We've Done the Research, These Are The Best Chicken Coops for Your Backyard Brood (2024)

Recommended for 8-10 chickens, this large coop from Aivituvin is made from solid fir wood and a waterproof asphalt roof which makes it a great choice for your backyard birds. It uses pet-safe paint and has galvanized wire that's predator-proof with half-inch openings. Anything bigger could lead to animals trying to break through. For additional water protection, we love that a waterproof PVC cover runs across the edge of the nesting box roof to prevent water from getting into the box and creating a damp mess inside. The area outside of the nesting boxes closes tight with a latch to keep even more weather or predators from interfering. Air vents are built on two sides of the coop to allow fresh air in and provide proper ventilation. The slide doors are designed in a way that they can be replaced with automatic chicken coop doors if you end up choosing that route. The run is also a spacious size with three roosts outside.

When it comes to the inside of this coop, there are four roosts and six nesting boxes. There are also removable metal pans in the nest boxes for easy clean up.

For an even more in-depth look, you can watch this video tour of the coop on the Aivituvin YouTube channel.

If you're looking for an untraditional chicken coop you can wheel around the yard, meet the Omlet Go Up Coop. This brand is becoming a household favorite among many chicken owners. A smaller coop made for up to 4 chickens, it's constructed of stainless steel and 100% recyclable UV stabilized plastic. The run for this coop is made from steel weld mesh that helps resist even the most persistent chicken predators. And a great addition to the run is the no-spill feeder and drinker that are designed to hang right on the run.

In order to open the door of the coop and to keep those babies safe inside, you have to lift and and turn the handle on top of the coop to open and close the door. Inside, the coop has removable roosting bars with a dropping tray directly underneath for easy clean up. Although it's made from plastic, it's created with a multi-wall insulation system to effectively insulate the coop, making sure the body heat from your chickens has nowhere to go. During summer, the insulation works the same way to keep your chickens cool. When it comes to ventilation, there's a draft-free ventilation system that's designed to keep fresh air circulating that won't blow air directly over the roosting and nesting area.

And if you do end up moving the coop, the wheels and run handles make is super easy to transfer it from spot to spot.

OverEZ is a popular brand that many chicken tenders have given their stamp of approval to in recent years. This coop can house up to 10 chickens and is made of natural pine wood and non-toxic paint, built in the USA by Amish-trained craftsmen. The roof is made of a metal material that's designed so that rainwater runs off the back of the coop and away from your nesting boxes.

Inside the floors and walls are coated with resin which is going to withstand moisture better and make cleaning much easier. There are three nesting boxes inside as well as two rests for the hens to relax. However, this coop doesn't have a removable tray to collect chicken droppings.

While it doesn't come with a run, the brand sells an array of heavy duty ones to choose from. It does have a keyed-latch chicken door to keep out predators, a screen window that opens for fresh air and has two vents to allow more light and fresh air in. There's also a treated ramp for your girls to get down from the raised coop. This coop also comes in a large size that can house up 10 15 chickens.

This reviewer raved about the durability of the coop: "I was skeptical on the quality as I reside in Montana and we have HARSH winters. I have to say that I am so impressed with how well it is built and structured! I have 13 chickens and they all fit perfectly! We have reached 30 below so far and they have been warm and dry in this coop! I highly recommend! It only took my husband and I 30 minutes to put together, also!"

Producer's Pride is known to have some of the best coops on the market. This coop holds up to 6 hens and offers a cozy nook inside with a spacious run on the outside. It's built with thick wood panels, a powder-coat steel frame, and an asphalt roof. There are five different doors/openings with double latches on them to keep predators out. The main slide door lets your feathered friends out with a solid wood ramp to help them get down.

The interior has 3 large nesting boxes and slide-out tray. We especially love that the roof of the nesting boxes can stand up on its own to make your job easier while collecting eggs. Inside there's an extended roosting bar and each side of the main coop also has a round vent that can be easily opened and closed for better air circulation.

One chicken tender who owns the coop with five chickens living in it said "It is worth every penny. When we were putting this together we were really impressed." One thing she notes is that she wouldn't put any more than five birds in the coop to give each one enough space. You can watch her whole review and tour of the coop on the Homestead on the Preserve YouTube page.

Your hens will live in lux with this chateau-like coop! Good for about 1- chickens, it's made of solid wood and steel construction with UV-resistant high-gloss paint. The roof panels are made of thick plastic and also covers the run for a little extra protection. Many owners also say the run material is very strong and great at keeping predators away. Plus, it's big enough for an adult to fully walk in. A ramp with grips is attached at the door so your chickens can easily get down. A ventilated window is also featured on the side of the coop for better air flow.

The interior of the coop has four roosting bars, and four nesting boxes with a droppings shelf in the rear. To open the doors of the coop, a specific twist and lock T-handle latches securely to keep predators out. The coop also uses removable poly floor which helps make cleaning easier.

For amore in-depth tour of the coop, you can watch this Review & Tour from Meg Grows Plants.

If you want to customize your coop a bit, this one from Petmate is a great option. It uses wood that is 200% thicker than normal wood panels you would see on a coop, making it really difficult for predators to break through. The wood is unstained which allows the buyer to decide if they want to leave it as, or paint it and decorate it to their liking. It has a plastic roof that runs water off and away from the main coop. There's one roost bar outside in the run and all the doorways are secured by a latch. The run wire is also made up of half-inch squares to keep away predators. And if you want to walk inside the run, there's a full-sized door so you don't have to squat too much.

Inside are two additional roosting bars, three nesting boxes and a nesting box door in the rear for egg collecting. Plus, there's a dropping shelf that can easily be pulled out and cleaned.

This chicken owner from central Kentucky gave a close-up tour of the coop that's worth a watch.

If you need a big coop, this one comes highly recommended from those with large flocks. Made from solid wood, a steel powder-coat frame, and an asphalt roof, it's built to last. There are multiple doors on the coop all which secure shut with a latch. The run is 10 ft and the material is strong, however, the wire openings are larger than we recommend since it's big enough for small predators like snakes or rodents to get in.

One large vent does the job of circulating air inside the coop for the chickens. Inside, you'll also find four nesting boxes and two large roosting bars. There are also two floor steel trays for cleaning.

This simple wooden coop is beautiful and comes with hundreds of glowing reviews. It's made of natural fir wood and the run has galvanized mesh wire to keep out predators. There are multiple doors/openings that each have a locking latch for extra security.

There are two nesting boxes, one roosting bar, and a tray that slides out to clean up the mess. You'll also find the small window on the coop slides open to mesh wire for ventilation. "For the price, you really can't beat it," reads one review.

Though this is a dual coop, we recommend making it a spacious coop for a few chickens. This one is set up with two enclosed houses and a connected run. It's made from natural fir wood and coated with water-resistant paint. Something unique about this one is that the roof opens to the inside for easy cleaning and maintenance. In addition to the roof opening, there are four doors that lock with small latches and ramps that lead from the doors to the ground.

Inside each coop is a double nesting box with a hinged top so you can pick you fresh eggs easily! There also two roosting bars and a couple of screened windows that will give your chickens proper and consistent ventilation.

Raise farm-fresh eggs, and herbs, with this beautiful coop that includes a built-in planter! This coop is hand-built using unfinished cedar wood and topped with a galvanized-metal roof. The 5x5 run space below the coop is enclosed with galvanized-wire mesh with small openings to keep out even the smallest of predators out. And the doors are secured with latches.

Inside, you'll find two nesting boxes which are accessible through a drop-down back door. We love this addition for easy egg-collecting. A small mesh-wire window is also located on the main coop for ventilation. And lastly, the small garden bed is the perfect spot to grow a few herbs or cut flowers to add to your lovely homestead.

This incredibly well-reviewed chicken coop (available in red, white, or grey) is made of fir wood, stainless steel hardware, and a water-resistant asphalt roof. It can fit 2-3 grown chickens and comes with a 1-year warranty. This one comes without a run and is low to the ground. The main coop door opens and doubles as a small ramp to allow your chickens easier access to the ground.

There are three openings, all with locks for extra protection. However, there are no ventilation windows, instead, the company claims air will go through from the bottom slabs for needed ventilation. There is a double nesting box on the side with a removable divider and the top roof can be opened or closed with a lid cover for easy egg collection. There are also two roosting bars inside the coop for your hens to perch.

One coop owner says "Best value small coop I could find for our suburban home" in this review. And Petsfit also has a video showing an in-depth tour of the quaint coop.

At the end of the day, when it comes to finding the best coop it really depends on you and your brood. And if you're wondering if you should buy or build, the main tradeoffs to consider are time, energy, and cost. While you might spend a bit more money on a prefab coop, it might be more convenient for you and chickens, and is a great way to start out. But don't skimp on anything. Finding one that that is predator and weather-proof, spacious enough for your flock size, and can be easily cleaned, are the most important factors.

Capacity and Sizing of Coops
First things first, know your flock size. Make sure you're looking at coops recommended for your amount. After talking with other chicken owners, it seems like the suggested bird count most coops give should really be subtracted by a few. For example, if you have 6 chickens, try out a coop that lists the capacity for 6-8, or 8-10. "Chickens need eight to ten inches of roosting space per bird and three to four square feet of coop space per bird," says Buckner. Crowded hens can cause a lot of unwanted commotion and unhealthy environments for them to live in. Remember, a healthy chicken is a happy chicken.

Materials and Durability

Depending on where you live, you might need different materials to keep your ladies safe. Are the materials quality enough to withstand hot and dry summers? What about high winds and heavy rainfall? Or freezing winters with ice and snow? Check the materials and find out if they're going to need to be replaced in 6 months or if they can withstand some weathering.

"When it comes to weather proofing the main goal is wind block. Plastic sheeting around the run is an affordable way to keep the chickens warm," says Lauren Allen, one of our favorite Texas chicken ladies.

Predator-Proof

What kind of materials you have and how your coop is designed will help you determine how predator-proof it is. While we enjoy their company and fresh eggs, predators like raccoons, foxes, coyotes, and snakes, are just a few of the animals that like to mess with, or even eat, chickens. Making sure all your openings are without gaps and have locks is just as important as finding a run with small enough holes, think a half-inch or smaller.

Lauren gave us some other great tips — "For predator proofing your coop, buyers need to prioritize a couple things: making sure there are no holes or gaps for critters to get into and using hardware cloth over chicken wire. Besides chicken wire not being as strong, the holes are the perfect size for snakes (no thanks!). Use hardware cloth around your run and make sure it extends out past the bottom of the walls to prevent something from digging their way in."

Cleanup and Maintenance

The one thing we don't love about keeping chickens is cleaning up all the mess! But having the right coop should make that aspect easier for you, not worse. Remember what we said earlier, a healthy hen is a happy hen, which means cleanup should not be neglected. Look for nesting boxes that are going to be easy to get to and dropping trays that can easily slide out. Some coops don't come with slide-out trays at all which can be a pain for you and your chickens. Bad ventilation can also cause issues with moisture, mold, or dry air which is going to lead to more mess and even illnesses in your hens. If the coop isn't at a good height or it doesn't have easy access to empty out and replace bedding, you're going to have a hard time in the long run.

Overall, no coop is going to be perfect, some might need an extra coat of paint or layer of cloth, but good chicken coops worth your time and money do exist. And the best part is they can be in your backyard in a matter of days. Take your time, weigh your options, and figure out what's going to work best for you, your space, and of course, your flock.