The 5 Best Chicken Coops (2023 Review)

Chickens are friendly animals that can lay eggs, fertilizer, and pest control. If you’re considering purchasing backyard chickens, read our review on the best chicken coops to keep them in.

Top 5 Chicken Coops

• Best Features: OverEZ Small Chicken Coop
• Best Metal Coop: Polar Aurora Large Metal Chicken Coop
• Best For Small Yards: Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop
• Best Play Area: Aivituvin Walk-In Chicken Coop
• Most Portable: Best Choice Products Mobile Fir Wood Chicken Coop

Best Features

Pros and Cons

✔ Includes screened-in window
✔ Built by Amish-trained craftsmen
✔Has a heavy-duty design that works in both warm and cold weather

✘ Has the most expensive price tag in this review
✘ Some customers felt it was an overly small coop

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers noted that this chicken coop was solidly built, easy to assemble, and had a roomy interior. However, some customer did note they felt it was smaller than they expected, and others claimed the sides did not line up correctly.

Best Metal Coop

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes with a cover to protect your chickens
✔ Comes in multiple sizes
✔ Has a lockable steel door to keep your chickens secure

✘ Doesn’t have a nesting box
✘ Noted by some that parts were missing upon arrival

What Customers Are Saying

Customers praised this chicken coop for having a simple assembly process. Many noted that the assembly instructions were easy to understand and that the parts were clearly labeled. Customers also recommended this coop for its sturdy build. Negative reviews criticized the manufacturer for not sending all of the parts and for not responding to customer inquiries.

Best For Small Yards

Pros and Cons

✔ Comes in multiple colors
✔ Built with a rain-resistant asphalt roof
✔ The nesting box comes with an optional divider so that two hens can use it at once

✘ Can only accommodate a few chickens because of its small size
✘ Criticized for not being fully rainproof

What Customers Are Saying

Positive reviews raved about how easy this chicken coop was to put together and clean. However, unhappy customers pointed out that the nesting box had holes in it that rodents could break into. They also said that the wood started to show signs of rain damage after a short period of ownership.

Best Play Area

Pros and Cons

✔ Most affordable option in this review
✔ Can be used for rabbits as well
✔ Has a removable PVC bottom layer for easy cleaning

✘ Criticized by some customers for having different dimensions than the product description
✘ Some customers said that it got too hot

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers loved this chicken coop for being predator-proof, weatherproof, easy to clean, and easy to assemble. However, dissatisfied customers said that their chicken coop arrived in a damaged box or with smaller dimensions than what the product description advertised.

Most Portable

Pros and Cons

✔ Has latches on both doors
✔ Features a UV roof panel to keep the inside from overheating
✔ Made from sturdy fir wood and steel wire

✘ Criticized for having a flimsy roof that caved in
✘ Noted by some customers that wildlife could get in

What Customers Are Saying

Positive reviews praised this chicken coop for easily fitting four to five chickens. Many reviewers also loved how maneuverable and simple to assemble it was. Negative reviews pointed out that the UV screen and roof were flimsy, increasing the chances that predators could break in.

Buyer’s Guide

The ideal backyard chicken coop is a cozy, high-quality home for your chickens. This buyer’s guide goes over several important factors to consider before making a purchase.

Nesting Boxes

Nesting boxes give your hens a comfortable place to lay their eggs and make harvesting the eggs much easier. Ideally, you should have one nesting box for every three or four hens in your coop. Be sure to keep the nesting boxes clean and lined with fresh straw or pine shavings to attract the hens to them.

Safety

It’s important in your hen house to both keep your chickens safe from predatory animals and prevent chickens running away. All coop doors should be secured with a sturdy lock. Windows and other large openings should be covered with mesh that the chickens can’t peck through. Also, chicken owners should regularly check the roof and walls of your chicken coop, and repair any damage.

Ease of Cleaning

Make sure that you have easy access to your feathered friends’ house’s interior to keep it clean and smell-free. The nesting boxes and the area underneath the perches should be cleaned the most as should any area where your chickens regularly defecate or shed feathers.

Size

If your chickens don’t have enough living space, they will get stressed and lay fewer fresh eggs. Ideally, a chicken coop should have three to four square feet of space per chicken in interior areas and five to six square feet of space per chicken in outdoor areas.

Rest/Exercise Areas

Chickens should have perches for resting and an outdoor area, typically called a “run,” for exercising. Outdoor areas should be surrounded with wire mesh to keep predators out.

UV Protection

A chicken coop with a UV panel on the top will block and reflect sunlight, keeping a cooler temperature inside the chicken coop during the warmer months of the year or if you live somewhere with a permanently warm climate.

Other Design Elements

Several additional design elements can improve a chicken’s quality of life. These include:

• Windows
• Access ramps
• Feed boxes
• Fans
• Roosting bars
• Sliding doors

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I put my chicken coop?

Here are some general guidelines:

• Place your coop as far away as possible from both your house and your neighbors’ houses but still within earshot of your home to hear disturbances.
• If there’s a fence or hedge between your property and a neighbor’s, avoid putting your coop directly next to it to prevent the chickens from damaging the property boundary.
• Move your chicken coop every three to six months to give your grass a chance to grow back in the previously used area.
• Don’t put your coop in direct sunlight, as extreme heat will distress the chickens.

What flooring should I use inside my chicken coop?

If possible, place your chicken coop over a patch of grass or dirt instead of using artificial flooring. This will allow your chickens to peck at the ground for grubs. However, you can also cover this surface with straw or wood shavings to keep the chickens comfortable. If you live in an area where predatory animals are a concern, consider placing the coop on a concrete or wooden surface instead to keep predators from digging under the coop to reach the chickens.

Should I put a rooster in my chicken coop?

Roosters are natural leaders, so they can help your hens feel more secure, which could increase egg production. However, keep in mind that roosters crow multiple times per day, which may be a problem if you live in an area with strict noise regulations or if your coop is close to a neighbor’s house.

Is it cheaper to buy or build a chicken coop?

In many cases, the cost of materials is significantly cheaper than purchasing a pre-built chicken coop. However, the labor, tools, and skills required to build a sturdy coop may outweigh that of a pre-built coop. Additionally, a handbuilt coop may not be as durable, weatherproof, or secure for your chickens compared to a pre-built model.

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