Chicken coops

For most backyard flocks, choose a sturdy walk-in or well-built coop with about 4 square feet of indoor floor per standard-size hen (2 for bantams, 5 for large breeds like Brahmas), plus about 10 square feet each in the run. Ignore the bird count on prefab coop boxes; measure the usable floor yourself.

Which coop does what

TypeGivesUse it for

Walk-in CoopSpacious shelter with easy human entryThe best long-term setup for most backyard flocks: plenty of room and air, and easy to clean.Amazon ↗
Raised / Elevated CoopOff-ground shelter with run beneathGood for small yards and wet or snowy ground. The shaded area underneath becomes part of the run.Amazon ↗
Tractor / Mobile CoopPortable shelter on wheelsUse when you want to move a small flock across grass regularly for fresh forage.Amazon ↗
Cheap Prefab Small CoopavoidThin panels, small floor, chicken wireAvoid as a main coop. Most hold far fewer birds than the box says, use thin wood and chicken wire, and won't stop raccoons without upgrades.

Sizing: Per standard hen: about 4 square feet of coop floor, 8 inches of roost, and about 1 square foot of ventilation high on the walls. Bantams need about 2 square feet and 6 inches of roost; large breeds like Brahmas and Jersey Giants about 5 square feet and 10 inches. Provide two nest boxes for the first 4 hens, then one for every 4 more (about 12x12 inches for standard breeds), placed lower than the roosts.

What each animal's guide calls for

From the checklists on each care guide, so this table and those pages always agree.

AnimalCoopReadingTypical price

Backyard chickenChicken coop for 4 hens (with roost and nest box)48×48×48 in$200–$800
QuailEnclosure / Quail Hutch · Coop Lighting Timer36×24×12 in$90–$200

How to choose

01Measure the real floor spacePlan about 4 square feet per standard hen inside the coop. Extension minimums are lower (2 to 3 square feet when birds also have a run), but more room means less pecking. Don't count nest boxes or roosts as floor.
02Check for vents high on the wallsOpenings near the roofline let ammonia and moisture escape without blowing cold air across roosting birds.
03Inspect mesh type and lock securityRaccoons tear chicken wire and can open simple hooks and slide bolts. Look for 1/2-inch hardware cloth over every opening and two-step latches.
04Plan roosts and nest boxesAllow about 8 inches of roost per standard bird, with roosts higher than the nest boxes, and 12x12-inch nest boxes: two for the first 4 hens, then one for every 4 more.
05Make sure you can reach every cornerYou need to clean out litter, scrape roosts and collect eggs easily, which is why walk-in coops are easier to keep clean.

Common mistakes

Buying a prefab coop based on the manufacturer's hen capacity rating, resulting in severe flock overcrowding, stress, and pecking.
Using chicken wire instead of hardware cloth, letting raccoons reach through or tear it and dogs break in.
Putting vents low at roost height, which sends cold drafts across sleeping birds in winter.
Using simple hook-and-eye latches or plain slide bolts that raccoons can open. Use two-step latches, such as a slide bolt with a carabiner clip.
Using wire mesh for the coop floor, which hurts feet, traps manure, and lets predators reach toes from below.

Questions people ask

Why are prefab coops advertised for 6–8 birds when they only hold 2 or 3?

Box ratings often count nest boxes, roosts and the attached run, or assume very tight spacing. At about 4 square feet of enclosed floor per standard hen, a typical 12-square-foot prefab coop really holds about 3 birds.

What is the difference between chicken wire and hardware cloth?

Chicken wire is thin twisted wire meant only to keep chickens in. Raccoons can reach through it and dogs can tear it. Hardware cloth is a stiff welded mesh, usually 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch, that predators can't easily tear or reach through. Use 1/4-inch where weasels are a problem, since they can squeeze through very small holes.

How do I predator-proof the bottom of the coop?

Bury hardware cloth at least 12 inches deep around the base, or lay a 2-foot-wide apron of hardware cloth flat on the ground outward from the walls. Diggers like foxes and dogs dig at the wall, hit the mesh and give up. A solid floor or a raised coop also helps.

What is the deep litter method?

You let bedding such as pine shavings build up to about 6 to 12 inches, adding fresh litter and stirring it so droppings break down in place. Done well, it stays dry, gives off a little heat in winter and needs a full clean-out only once or twice a year. If it gets wet or smells of ammonia, remove the wet patches and add more dry litter.