fall to the bottom and collect in a tray that you pull out and quickly clean. Meaning this product provides one of the best chicken coop floors.
Who Should Buy It: For anyone who’s looking for a hen house that’s built to last and makes everything as easy as possible, then the Eglu Omlet model is for you. It’s on par with plans for 12 chickens because it’s rated for 10 but reviewers say they can fit many more. But this company has other models to consider, too! Check out our Eglu cube chicken coop reviews to see more!
Benefits of Having a Chicken Coop
Ok, so we may have simplified the definition of a chicken coop in the first paragraph a little bit. Truth is, an urban chicken house serves a variety of different purposes, and it’s absolutely something to have if you own any chickens. A premade hen house is a worthy purchase because:
- It can protect your chicken from bad weather. Part of a chicken coop resembles a dog house and offers shelter to chickens that also need protection against nature’s elements. So, be it rain, snow, or excessive heat, chickens need a place to nest.
- It offers protection from predators. Cats and foxes are amongst the number one enemies of chicken, and as much as you try to supervise them during the day, you still need a place to shelter the chicken at night.
- It protects your birds from diseases. For instance, if you were to leave the chickens sleeping outside in the dead of a winter night, they would be prone to catching a virus that could be fatal or, even worse, passed along to you. A hen house should provide a well-insulated space that can protect animals against seasonal infections.
- It protects the eggs. They also give your hens a proper nest to lay eggs. If that were to happen in the middle of the yard/garden, chances that your eggs would be stolen by other animals or even stepped on are pretty high.
What Type Of Chicken Coop Is Best?
The answer everyone loves to hate; it depends. Before we get into what it depends on, let’s have a quick look at the different types of coops you could consider.
Whether you decide to go the DIY route, the pre-assembled route, or the built-for-you route, the first question you have to answer is the same. Do you want your coop to be mobile or permanent?
Mobile coops are great if you want to be able to move your flock around to fresh foraging ground on a regular basis. Or if you have a small yard for your chickens and need to be able to roll them out of the way.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more elaborate setup, or if you have a larger flock, going for a permanent coop may be better suited to your needs.
Getting into the details about the different types of chicken coops is a topic worthy of its own post. And wouldn’t you know it, Backyard Boss has you covered with deep dive on the different types of chicken coops out there.
How Big Should a Coop Be?
Luckily the experts have worked out a useful rule of thumb for the space you need per chicken. Inside the coop, you need a minimum of two to three square feet per chicken. In the outside run, this expands to eight to 10 feet per chicken. It’s important to remember that this is an absolute minimum, and if possible, you should be looking at more space per chicken.
Also, consider whether your flock is going to grow or not. If there’s a rooster around, some of those eggs will hatch and you’ll have some chicks to think about. It’s better to start off with too much space than too little.
If your flock is short on space it can have some nasty consequences. Stress, pecking, and cannibalism are all symptoms of a flock with too little space. I don’t know about you, but cannibal chickens are not something I’m keen to have in my backyard.
Important Buying Aspects
Needless to say, not all chicken coops are created the same, which means that you have to learn to tell the different styles and elements apart if you want a product that’s suitable for your current backyard setup.
- Naturally, the very first thing that you have to ask yourself is how many chickens does this coop have to house? It’s one thing to have to buy a chicken coop for 3 birds, and a completely different thing to look for a house for 20 birds. You have to make sure that the model you buy has plenty of space for all your chickens. Overcrowding is often a problem with domestic animals.
- Chicken coops can be mobile. The purpose for which they were designed is so that you can move the coop around granting your chickens access to new ground to forage. Certain types of mobile coops can be moved by hand, but they only provide space for a few chickens. Larger mobile coops require something like a tractor in order to move them from point A to point B.
- Chicken coops are designed for night housing, daytime activities, or both. Naturally, if you want one for all times of day, you’ll also have to pay more. If you’re just looking for a nesting coop and a place for the chickens to sleep at night, you can find plenty of coops that match those requirements.
- A hen house with convenience is always a benefit. So something like an automatic chicken coop door or pull-out trays for cleaning is always a bonus.
- As we mentioned before, one of the main roles of a chicken house is to protect the birds from predators. This means that you’ll have to consider what predators live in your area and examine the coops you plan on buying to make sure they are safe. This is more complicated than it seems because it requires gathering some knowledge about these potential predators. For instance, an owl can swoop in through a small window and fly away with a baby chick. A raccoon with really sharp claws can destroy the wire on a chicken coop.
How We Picked
We looked at all the different features that are important to maintaining a healthy flock and factored them into our choices. We looked at different sizes for various space requirements, predator proofing, ease of cleaning, ease of assembly, as well as a few kits and coops that have space for foraging in a run. As always, quality is important in the products we recommend. Although we also try to include a range of prices for accessibility.
The Best Overall Chicken Coop
The OverEZ Large Chicken Coop has got to be the winner here. At that price point, you should expect nothing less. The high-quality materials and sturdy workmanship make this easy to assemble product our top pick. With enough space for up to 15 chickens, your flock should be safe, healthy, and happy for years to come.
There are a few features that every good chicken coop should have, including an easy-to-clean nesting area or a waterproof roof that keeps the birds safe regardless of the weather conditions.
If you’re looking for a chicken coop for two to four chickens, you should be able to find one that doesn’t cost very much. However, larger coops are expensive, so make sure you pay close attention to what you’re getting for your money.
