Camryn Rabideau

If you’re thinking about getting backyard chickens, one of the most important — and most expensive — purchases you’ll make is a coop. The best chicken coops provide shelter and security for your flock, but if the structure is poorly made or too small, your birds may end up stressed or unhappy. This can lead to health issues and reduced egg production, so it’s a good idea to do your research ahead of time and purchase a well-made chicken coop that’s suited to your needs.

Unfortunately, many chicken coops that are sold online are woefully small and have crucial design flaws. I’ve been raising chickens for more than five years now, and in that time, I’ve found a few well-made coops that are worth your money. Here are the best chicken coops that I recommend, as well as guidance on what to look for as you shop.

Best Overall Chicken Coop: Rhode Island Homestead

I personally own this chicken coop, and it’s served my flock quite well. It has a much more thoughtful design than other options on the market — it’s crafted fully from wood, includes a convenient clean-out drawer, and even uses hardware cloth for predator-proofing! The Rhode Island Homestead Coop is actually one of the more affordable picks on this list, too, and I can personally attest that it’s not that bad to assemble, especially with two people.

I do have a few gripes with this coop, but they’re minor. You’re supposed to paint or stain it for weather-proofing, which is a bit annoying, and there are some design quirks — for instance, you can’t open the nesting box lids if the window shutters are open, and the door track gets clogged with bedding often. I’d also recommend skipping the brand’s optional runs. They’re pricey and not the most sturdy, if you ask me.

Dimensions: 68.75W x 46.25L x 66.5H inches | Listed Capacity: 8 full-size chickens | Material: Fir wood | Nesting Boxes: 6 | Roosting Bars: 4 | Ventilation: Yes | Run: Add-ons available

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Best for 6 Chickens: Omlet Eglu Coop

If you’re only planning to keep a small flock, the Eglu Coop is a well-designed option that provides the most bang for your buck. However, its capacity is definitely overstated — most people say it’s realistically suitable for four to six hens.

This is the mid-size version of the Eglu, but there are also larger and smaller models available, too. You can purchase it with an optional run, and there are a variety of other accessories you can add on, such as an automatic door and wheels to move it around your yard. One of the biggest benefits is that it’s super easy to clean thanks to the pull-out drawer and plastic construction, and despite being made from plastic, it’s surprisingly durable and effectively keeps out predators.

Dimensions: 37L x 39W x 46H inches (without run) | Listed Capacity: 8 medium-sized chickens | Material: UV-stabilized polyethylene | Nesting Boxes: 1 | Roosting Bars: N/A | Ventilation: Yes | Run: Optional

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Best for 12 Chickens: OverEZ Large Chicken Coop

My local Runnings stocked these coops for a few years, so I’ve inspected them in person, and you could definitely house a dozen or so chickens in the large version. I also like that there are three styles available that offer different colors and finishes, and they come pre-painted.

OverEZ coops are definitely some of the more sturdy options, and I like that they have functioning windows. However, you’ll probably need basic power tools and an extra set of hands to put it together. While you’re at it, I’d also recommend installing some larger vents along the roofline, or you may end up having problems with odors and/or moisture build-up during the winter.

Dimensions: 74L x 60W x 72.5H inches | Listed Capacity: 15 chickens | Material: Wood w/ metal roof | Nesting Boxes: 5 | Roosting Bars: 2 | Ventilation: Yes | Run: No

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Best Walk-In: Zylina Modern Chicken Barn

A newer addition product to hit the market, the Zylina Modern Chicken Barn is the real deal — if you’re willing to pay the real high price, that is. This pre-fab chicken coop has it all, including a full-size door, two windows, roofline vents, nesting boxes that you can access from outside the coop, and even a small attached run. The brand claims it can house up to 20 chickens, and while that may be slightly overstated, it could definitely hold 12 to 16 comfortably. So if you want a bigger flock, this coop may be worth the added expense.

The biggest downside of this chicken coop is that assembly is complicated and time-consuming. It comes in nine large boxes, and it will probably take you several hours (if not multiple days) to put the whole thing together. However, the end result is an attractive and well-made chicken coop that will serve you well for years to come.

Dimensions: 139.2L x 109W x 97H inches | Listed Capacity: 20 chickens | Material: Wood w/ PVC roof | Nesting Boxes: 6 | Roosting Bars: 3 | Ventilation: Yes | Run: Yes

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Best With Run: Producer’s Pride Defender

If you want to go with a Producer’s Pride coop (a line exclusively sold through Tractor Supply), the Defender is one of the best picks from the brand. The coop itself is fairly large and has built-in storage space for essentials like bedding and food, and it also comes with a 10 x 10 foot walk-in run where your birds can hang out during the day.

However, it’s important to realize that the run does have some limitations. Because it’s not made from hardware cloth, the gaps between the wires are big enough for mice, rats, and weasels to squeeze through. Additionally, a raccoon could definitely stick its arm in to grab your birds. The run also doesn’t come with a roof, so you may want to cover it with a tarp to provide your birds shelter from the elements.

Dimensions: 170L x 122W x 84H inches | Listed Capacity: 12 chickens | Material: Wood w/ asphalt roof | Nesting Boxes: 4 | Roosting Bars: 3 | Ventilation: Yes | Run: Yes, 120 x 120 x 80 inches

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Best for Large Flocks: Heartland Midtown Storage Shed

If you want a lot of birds and aren’t afraid of a little DIY, one of the most budget-friendly options is to buy a pre-fab shed and convert it into a chicken coop. This shed is particularly promising—it costs less than $2,000 and offers 86 square feet of interior space, which is suitable for more than 40 chickens. (If this seems outrageous, I’d urge you to look up “chicken math”—it’s real!)

The caveat is that the shed will need some alterations before it’s suitable for your flock. You’ll have to install roosting bars and nesting boxes, as well as ventilation. Still, I think it’s a manageable task for anyone with a little DIY experience, and your birds will be safe and secure in the sturdy structure.

Dimensions: 121.2L x 103.6W x 102H inches | Listed Capacity: N/A | Material: Engineered wood | Nesting Boxes: N/A | Roosting Bars: N/A | Ventilation: No | Run: No

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Other Places to Buy a Chicken Coop

If you don’t have any luck shopping online (and don’t want to build a coop yourself), there are a few other places I recommend shopping for a chicken coop.

Facebook Marketplace

You can find just about anything on Facebook Marketplace, and that includes chicken coops. I regularly see people selling unwanted/unneeded coops on the platform, and you can save a lot of money if you’re OK with a used coop. Just be sure to deep clean it before moving your flock in to prevent the spread of diseases, mites, etc.

The downside with this option is that you’re generally on the hook for picking up and transporting the coop, which can be difficult if you want a bigger structure. However, some sellers are willing to deliver for an additional fee.

Local Shed Stores

I’ve also found that most shed stores carry chicken coops. Many of these retailers have display yards where you can go and look at the products in-person, which will give you a sense of their quality, and they’ll generally deliver them to your home, as well. One of the big benefits here is that there’s no assembly required!

Similarly, if there’s someone in your town who builds sheds or outbuildings, chances are they can build you a chicken coop. This is the way to go if you want a custom design, as they’ll work with you to create the perfect house for your flock.

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What to Look for in a Chicken Coop

Size

If you want your flock to be happy and healthy, it’s important to give them plenty of space to sleep, eat, and roam during the day. However, many commercial available chicken coops are way too small and only suitable to house a few full-size chickens. The Producer’s Pride Sentinel Coop, pictured below, is one common example of this—while it looks decently sized in product photos, this popular coop is tiny in person. It only comes up to my waist!

How much space do chickens need, exactly? For standard-sized breeds, the rule of thumb is:

• 2 square feet of coop space per bird
• 1 foot of roosting space per bird
• 10 square feet of outdoor space per bird, if they’re not allowed to free range

These numbers will be slightly less if you have small breeds like bantams, and they’ll be higher if you have larger breeds, such as Jersey Giants.

By this math, if you’re planning to keep 10 chickens, you’ll need at least a 20-square-foot coop—roughly 4×5 feet. Your coop will also need 10 linear feet of roosting bars, and a 100-square-foot run (10×10 feet). If you compare these numbers to the size of many prefab chicken coops, you’ll find that many brands overstate the capacity of their coops—a recipe for unhappy birds.

Ventilation

Ventilation is essential for a chicken coop, yet it’s an often-overlooked feature. If your coop doesn’t have adequate ventilation, ammonia and waste odors can build up, which can be harmful to your birds. Further, in the winter, proper ventilation is important for letting moisture out of the coop—otherwise, your chickens may end up with frostbite.

How much ventilation does a chicken coop need? Meyer Hatchery recommends 1 square foot of vents for every 10 square feet of coop space. However, in my experience, more is better for odor control. Vents should be located toward the top of the coop, and they should be placed in a spot that prevents drafts or wind from blowing on your birds when they roost.

Predator-Proofing

There are a lot of animals that can harm your chickens—foxes, coyotes, hawks, mink, and raccoons are a few of the main predators where I live in New England. Your chicken coop and run need to be able to keep these predators out, which can be quite tricky. A lot of online chicken coops have unsecured windows or doors that aren’t enough to deter predators, and I’ve also seen a lot of runs with large gaps in the fencing that many critters can simply crawl through.

Assembly

Virtually any chicken coop that you buy online will need to be assembled, so make sure you have the necessary tools to put your purchase together. If you buy a coop made from wood, it will likely be shipped via a freight carrier and arrive on pallets, and you’ll more than likely need a second person to hold up the walls and screw them together. These types of projects are often an exercise in patience, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to assemble the coop properly before you birds need to go into it. (Or, in other words, don’t wait until the day you plan to transfer your chicks outdoors to start thinking about assembly.)