One of the best ways that you can start producing your own food, even if you have limited space, is by raising backyard chickens.
A mature hen can lay several eggs each week, so a flock can provide your family with plenty of eggs. Roosters are perfect to raise for meat because they mature quickly and offer great protein at harvest.
But while you’re raising these birds, you’ll need a place to keep them. The chicken coops discussed in these reviews offer a simple and convenient solution to keep your flock safe.
Convenient and well made, the Petsfit weatherproof outdoor chicken coop is our favorite of 2023. It’s got all the features that make chicken life easier, such as a nesting box with a top that opens for easy access to the eggs. The entire coop is large enough to comfortably fit 3-4 full-sized adult chickens, and the bottom comes out to make cleaning an easier task.
Despite all the great features, this chicken coop is priced rather reasonably. It’s not perfect though. The top doesn’t open on the main compartment and there’s no slide-out tray, so cleanup isn’t as easy as it could be. But it’s completely weatherproofed and will keep your chickens safe from any weather conditions, unlike many of the similar products in the price range.
Overall, this is a very well-built coop. It’s constructed of solid fir wood and even includes a one-year warranty. It’s surprisingly simple to assemble and takes just 30 minutes, even if you have little to no DIY experience. For the price, it’s hard to beat, and we feel confident recommending it.
When you’re just getting started with raising chickens, you might not have the funds to purchase a full-size henhouse, as they can be quite pricey. Instead, start small with something like this 36-inch outdoor wooden chicken coop from Volowoo. It’s not the greatest chicken coop we’ve seen, but it’s got some great features at a very affordable price point, lowering the barrier of entry to raising chickens.
The biggest drawback of this chicken coop is its small size. On one hand, it doesn’t take up much space, which is perfect for small yards. It’s a great enclosure for bantam chickens, but if you’re raising full-size birds, you’ll probably only be able to keep one adult in here. Still, it will be perfect for raising chicks, as it’s large enough to comfortably house quite a few.
Many chicken coops are a major hassle to assemble, but this one is quite simple, partially because it’s so small. It’s got two levels with a run on the bottom that’s enclosed with wire for excellent ventilation. If you need a cheap solution to start raising your chickens right away, it’s hard to go wrong with this at such a low price.
Pros
Simple to assemble
Ideal for raising chicks
Cheaper than most alternatives
Cons
Only large enough to fit a single full-grown chicken
Sometimes in life, you get what you pay for. That certainly seems to be the case with the Fiveberry Magbean 98-inch solid wood chicken coop. This is a tank of a coop, built out of solid fir wood. It’s got two nesting boxes, two roosting bars, and two doors for access. There’s also a tray that pulls out for easy removal of waste.
When assembled, this chicken coop will hold 4-6 full-sized adult chickens with ease. It’s 100% safe for small animals, so it will keep out the predators. It’s a very simple coop to assemble; you won’t need to hire a professional to put it together. The holes are all pre-drilled and all you need to put it together is a screwdriver.
Don’t let its ease of construction fool you though, this is a very solid coop. It’s held together with thick metal bolts and features waterproofing treatment to keep your birds safe and dry inside. The bottom level is a large run that’s all enclosed in wire, allowing your birds to get fresh air and sunlight. There are even wheels to make moving this coop easy so your chickens can graze on fresh grass from the run each day.
The OverEZ Large Chicken Coop is one of the most incredible chicken coops we’ve seen. It’s the nicest one on this list by far, but it’s also prohibitively expensive. You can be several of any other coop on this list for the price of just one of these. On the same note, it’s a very sizable coop, able to comfortably hold 15 full-sized adult chickens.
If you’ve got 15 chickens, you need to supply plenty of nesting room, and this coop comes with five nesting boxes. There are also two roosts included. Two large vents provide ventilation, ensuring that the coop stays cool in the summer. Thick wood construction keeps out the cold in the winter, and waterproofing keeps out unwanted weather.
One nice thing about this coop is that you won’t have to assemble it, which is a relief for most as it looks quite a complicated assembly. Instead, you’ll have to arrange for a delivery time and a tractor-trailer will deliver it, unloading it from the truck with a lift gate. Have fun carrying it to where you want it to stay; you’ll probably need to get a few hands to help!
The JAXPETY wooden hen house is a well-made product that’s priced affordably. It features premium construction and materials, such as the weatherproof asphalt roof and premium pine wood walls with a waterproof lacquer finish. Speaking of waterproof, this hen house is essentially weatherproof thanks to such features, making it the ideal place to keep your chickens safe from inclement weather.
When the weather’s nicer, this coop features an oversized run on the bottom level. It’s all enclosed with wire mesh, which prevents predators from getting to your prized birds but doesn’t stop all the fresh and air and sunlight that your birds will benefit from. The top-level is great for roosting as it provides ample protection from the elements. However, there are no nesting boxes here, so you’ll just have to reach into the main room and pick out the eggs.
The Kinbor chicken coop is one of the more affordable options on this list. Despite the lower price, it’s still a great coop overall. Thanks to solid fir wood construction, it’s durable and strong, unlike many similar products in the same price range. It features a large screened run with an enclosed second level that’s entirely weatherproof for comfortable and safe roosting.
Attached to the roosting area is a nesting area with a flip-up top for easy access to the eggs. Inside are two roosting boxes so that two hens can roost simultaneously. Granted, two full-size hens are about all that will fit inside this coop, but for the price, we can’t complain. However, the instructions could definitely use an update as they tend to make assembly harder than it should be.
Pros
Constructed out of solid fir wood
Mesh walls provide ample ventilation
The roosting area is weatherproof
Cons
It’s only large enough for two full-size chickens
Instructions could be clearer
7. Best Choice Products Outdoor Wooden Multi-Level Chicken Coop
With multiple levels and lots of well-ventilated run space, this chicken coop from Best Choice Products can comfortably hold 3-5 adult chickens. The run on the bottom level is sufficiently large for them to move around and graze, and it’s enclosed in mesh for barrier-free ventilation that still offers protection against predators. However, the coop isn’t very secure on the whole, and a determined predator could probably infiltrate the interior without too much hassle.
Cleaning is rather easy with this coop. The main roosting area features a slide-out tray so you can remove the old waste. There’s also a nesting box attached with an easy-access lid so you can remove the eggs each day. Three areas allow access into the coop, making it easy to get your birds in and out as needed.
This coop is constructed from fir wood and galvanized wire. The wire is strong enough, but the fir wood is surprisingly thin, leaving the entire structure quite flimsy. It’s also a bit pricier than many alternatives, despite the lack of stability. It’s not a bad choice overall, but we think there are better options available.
For what you get, we feel the Aivituvin wooden hen house is overpriced, though it’s not a terrible chicken coop overall. It’s rather small, able to hold just two full-sized chickens, though it sells for a price similar to much larger options. Still, there are some good traits here, such as the dual nesting boxes that are easy to access so you can get your eggs each day without hassle.
The bottom level of this hen house is a screened run with a UV-proof panel that covers it to protect your chickens from the sun. Wire covers the walls of the run to provide ample ventilation while still keeping your birds safe from predators. Upstairs, the main section is covered with a waterproof asphalt roof to protect from the elements. There’s also a pullout tray to make cleanup simple and quick.
Everything about this hen house seems great on paper, but when you put it together, you’ll probably feel differently. First, assembly is a pain since few of the predrilled holes line up the way they’re supposed to. The wood that comprises this coop is also very thin, leaving the entire structure quite flimsy when it’s assembled.
Large enough to hold up to 10 full-sized mature chickens, this multi-level poultry cage from Aivituvin is one of the biggest on our list. It’s mostly fenced in run though, as the actual roosting room that protects the birds from inclement weather is pretty small. Still, there’s plenty of run space here, ensuring that all the birds get ample exercise.
Contrary to expectation, this cage is quite simple to assemble. The predrilled holes seem to fit and the instructions aren’t too difficult to follow. But once assembled, you might be disappointed. It’s not actually weatherproof, as you’ll notice when water starts getting inside the roost. The quality is pretty poor overall, especially considering the high price this sells for. We think you’re better off with one of the many other options that offers superior quality at a lower price, even if they are a little bit smaller.
At first glance, this chicken coop seems like one of the best. It holds up to 10 birds and opens in many different ways for multiple access points. Inside, a galvanized metal pull-out tray makes cleanup easy. Best of all, it’s entirely predator-proof.
But we found more flaws with this coop than expected. First, the bottoms of the nesting boxes aren’t secure. They tend to just fall off under the weight of chickens and eggs. During assembly, many of the predrilled holes don’t lineup, overcomplicating the entire assembly. The elbow hinges that allow the tops to open are weak and tend to break. On a similar note, many of the pieces arrive broken, making for quite a disappointment. Altogether, this is one that we’d skip, even though it looks awesome.
Pros
The top fully opens for easy access
Galvanized metal pull-out tray
Predator-proof enclosure
Cons
Bottom of nesting boxes fall off
Pre-drilled holes don’t line up
Weak elbow hinges don’t last
Pieces arrive damaged
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Chicken Coop
When you first start raising your own chickens, there’s an overwhelming amount of information that you need to learn. It seems so simple at first, but soon, you realize how much you didn’t know. Fortunately, picking out a chicken coop can be one of the easier aspects of the whole process. All you have to do is consider a few key features, and you’ll be able to narrow down your options and pick out a coop that meets your needs.
Picking a Perfect Chicken Coop
Rather than comparing chicken coops on endless traits and features, there are just a few key points that you should focus on. While there are many differences between models, not every feature is equally important. The following points are where you should focus your attention. These will ensure that you find a coop that meets your needs and won’t have necessary features that won’t have much of an impact.
Size
One of the main points to consider is the overall size of the coop. How much space will it take up in your yard? If you have a large yard and ample space, you might not be as concerned about how much room it will consume. But if you’re limited on space, you’ll want to really think about the footprint of any coop that you’re considering.
While thinking about size, determine how many chickens you want in your flock. Your coop will need to be large enough to comfortably house them all. If you want to keep 10 chickens, you can’t get away with a coop designed to hold six.
Predator Proofing
If you live in the middle of the city and your yard is well contained within a cinder block wall, keeping your birds safe from predators may not be your first priority. In other situations, failing to properly protect against predators could mean the premature death of your flock. Not all chicken coops come predator proof. Some are just not durable enough to withstand a hungry fox. Others are well-constructed and durable, able to easily hold off a hungry coyote or raccoon that wants to make your flock a meal.
Image Credit: The Brewers, Unsplash
Durability
Durability sort of goes along with predator proofing but not entirely. You also have to consider how the coop will hold up to wind and inclement weather. Some chicken coops look like they’re sturdy, but when you see them in person, they’re constructed of thin materials that offer little in the way of stability. These cheaply built coops won’t last as long as something that’s really well made, though you generally have to pay more for premium construction.
Weatherproofing
Most chicken coops are designed for outdoor use, as chickens are generally kept outside. This means the coop will be subject to environmental conditions, including all types of weather. It will have to endure sun, rain, sleet, snow, hail, cold, heat, and who knows what else.
Not every coop is equally equipped to handle such inclement weather. Some coops leak, and others don’t keep warm when it’s cold. If you live in a cold climate, make sure you find a coop that’s well-insulated, and if you live in a warm climate, you need a well-ventilated coop. Wherever you live, look for a waterproof enclosure so your chickens are safe from rain and snow.
Price
If it were feasible, you’d just purchase the most well-made chicken coop you could find, regardless of cost. Of course, that’s not how the real world works. Premium products are prohibitively pricey, and some of the top-tier chicken coops cost an outrageous amount. You’ll have to balance the features and quality that you want against a price that’s within your budget.
Final Thoughts
If you’re ready to start raising chickens, you’ll need to find a coop to keep them in. Our reviews are aimed at steering you towards a quality coop that will keep your chickens safe. Based on our research, the best choice is the Petsfit weatherproof outdoor chicken coop. It’s got a nesting box with a flip-up top for easy removal of eggs and its weatherproof design keeps your birds safe from the elements. Another great choice would be the Volowoo 36” outdoor chicken coop for its affordable price that makes it easy to start raising chickens.
