better homes and gardens chicken house

Chicken Coop Ideas to Try

Some simple chicken coop planning makes building a home for your feathered friends much easier. Learn the basics, then watch ideas in action on how to make your coop greener, give it multiple functions, and decorate it!

Chicken Coop Basics

Country Gardens/Rommy Lopat Garden/Richmond, IL. CMR#5107473

Once you've decided to raise chickens, and you've checked your zoning laws to find out how many you are allowed, your next step should be to think about a coop. The coop is where your chickens will sleep and lay their eggs, so it is important that it's well-thought out. There isn't a single perfect chicken coop design, but safe coops share similar designs. Here are some considerations, whether you are building or buying a coop:

Size

Allow 2-4 square feet of floor space per hen. Plan for the eventual number of chickens you intend to have, because it's always easier to start with a large chicken coop than it is to add onto a small chicken coop later.

Elevation

Raised coops prevent predators from digging up through the floor, prevent a wooden floor from rotting, and allow the chickens space underneath to escape from sun and rain. Decide if you are going to elevate your coop on bricks, cement blocks, or a wooden framework -- and how high off the ground it will be.

Flooring

If your coop is not raised, your flooring might be dirt (easy for predators to dig under to gain access), cement (deters predators and rot), or wood. Raised coops with plywood covered with vinyl linoleum makes an inexpensive, durable flooring that is easy to clean.

Bedding

Straw or pine shavings make excellent bedding. Hay should not be used as it molds and mildews easily, and sand should be avoided because it doesn't insulate from the cold and can harbor pathogens.

Ventilation

Adequate ventilation is important to allow fresh air to circulate and moisture to escape from your coop. All windows and vents should be covered with ½-inch hardware cloth to keep predators out.

Nesting Boxes

The nesting boxes are where your chickens will lay their eggs. Plan for one box per 3-4 chickens. Each box should be approximately 12 inches square. Boxes can be at floor level or slightly raised with a ladder or ramp to allow the chickens access.

Roosts

The roosts are where your chickens will sleep. Roosts can be wooden boards or branches. Plastic should not be used because it is slippery; metal should be avoided because it gets too cold in the winter. Allow 8 inches of space per hen and be sure to position your roosts above the nesting boxes (otherwise your chickens will be tempted to sleep in the boxes and soil the box bedding).

Predator-Proofing

The door to your coop should be outfitted with a predator-proof lock. Raccoons can undo latches and slide deadbolts, so a locking eye hook is safer. Nesting box lids need a secure latch as well.

If you keep these various features in mind when you are coop shopping, you will end up with a suitable coop for your flock.

The following chicken coop plans incorporate these features into a compact 4x6 coop, perfect for six to eight hens, which includes three nesting boxes and 12 feet of roosting bar space.

Environmental Considerations

There are several ways you can make your chicken coop even more environmentally-friendly. Solor powered sensors are available to let hens in and out automatically at dawn and dusk and provide security. Another option is to create a green roof planted with drought tolerant varieties.

Multiple Functions

Your coop doesn't have to be, well, just a coop. One of the most creative ways we've seen a chicken coop utilized was one built on a hayrack trailer, allowing it to move around the farm to help fertilize crops.

If you'd prefer your coop to stay in one place, try building out a patio space by your coop or integrating it into the landscape with a windowbox and plants around it.

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