7 Best Chicken Coops for Happy Hens (reviewed)

Keeping chickens as pets or for their eggs and fertilizer can be a rewarding experience. However, it is essential to prioritize their comfort to ensure they remain healthy and productive.

If you’re raising chickens at home, providing them with ample space and light is crucial. Generally, a dozen chickens or fewer are ideal for domestic rearing, and if you have a rooster, a larger territory is necessary to prevent conflicts.

To achieve this, choosing the right chicken coop is crucial. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the top chicken coops available and determine which one is the best fit for your feathered friends.

1. Best Choice Products 80″ Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop

While a sliding attic window might be a desirable design feature in a human home, it may not be the best choice for a chicken coop. Though it may look attractive, the reality is that it has a wooden sliding door that can’t be opened by the chickens themselves.

Additionally, leaving the window open could lead to over-exposure to wind and cold, potentially harming your birds. Therefore, it’s important to prioritize functionality over aesthetics when designing a chicken coop.

Your chickens’ health and safety should be the top priority, and features that may seem appealing at first glance should be carefully evaluated before being included in the coop’s design.

This chicken coop boasts several noteworthy features that make it a top contender for those in the market for a coop. The galvanized mesh used throughout the coop provides excellent ventilation and a spacious chicken run for your feathered friends. The sleeping area is raised and has a sliding tray for easy cleaning. The coop’s natural weather-proofed fir wood panels are horizontally laid out, adding to its sturdy construction.

Despite the coop’s tall height of 51.5 inches, it remains easily accessible, making maintenance and egg collection a breeze. While the coop requires assembly, the manufacturer provides a helpful demo video to guide you through the process. The entire package comes in two boxes and weighs 50 pounds.

Although the coop has an attractive sliding attic window, it’s important to note that it’s not functional for the chickens and could potentially expose them to harsh weather conditions. However, this small con is overshadowed by the coop’s numerous pros, including its weather-resistant materials and spacious design. Overall, the Best Choice Products chicken coop is a great investment for anyone looking to provide a safe and comfortable home for their chickens.

2. Formex Snap Lock Large Chicken Coop

If you’re looking to provide your chickens with a stylish and comfortable home, the Formex Snap Lock chicken coop is a great option.

This coop boasts a design that rivals even the most elegant suburban homes, with vertical siding and faux slate lean-to roofs.

Despite its stylish appearance, the coop is incredibly sturdy and can withstand impacts.

Assembly of the coop is a breeze, as it requires no tools.

Plus, every surface on the coop is resistant to rust and sunlight. The tan walls and gray roofing blend seamlessly into any yard decor.

While some chicken coops have raised floors with open-air ground levels, this coop is mounted on a pedestal, which provides lower access for worms and ground pests.

However, it doesn’t offer sub-floor ventilation like some other coops. Instead, ventilation louvers are installed close to the roof, allowing you to adjust air circulation as needed.

The Formex Snap Lock chicken coop features one lockable door and two nesting boxes, providing ample space for up to six chickens or a dozen bantams.

The litter tray slides out for easy cleaning, and the nesting box roofs can fold open for convenient egg collection. Inside the coop, several crossbars provide perching spots for your chickens to roost.

Not only is the Snap Lock Formex chicken coop stylish and convenient, but it’s also made in the USA. You don’t need any special skills to assemble, clean, or maintain this coop. Overall, it’s an excellent investment for anyone looking to provide their chickens with a safe and comfortable home.

Pros:

• This plastic hen house is so easy to install that you don’t need any tools.
• The sturdy construction material can resist water, chemicals, and UV radiation.
• The chicken coop has a sliding tray for your chicken litter.

Con:

• The coop doesn’t have a chicken run.

3. PawHut Backyard Chicken Coop Kit with Nesting Box

If you’re looking for a quick and easy chicken coop installation, the PawHut chicken coop is an excellent option.

With an estimated installation time of less than 30 minutes, it’s a great investment for those who don’t want to spend hours assembling their coop.

However, it’s important to note that you will need a screw gun for installation, and there are many parts to connect, which can be confusing. We recommend carefully reading the instructions or looking up assembly demos online to help streamline the process.

The PawHut chicken coop features lockable sections, including the nesting boxes, which may require small padlocks for added security. While assembly may require some additional effort, the finished product is well worth it.

The chicken coop in question is a multi-functional and practical addition to any backyard or farm.

It features multiple outlets, including lifting lids for the nesting boxes and a sliding litter tray for easy cleaning of the main housing section. The coop’s green asphalt roofs are a beautiful complement to the natural wooden walls.

One of the coop’s standout features is the large open-air section, enclosed by rust-proof chicken mesh.

The main section of the coop is raised with rubberized feet, which prevent the coop from sinking into soil or grass and make it more challenging for pests to scale the walls.

The fir walls are coated with clear waterproof varnish, providing a natural and aesthetically pleasing look.

Not only is the coop functional and beautiful, but it’s also eco-friendly, with zero toxins.

The pre-drilled holes make assembly a breeze, especially with an electronic drill.

Additionally, the coop comes with a 12-month warranty, providing peace of mind for those who invest in it. Overall, this chicken coop is an excellent investment for those looking for a practical, attractive, and eco-friendly home for their feathered friends.

The PawHut Buddy chicken coop is an excellent investment for those seeking a practical and attractive coop. One of its standout features is the multiple entry points, allowing for easy access for both chickens and their owners. Additionally, the ventilated tower with mesh windows ensures ample air circulation, contributing to the health and wellbeing of your feathered friends.

The outdoor chicken run is also a great addition to this coop, providing ample space for your chickens to move around and enjoy the outdoors. Assembly of the PawHut Buddy is quick and easy, making it a practical choice for those who don’t want to spend hours putting together their coop.

Overall, the PawHut Buddy chicken coop is a great investment for those who want a practical, attractive, and easy-to-assemble coop for their chickens.

Pros:

• It includes two nesting boxes, a chicken run, and a ramp.
• The coop has wooden walls and asphalt roofs.
• The chicken coop takes 20 to 30 minutes to set up.

Con:

• Despite all this talk of easy installation, it’s a process, so watch a few videos first.

4. Paw Hut 98″ Portable Wooden Chicken Coop

The Paw Hut chicken coop is a memorable name that’s sure to stick in your mind. The coop is primarily made of wood, which includes the roof, which is unusual for chicken coops. However, it’s worth noting that the wood isn’t sufficiently moisture-treated, which may cause issues over time.

The Paw Hut coop is spacious, measuring 98 inches at its longest point, providing ample room for your chickens to move around freely. The enlarged chicken run is a great feature, including a covered section located below the main living area, which offers additional shelter for your chickens.

The Paw Hut chicken coop is a great option for those looking for a well-ventilated and easy-to-maintain coop for their chickens. The open-air design allows for ample air circulation, ensuring that your chickens stay healthy and comfortable. Additionally, the sliding tray floor in the primary sleeping space and the hinged roofs on the nesting boxes make maintenance and egg collection a breeze.

One of the coop’s standout features is its mobility, allowing you to move it around your yard as needed to provide your chickens with the optimal amount of light and protection from wind. However, it’s worth noting that the wheels may not be as sturdy as they look, and you may need to place wooden blocks or braces beneath them when moving the house.

While the Paw Hut chicken coop is well-designed and functional, it does require patience and skill to assemble due to its numerous parts. We recommend setting aside enough time and watching demo videos to help streamline the learning curve. Overall, the Paw Hut chicken coop is a great investment for those looking to provide their chickens with a comfortable and easy-to-maintain home but be prepared for a more involved assembly process.

Pros:

• The coop has wheels for enhanced portability.
• The sleeping area is raised to deter predators.
• Paw Hut has galvanized wire mesh for waterproofing.

Con:

• The roof is made of wood, so the hen house risks warping.

5. New Age Pet ecoFLEX Fontana Chicken Barn

The EcoFlex chicken coop features a single-sloped roof that may seem like a disadvantage, but the roof pulls off easily for cleaning, making it a practical feature. However, it’s worth noting that this coop doesn’t have a sliding tray or any outdoor space, so it may only be suitable for free-range chickens during the day.

One of the standout features of the EcoFlex chicken coop is its construction material, which is a special blend called EcoFlex. This eco-friendly material is created by blending plastic polymer with recycled wood, resulting in a waterproof, rust-proof, and corrosion-free material that’s also resistant to warping, fungus, rot, splitting, or cracking.

The slightly raised coop floor prevents run-off, rising damp, and burrowing pests from accessing the coop, while the nesting box features a hinged roof for easy egg collection. The coop also has ventilation slits in the top three rows of the siding panels for adequate air circulation.

Finally, the EcoFlex chicken coop is backed by a generous 10-year warranty, ensuring its quality and durability. Overall, this coop is a great investment for those looking for an eco-friendly and low-maintenance option for their chickens.

Pros:

• It’s made of recycled wood and polymer.
• The roof comes off for cleaning.
• This coop comes with a 10-year warranty.

Con:

• The hen house doesn’t have a chicken run.

6. Aivituvin Extra Large Chicken Coop

While many chicken coops can also be used for other pets, it’s important to keep in mind that chickens have specific needs that differ from other animals. The Aivituvin pet hostel, for example, features a sliding tray that is ideal for providing consistently clean water for 2 or 3 rabbits. However, when used as a chicken coop, the sliding tray becomes a depository for chicken litter, and you may need to perforate the floor above the tray to allow the chickens to collect their droppings for easier cleaning.

This coop features two chicken runs and two ramps, providing ample space for your chickens to move around. The open-air sections are covered with waterproof mesh, ensuring that your chickens are well-ventilated. However, it’s worth noting that this coop doesn’t have perches or nesting boxes, making egg collection more cumbersome.

The Aivituvin pet hostel is made of fir wood and corrosion-proof metal, providing a durable and sturdy structure for your chickens. The removable PVC sheet on the outer floor allows your hens to run on grass or plastic depending on your preference.

The extra-large pet house features a removable PVC bottom that makes cleaning easier. You can remove the plastic to clean it or hose it down in place. This spacious coop can fit up to 3 or 4 chickens comfortably.

Overall, this coop is a versatile option for those looking to keep chickens or other small animals, but it’s important to keep in mind the specific needs of your feathered friends.

Pros:

• The coop comes with removable PVC flooring.
• The hen house has pre-drilled holes so it’s easier to assemble.
• It has sloped roofs and a sliding tray.

Con:

• This is a multi-pet house (it’s most commonly used for rabbits) so it lacks a few key chicken-related features including perches and nesting boxes.

7. Esright Large Chicken Coop

If you’re looking for a chicken coop that mimics the traditional look of wood but without maintenance, Esright has a natural wood coop that is a great option. Unlike faux wood, this coop is made of real wood with a gray paint finish to protect it from moisture and add a stylish touch.

The living area features a pull-out sliding tray, making it easy to clean and change your chicken litter. However, this coop doesn’t include a chicken run, so you may need to purchase one separately or allow your chickens to free-range during daylight hours.

The Esright coop has two nesting boxes with hinged roofs, and the main roof is hinged as well. All three ceilings pull open for easy egg collection and cleaning. The finish of the coop is a non-toxic varnish with UV protection. While some sections of the coop are made of PVC board, the majority is made of natural wood.

It’s worth noting that the instructions are illustrated and do not have any wording, so assembly may require some additional effort. Overall, Esright hen houses come in pretty neutral shades with corrugated roofing and are finished with waterproof, weatherproof, and UV-proof varnish, ensuring their durability in all weather conditions.

Pros:

• Esright can house 6 to 10 chickens.
• It has waterproof, rustproof corrugated roofing.
• The rubberized feet are raised off the ground.

Con:

• The chicken coop doesn’t have a chicken run included. Enright does sell one, but you have to order (and pay for) it separately.

What to Look for When Buying a Chicken Coop?

When searching for the best chicken coop for your needs, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, it’s important to avoid overcrowding, as this can lead to health issues for your chickens. Additionally, your coop should have adequate ventilation to prevent any oppressive smells.

Accessibility is also crucial, both for you and your chickens. If you’re raising chickens for eggs, you’ll want a coop that allows for easy egg collection, such as one with a top-opening design or a sliding tray. For your chickens, accessibility may mean providing a ladder or stairs to access their sleeping area or an open-air chicken run for exercise and sunlight.

When it comes to construction materials, most chicken coops are made of wood or plastic with felt roofing and rust-proof mesh netting. However, it’s important to ensure that any wood is pressure-treated or painted to make it waterproof, as untreated wood can warp, rot, and attract pests and pathogens that can harm your chickens.

In addition to being waterproof and resistant to pests and pathogens, your chicken coop should also be sturdy enough to support the weight of multiple chickens. A lightweight material is ideal, but it should still be firm and able to withstand the weight of your birds. To keep your coop elevated and prevent issues with pests and rising damp, you may want to consider materials that are strong enough to support multiple stories.

The coating is another important consideration. UV coating and powder-coated color can help protect your coop from the sun and weather, increasing its lifespan and saving you money in the long run. When selecting materials for your chicken coop, be sure to consider both their durability and their potential impact on the health and well-being of your chickens.

In summary, when shopping for a chicken coop, consider the accessibility, construction materials, size, and style. Accessibility is crucial for both you and your chickens, as you need to easily collect eggs and your chickens need access to their sleeping area and outdoor run. Sturdy, lightweight materials that are resistant to weather conditions and pests are important for the coop’s longevity and your chickens’ safety. Size is the most important factor to ensure your chickens have sufficient space and avoid overcrowding. Finally, choose a style that suits your aesthetic preferences but don’t sacrifice practicality for fashion. With these factors in mind, you can find the perfect chicken coop for your needs.