A well-designed chicken coop keeps your flock healthy, makes chores easier, and can even be a beautiful addition to your property. Here's how to design the perfect home for your backyard chickens.
Coop Sizing Guidelines
- Inside coop: 4 square feet per chicken (minimum)
- Outdoor run: 10 square feet per chicken (minimum)
- Free range: 250+ square feet per chicken (ideal)
Always build bigger than you think you need—chicken math is real!
Essential Coop Features
Roosting Bars
- 8-12 inches of bar space per chicken
- 2x4 lumber laid flat (wide side up) is ideal
- 18+ inches off the floor
- All roosts at same height to prevent pecking order fights
- Not directly above food or water
Nesting Boxes
- One box per 4-5 hens
- 12x12x12 inches minimum size
- Mounted lower than roosts (hens prefer to sleep high)
- Filled with clean straw or shavings
- Accessible for egg collection from outside
🐔 Dark and Cozy
Hens prefer dark, enclosed nesting boxes. Add a curtain across the front or position boxes in a darker area. They'll feel safer and lay more consistently.
Ventilation: Critical for Health
Poor ventilation causes respiratory disease—the #1 health issue in backyard flocks:
- Vents near roofline release rising ammonia and moisture
- 1 square foot of ventilation per 10 square feet of floor space
- Avoid drafts at roost level
- More ventilation in summer, adjustable for winter
- Hardware cloth over vents (not chicken wire)
Predator Protection
Common Predators
- Raccoons, opossums, foxes
- Hawks, owls
- Dogs, cats
- Weasels, mink (can fit through small gaps!)
- Snakes (for eggs and chicks)
Protection Methods
- Hardware cloth: Use 1/2" mesh, not chicken wire
- Apron: Bury wire 12" out or create a ground apron
- Secure latches: Raccoons can open simple latches
- Covered run: Protects from aerial predators
- Auto door: Closes coop at dusk automatically
Easy-Clean Design Features
- Dropping boards under roosts (easy daily cleaning)
- Removable roosting bars
- Hinged roof or wall panels for full access
- Smooth, sealed floors for easy scraping
- External nesting box access
Run Design
- Partial shade for hot weather
- Dust bathing area (dry dirt or sand)
- Covered area for rain protection
- Perches and stumps for enrichment
- Easy access for cleaning and maintenance
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