What makes a good coop
A coop is two spaces: the enclosed roost where birds sleep and lay, and the run where they spend the day. Get a handful of basics right and almost any design works.
Space per bird
About 3 to 4 square feet of indoor floor per standard hen, plus at least 10 square feet each in the run. More is always better.
Ventilation
Vents high, above roost height, year round. Damp ammonia air causes illness faster than cold. Avoid drafts blowing on roosting birds.
Nesting boxes
One box per three to four hens, about 12 inches cubed, set lower than the roosts and kept dark and private.
Roosting bars
About 8 to 10 inches of roost per bird, higher than the nest boxes, with rounded edges so feet grip comfortably.
Predator-proofing
Half-inch hardware cloth, a buried or skirted base, a covered run, and two-step latches a raccoon cannot open.
Easy cleaning
A door or hinged roof you can reach into, a droppings tray or deep litter, and surfaces that hose down.
Sun and shade
Morning sun to warm and dry the coop, afternoon shade against summer heat, and rain kept off the roost area.
Coop types compared
Three shapes cover most backyards. Pick the one that matches your flock size and whether you want to move it around the yard.
Fixed coop
Best for flocks of 4 to 12 or more, on a permanent spot
A-frame tractor (ark)
Best for small flocks of 2 to 5 on lawn or garden beds
Walk-in coop and run
Best for medium to large flocks and easy daily care
How big a coop do I need?
Enter your flock and the calculator works out indoor floor area, run area, number of nesting boxes and roost length. Figures are in feet and inches. Nothing is saved, and it works offline.
Predator-proofing in the United States
The threats here are different from elsewhere, and most losses happen at night or to chicks. Plan for these.
- Raccoons are the number one killer. They have dexterous paws that open simple latches and reach through wire, so use half-inch hardware cloth and two-step locks on every door.
- Foxes and coyotes dig under fences and can take the whole flock. Bury hardware cloth or lay a skirt out from the base, and lock birds in solidly at dusk.
- Hawks and owls strike from above. A covered run or netting over the top protects free-ranging birds, especially chicks.
- Snakes take eggs and chicks and slip through gaps. Half-inch hardware cloth on the run and nest area keeps them out.
- Opossums, weasels and neighborhood dogs round out the list. A solidly built, fully enclosed run is the only reliable defense.
Plan the coop, then run the flock from your pocket
Once the coop is up, the free Planting Season app and its Poultry module track each bird, eggs, feed and health, and remind you of jobs like cleaning and worming. The Smart Yard map even links the coop to the rest of your homestead.
Questions people ask
How much coop space does a chicken need?
Allow about 3 to 4 square feet of indoor floor per standard hen, plus at least 10 square feet each in the run. Crowding causes pecking, disease and stress, so err on the generous side, especially if the birds are shut in during bad weather.
How many nesting boxes do I need?
One nesting box for every three to four hens is plenty. Hens share boxes and often line up for a favorite, so more boxes than that usually sit empty or get used for sleeping, which makes them messy.
How long should a roosting bar be?
Allow about 8 to 10 inches of roost length per standard hen so they can all perch at night without squabbling. Place roosts higher than the nesting boxes so birds do not sleep and foul the nests.
Does a chicken coop need ventilation in winter?
Yes. Ventilation matters year round. Damp, ammonia-laden air causes respiratory illness and frostbite faster than cold does. Put vents high, above roost height, so stale air escapes without a draft blowing directly on the birds.
How do I predator-proof a coop?
Use half-inch welded hardware cloth, not flimsy chicken wire, bury or skirt it to stop raccoons and foxes from digging in, and lock birds in solidly at dusk. Raccoons can open simple latches, so use a two-step lock, and cover the run against hawks and climbing snakes.
Can a coop be too big?
More run space is rarely a problem, but a large, drafty roost area is harder for a small flock to keep warm and harder to keep clean. Match the enclosed roost space to the flock and give the extra room in the run instead.
Build the coop, track the flock
Log eggs, feed, health and coop chores in the free Poultry module, tuned to your region.