Chicken Coop Reviews 2019

Chicken Coop Reviews 2019: Provide A Comfy Home for Your Chickens

https://www.petsofbelair.com/chicken-coops/

Editor’s Choice: Formex Snap Lock Backyard Hen House

 
               

SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop Backyard Hen House 4-6 Large 6-12 Bantams

By SnapLock

$745.00$749.99

Rated 4.5 out of 5 by 90 reviewers on Amazon.com

Buy Now                           
 

It remains inconclusive how backyard chicken farming went from an obscure hobby to a mainstream passion that is driving people towards having their own backyard farms even in urban setups.
Oh yes, it is not uncommon to hear the rooster crowing in the middle of the city these days, thanks to these dainty little chicken colonies.
Some call it the demand for locavore food while others pin it to the rising need and awareness about the potential hazards of industrial farming. Irrespective of the motivation, backyard farms are thriving.
Chances are that the succulent free-range and organic chicken leg that you picked up the other day was bred a few meters away from your home.
Each day, I receive numerous emails from want-to-be farmers enquiring about the essentials needed to get started with their own farms.
Well, the most important part of the equation is a chicken coop. A sanitary and spacious retreat for your chickens to retire to, at the end of the day, with a possible place to perch and nest safely. And the sky is the limit here. You have everything from barebones models to high-end swanky coops that can put an upmarket dog kennel to shame.
But you don’t necessarily need a bank-breaking model for your farming needs. If this is the first time you are venturing into chicken coop shopping, then here’s a small guide that will help you get started with your purchase.
Everything said and done, here’s my pick of the best chicken coops for sale in the market currently. I have been growing chicken for years now and I have dealt with my share of gimcracks. These coops have been picked after careful analysis of their space, features, ease of access, maintenance, and their customer ratings. Every product on this list has a minimum of 85% positive customer reviews.

Table of Contents

• Best Rated Chicken Coops 2019
  • 1. Formex Snap Lock Backyard Hen House
    • Lightweight and weather resistant
    • Secure and Easy to use
  • 2. TRIXIE Pet Products Chicken Coop Duplex with Outdoor Run
    • Roomy design
    • Easy access
  • 3. SmithBuilt 7 feet Wooden Two Storey Chicken Coop
    • Solid Fir Construction
    • Easy access and cleaning
  • 4. New Age Pet ecoFLEX Fontana Chicken Barn
    • Secure and spacious
    • Warm and cozy
  • 5. Merry Pet Habitat Coop for Chickens
    • Easy to assemble
    • Roosting pole and nesting boxes
• A Buying Guide For The Best Backyard Chicken Coop
  • How many hens do you plan to keep?
  • Are you aware of the town ordinances?
  • What do the chickens need?
    • Protection
    • Food and water
    • Space
  • Desirable Features
    • Easy to clean
    • Egg collection
    • Airy
    • Nesting boxes
    • Material
    • The Run

Best Rated Chicken Coops 2019

Model	Material	Dimensions	Rating	Price

Model	Material	Dimensions	Rating	Price
Formex Snap Lock Standard Backyard Hen House	Plastic	39 x 29 x 42 inches	4.5 out of 5	$$$$	Check Price on Amazon
TRIXIE Pet Products Chicken Coop Duplex	Wood	42.9 x 24 x 11.8 inches	3.6 out of 5	$$	Check Price on Amazon
SmithBuilt 7 ft. Wooden Two Story Chicken Coop	Fir wood	96.3 x 50 x 27.8 inches	3.7 out of 5	$$	Check Price on Amazon
New Age Pet ecoFLEX Fontana Chicken Barn	ecoFLEX	59.4 x 46.3 x 40.6 inches	3 out of 5	$$$$	Check Price on Amazon
Merry Pet Habitat Coop for Chickens	Fir wood	13 x 29.9 x 58 inches	2.9 out of 5	$$	Check Price on Amazon

1. Formex Snap Lock Backyard Hen House

Nobody said that a chicken coop had to look mundane. This Snap Lock backyard hen house from Formex is a beautifully designed one. So much so, that you may just be tempted to keep this inside the house. It is shaped like a dog-house and features a dual tone exterior in subtle but attractive colors.
But the reason why it features on the top of our list of best chicken coop design goes beyond its stunning good looks.

Lightweight and weather resistant

Out of the box, the Formex Snap Lock backyard hen house stays true to the name. It can be just snapped-on together in minutes and you will not need to fiddle for hours with tools to get it set up.
You will be surprised at how light the coop is. It is made of blow-molded plastic and it weighs just under 40 pounds. So, even if you need to move the entire coop to a different part of the backyard, you can do it without seeking assistance from another person.
Despite the lightweight profile, the coop is as durable as they come. The plastic does not crack or peel and is perfect for all kinds of weather conditions thanks to the insulating double walled construction.
Lay some straw in it for the winters and it stays warm. On sweltering summer days, let the ventilation do the job. By the way, the ventilation is completely adjustable too.

Secure and Easy to use

The product is 100% predator safe without compromising on the ventilation. It has lockable access which will ensure that your chickens stay safe at all times. At the same time, it is designed for easy access. The hinged roof gives you access to the nesting boxes without disturbing the hen.
Also, there is a removable litter tray that catches the droppings, feathers, and dirt making the coop extremely easy to clean.
The coop is available in two different sizes. The smaller sized one is spacious enough to house 3-4 Large chicken and the large sized one can be used to house up to 12 standard sized hen.
Verdict: Formex Snap Lock backyard hen house is manufactured in the USA and has been used by chicken farmers in a variety of weather conditions. It is extremely durable, low on maintenance and roomy enough for a backyard farm.

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2. TRIXIE Pet Products Chicken Coop Duplex with Outdoor Run

If you are looking to start with a bigger flock, then you must take a look at the Duplex Chicken Coop from Trixie Pet Products. Like our number one pick, this one will grab eyeballs too. Let’s say I am a sucker for beautiful designs. But hey, I am sure nobody likes a product that looks like an eyesore in your backyard.
This chicken coop is everything you need to raise a flock. It comes with an outdoor run, roosting poles, ramps and nesting boxes. Club this with a predator-proof design and you have a winner on your hands.

Roomy design

Once you are done getting awed at the beautiful pine wooden finish and the green roof combination, you’d appreciate the roomy interiors that the coop has. The manufacturers advertise it as being the right size for 6 standard sized chickens. But it can easily accommodate up to 8. I am talking about the XL sized coop that is.
The positioning of the roosting poles and the nesting boxes is immaculate. The fact that the removable cleaning trays are placed right under it makes the coop extremely easy to clean and maintain too. Also, the ramp gives chickens easy access to the roosting poles.
Nesting houses feature hinged roofs for easy access to the eggs, removable dividers to prevent the eggs from getting broken by other hens and fixtures to secure the doors with padlocks. The padlock fixtures are not of the best quality though. If you are concerned about raccoons or weasels gaining entry after fiddling with the padlocks, you can easily replace them with better quality ones bought off Walmart. This is not a deal breaker when you compare the other features of the coop.

Easy access

Access to the interiors of the chicken coop is such an important part of growing healthy chickens. This product features both front and top doors which allow you to clean it easily from the inside.
The outdoor run will prevent the chicken from running haywire in your lawn and pecking it bare.
Verdict: The Trixie Duplex chicken coop is an ingeniously designed package. It will keep your chickens happy and will make life easier for the first time chicken farmer. You can pick from eight different size options too.

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3. SmithBuilt 7 feet Wooden Two Storey Chicken Coop

SmithBuilt’s Two Storey Chicken Coop is the stuff chicken dreams are made of. As evident by the name, this is a huge coop that runs 7 feet long and features multiple stories. The upper one houses the residential quarters while the run is downstairs. Chickens can switch between the two while you can stay rest assured that they are protected from predators and the like.

Solid Fir Construction

There is something about coops made from solid wood which makes them more appealing and also durable. This one is made from Solid Fir that has been coated for the outdoors. If there is much rain in your area, then I’d recommend that you treat it with an additional coat just to be sure.
Despite the all-wood construction, two people can lift it off the ground to move it.
Assembly may take more than an hour and a half considering that the multiple storied design comes with a lot of screws.

Easy access and cleaning

The SmithBuilt 7 ft. wooden coop features a roosting bar that can hold up to three chickens at a time and a nesting box on the side which can be separated by a divider. Access to the nesting box is via a hinged roof that lifts upwards. The nesting box and the main living quarters are surrounded by a wooden enclosure that keeps the coop warm even on cold winter nights.
The slanted asphalt shingles on the roof ensure that even the tiniest bit of rainwater doesn’t find its way into the coop.
One of the things that I’d like to mention here is that some people mistake it to be 7 feet tall. No sir. This product is 7 feet long. In other words, it runs that long with the run included. The actual living quarters for the chicken is 26.25 long and 32 inches high. That more than suffices for three chickens. But if you feel its too cramped, you can use it for two full-sized birds.
Verdict: The SmithBuilt 7 feet chicken coop is one of the best chicken coop kit on the market. The solid wood construction and the intuitive design makes it a great choice for backyard farmers looking for a ready to use package.

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4. New Age Pet ecoFLEX Fontana Chicken Barn

The Fontana Chicken Barn is a very popular chicken barn thanks to its spacious interiors and durable construction. It is made from Eco-Flex, which is a combination of recycled wood and polymers. The material is incredibly durable and resistant to even the harshest of weather conditions.
The Chicken Barn is designed for easy assembly and you should be set up in less than an hour.

Secure and spacious

The Jumbo sized Fontana Chicken farm gives your hens a whopping 12 square feet of moving space. Even if you adhere to the mandatory 1 sq feet per bird inside the coop, you can easily house up to 12 standard sized chickens at a time or up to 10 ducks if you plan to use it as a duck house instead.
The large interiors are perfectly complemented by two roosting bars and 3 nesting boxes which are divided by partitions.
The Eco Flex material is one of the best ones for use outside the home since it does not absorb moisture or get warped, cracked or peeled. Customers have used it for years without as much as a blemish to show for it.

Warm and cozy

If you live in an area with mild weather, then you need not worry too much about the temperature inside the coop. But if you live in an area with extremely hot weather or severely cold weather, then you’d be glad to know that the Fontana Chicken farm provides excellent insulation during winters and has multiple ventilation slats for the summers. During the rains, this prevents condensation from setting inside and your chicken will stay dry.
And if you want to use a heater for the winters, the roomy interiors ensure that you can position it without hindering the movement of the chicken.
Access to the interiors can be via the hinged lid for the nesting boxes or via the removable roof (it can be removed in minutes).
Verdict: The New Age Fontana Jumbo chicken barn is a steal. It lets you accommodate up to 12 chickens and is designed to last for years without any damage to the exterior. Highly recommended!

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5. Merry Pet Habitat Coop for Chickens

If you are looking for a coop and a chicken run combo that is perfect for about three hens, then the Merry Pet Habitat Coop should be a great choice for you. It is used by a lot of people in urbane setups due to its compact footprint and all-inclusive design which eliminates the hassles of buying and setting up a separate run.
Also, it is secure and looks beautiful with red satin panels and a black roof.

Easy to assemble

The Habitat coop for chickens is made from fir. I am not sure whether it is Douglas-fir, but it certainly looks like it. The wood is durable and does not warp or peel after moisture and sun exposure. Despite the many parts included in the package, assembly is fairly simple. The package also includes a few extra sets of screws just to ensure that you don’t misplace anything. It should be completely set up in a couple of hours.
Access to the coop is relatively simple. A hinged roof lets you access the internal part of the coop and a slide out pan collects the droppings and feathers keeping the main coop clean and dry.
Ventilation is excellent thanks to the multiple netted windows which provide ample air and light into the coop. This will keep the raccoons away pretty easily.
The main access door has a latch. If you are paranoid about predators, then you can replace it with a sturdier padlock.

Roosting pole and nesting boxes

The Merry Pet habitat coop for chickens also includes a roosting pole that is sufficient for two chickens and a large nesting box which can be separated by a divider into two boxes.
The main area is connected to the run via a ramp which has horizontal slats for better traction as the chicken enters the coop. The metal wire on the run is durable and does not rust even with rain exposure. The openings are quite small and will keep snakes from entering the coop.
Verdict: With an in-built chicken run, the Merry Pet Habitat coop for chickens brings unbeatable value to the table. It is durable and can hold up to 4 hens at a time. Great buy if you are looking for an all-inclusive choice.

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A Buying Guide For The Best Backyard Chicken Coop

The chicken coop you buy will be a very important investment in your crusade as a poultry farmer. If you are an experienced farmer, then it goes without saying that you’d be aware of the essentials. But if you are new to it, then here are a few details that you need to be aware of.

How many hens do you plan to keep?

First and foremost, you need to decide how many chickens you plan to keep. If you plan to keep chickens to get eggs for the family, then three to four chickens can give you as many as 700 eggs a year. That’s specific to some breeds though. Rhode Island Red, for example, lays as many as 250 eggs a year per chicken. There are other breeds which lay much lesser. Also, as the hen ages, she will continue to lay fewer eggs each passing year. She will eventually stop laying when she molts. The number of hens you plan to keep will determine how large a coop you need. You should also take into consideration the amount of space in your yard that you plan to allocate to the coop.

Are you aware of the town ordinances?

You also need to be aware of any restrictions that your town may have regarding keeping chickens. Some towns disallow roosters because of obvious reasons. Others have a limit on the size of the flock, the size of the coop and the location of the coop. Ensure that you are updated on these.

What do the chickens need?

Protection

There is a common misconception that chicken living in a backyard farm do not need protection from predators. Oh, you couldn’t be more mistaken. While coyotes may seem like a far-fetched proposition, there is a very real threat from raccoons and dogs. Also, hawks and owls will snag a chicken if given a chance. The coop needs to be secure and safe preventing these predators from gaining access to them in any way. Windows need to be covered as well.
Other than this, they need to be protected from the vagaries of weather.

Food and water

You will need a waterer and an automatic feeder if you do not want to spend time manually spreading scratch. These additional tools will save you time and effort. But also consider the possibility that storing these in the coop may make it more cramped for space. People living in cooler climates may need to invest in a water heater.

Space

It is estimated that a laying chicken needs at least 1.5 square feet of space inside a coop and approximately 8 feet outside of it on the run. You may be tempted to cram as many as possible into a small coop. It will only lead to distress among the birds and they may start to injure each other. Also, more the room to move about, the happier the chicken.

Desirable Features

Now that you are aware of the essentials of starting your own backyard farm, here are a few features of a good quality coop.

Easy to clean

Chickens are messy. The coop will be covered in bird droppings, feathers, and dirt that is tracked inside. It is in your best interest to keep the coop clean. So, look for a coop that lets you access the insides easily. Most coops have multiple access points including a removable roof and a large door. You must also be able to remove the nesting boxes and the perches so that you can hose down the place from time to time.

Egg collection

Look for one that lets you access the nesting boxes from outside. This will allow you to collect the eggs everyday without opening the coop and disturbing the flock.

Airy

There has to be a minimum of two points of ventilation in a coop. Most coops have it positioned near the roof. This prevents a direct draught from blowing into their feathers which they absolutely despise. Lack of proper ventilation can cause a whole range of problems for your chicken. So consider this a very important feature.

Nesting boxes

The nesting box is one of the most important features of the coop. Your chicken will lay at least an egg each day of the year except for winters. And they need a cool and dark place that is not disturbed frequently. It needs to be lower than the perches and give them easy access at any time. This will ensure that the eggs stay safe and the nest box remains clean. As I mentioned earlier, the nest box also needs to have external access to remove the eggs.

Material

There is nothing better than a good quality wooden coop. But the market is flooded with cheap Chinese wooden coops that will warp and crack in a few months. Ensure that you check the type of the timber and the thickness of the coop. It needs to be weather resistant too. The other options are molded plastic which is easier to clean and does not fade or chip with time.

The Run

Last but not the least; the run is an important part and most coops will have a run built in. If your coop doesn’t have one, you can always order it separately. A chicken run gives the chicken ample space to move about keeping them safe from predators and it also lets you round them easily at the end of the day.

DREAMING OF CHICKEN COOPS?

44 Beautiful DIY Chicken Coop Plans You Can Actually Build

Posted by The Happy Chicken Coop on February 9, 2018 Posted In: Features

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/chicken-coop-plans/

So, you are planning to build your own chicken coop.
Don’t panic, take a deep breath!
If you are concerned that you won’t be able to read the coop plans, that they will be too technical, you are not alone.
I cannot read and execute building plans to save my life, yet I have built a total of 8 coops so far, with more to come. The chickens don’t care if the corners aren’t square or it is not the prettiest building in town – it is draft free, dry and keeps them safe and warm.
The point is, don’t be intimidated, you can do this!
Below we have 44 free DIY chicken coop plans with simple step by step instructions. We will also give you some general guidelines about coops to help smooth the path for you.
The biggest hurdle is getting over your fears or anxieties, so sit down, have a glass of wine or a cup of tea and read on!

Chapter 1
Step by step Instructions

Chapter 2
44 Free DIY Chicken Coop Plans

What are the ‘Must Haves’ of a DIY Coop?

Before we get to the plans, let’s take a look at what your coop must provide for your hens.
The must have list is fairly short, but essential:

• Sufficient space for the hens
• Keeps chickens in and predators out
• Ventilation
• Draft free
• Easy to clean and sanitize with good drainage
• Protection from the elements

Let’s look at each one of these in turn below.

How Big Should Your Coop Be?

In order to answer this question, you have to know what chickens you are getting. Are they bantams or large fowl? Are they considered standard size or extra-large such as Jersey Giants.
If you have ordered from a hatchery, they usually have a helpful section in the catalog that will give you space requirements for chickens.
In general, the following space requirements apply:

• Bantams – 2sq.ft./bird in the coop, 4sq.ft/bird in the run.
• Standard large fowl – 4sq.ft/bird in the coop, 8sq.ft in the run.
• Extra-large birds – minimumft/bird in the coop, 8sq.ft in the run.

As a note in the plans below we’ve assumed 3 square foot per chicken.
A note of caution here – these are minimum space requirements per bird. If you can build bigger, do so. It is likely that at some point you will get more birds; this is known as ‘chicken math’ or ‘more hens’ disease’!

The coop can be tall enough for you to walk into, or small enough for the hens and nothing else, your choice.
My preference is a walk-in coop because I don’t want to be leaning over to see what’s going on inside the coop or leaning in to ‘muck out’ on a regular basis.
Size requirements in the coop are really quite essential for the birds’ well-being, especially in the winter months. In close confinement, your pretty, lovable hens will start picking and plucking at each other if they don’t have sufficient room.
It can be very ugly, so don’t skimp on space for your girls.
It really is important that you have an attached run area to your coop for extra space. If you don’t have a run and want to keep your hens locked up all the time, the confined space requirements are going to be significantly more.

Advantages of Building your Own Chicken Coop

The easiest and most plentiful material for coop building is wood.
If you do decide to build your own coop, you can save a lot of money by using stuff that is freely available, such as wooden pallets. Businesses give pallets away free just to get rid of them. As long as the wood is heat treated it is fine to build with.
Building your own coop also means you get the exact coop you want! Something unique that perfectly meets your needs.
A word of caution here – many web sites I visited researching this article advocated for using chicken wire to cover windows and also in the run area. Chicken wire is designed to keep chickens in, but will not keep predators out.
You should use wire mesh (hardware cloth) no larger than ½ inch for at least the bottom three foot of the run, you can if you wish use chicken wire higher up. Raccoons can and will bite through chicken wire to get to your birds, hardware mesh will keep them out, this applies to all openings too – windows and vents.

Using anything larger than ½ inch invites weasels and other small critters to visit your girls…not something you want to happen.

Coop Ventilation and Access

Without a doubt, ventilation to the coop is vital. In summer the vents will allow the warmer air out, keeping the coop cooler and in winter it allows the warm, moist stale air out.
Moist air in the coop during the colder months will give your birds frostbite to the combs and wattles – especially breeds that have large combs and wattles.
It is the combination of cold and moisture on a warm comb that causes the problem. As contrary as it might sound, ventilation will release the moisture from the coop. A well ventilated coop will reduce problems to an absolute minimum.
How big a vent and where to put it? The vent should be up near the ceiling well above the heads of your chickens (remember, no drafts).
The general rule of thumb is 1sq.ft of vent per 10sq.ft of floor space in colder climates. In warmer areas, more is better in order to maintain an ambient temperature in the coop. At temperatures over 90F, the chickens will start to be stressed, which leads to problems.
A window in the coop will ideally be south facing, but can be placed elsewhere except the north side. The window will allow sunlight into the coop and add extra ventilation too.
Access to the coop for you should be a standard sized door so that you don’t crack your head every time you enter.
Chicken access is via a ‘pop’ door. A pop door is simply a hole cut into the coop about 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide. The extra width allows for two birds to pass in the doorway.
Oftentimes you will have a hen that likes to sit in the doorway, so the extra space allows others to come and go.

Location, Location, Location

Try to take into consideration all the things that might limit the desirability or accessibility to the coop.
Write yourself a list of desirable things for coop location:

• Dry ground, good drainage
• In a sunny spot, but shaded from the midday heat
• Easily accessible for you
• Somewhat sheltered from bad weather – as an example, you would not want to place the coop on a high spot prone to strong winds.

Before you start building your coop, visit your site area in the morning, afternoon and evening and see how the time of day affects the area. Think about it for a few days before deciding if the spot is right for you.
If you live in an urban setting, make sure the zoning laws allow you to put up a coop in your yard and keep chickens.
Sadly, there are many municipalities that do not allow chickens in the town or village, or they only allow a certain number of hens. There are likely to be rules about where you can place your coop also – such as a minimum of six feet from the neighbors’ fence.
It is your responsibility to check out the rules and regulations. Don’t want to wade through the village by-laws? Ask your local code enforcement/zoning official, they should be able to help you.

Hen Furniture: What to Include Inside the Coop

Thankfully, hens don’t require TV, internet access or most of the things us humans deem necessary. They do need some basic ‘furniture’ though.
A roosting perch is essential for them when they are old enough to perch. This perch provides the sleeping area for the hens. They will snuggle together on the bar in winter and spread out a bit during the warmer months.
Roosting perches should allow for 8-12 inches of space per bird. Chickens sleep ‘flat-footed’, so the perch should be between 2-4 inches wide for their comfort.
The ideal height from the floor should be 18-24 inches. Any higher and heavier hens run the risk of leg or foot injury when jumping down. Bantams seem to enjoy higher perches since they fly so well.
Think carefully where you will put your roost; birds poop over 70% of the total daily droppings at night. If you plan carefully, you can incorporate something like ‘poop boards’, poop hammock or some other way to easily collect and remove the poop mountains.
Tip: don’t place your nest boxes under the roost.
I use old discarded professional baking trays – they are solid metal trays about 18×24 inches which sit under the roosts. They are easy to lift out and empty as necessary.
Nest boxes are the second necessity for hens. The golden rule is one nest box for every 3-4 hens, although they will usually have one favorite box and all will want to use it!
Standard sized birds will fit nicely into a 12 x 12 inch box situated about 12 inches off the floor. Nest boxes should be place in the darkest part of the coop since hens do like a little privacy when laying their eggs. If you have very large birds such as Jersey Giants the nest box will have to be larger to accommodate the hens. Bantams require much less space – about 6 inches per box, but they can and will use the ‘big girls’ nest boxes.
Of course, you will need feeders and drinkers for your flock. The feeder can be hung in the coop, but leave the drinker outside otherwise it will contribute excess moisture to the air in the coop.

Chicken Coop Plans

$ cost	1-6 hens	Easy
6 sq ft	Annabell
This small chicken coop will house 2-3 chickens and costs under $150 to build. It has two hinged doors, one for access to the main area, and the second to collect the eggs from the nest box. It’ll take you around 1 ½ days to build.

Get This Coop

$$$ cost	7-12 hens	Easy
24 sq ft	Barn Geek
This step-by-step instruction pack shows you how to build a 4×6 chicken coop which will house 10-12 hens. It has a large door for access, an external nest box and a pitched roof. It can be built on stilts, so it is ideal if you don’t want your coop to touch the ground.

Get This Coop

$$$ cost	25+ hens	Hard
100 sq ft	Chicken Garden
This plan provides you with exact dimensions to create a large chicken coop for at least 25 chickens. With opening windows and a full size door, this is a luxury coop for larger flocks. With 100 sq ft of floor space, it is one of the more difficult plans to build.

Get This Coop

$ cost	25+ hens	Easy
128 sq ft	Chicken House
Complete with a detailed materials list, this plan includes 3D sketches of the design as well as a real life version for your convenience. This large 128 sq ft coop is one of the easier plans to build, and can house in excess of 25 chickens.

Get This Coop

$$ cost	13-24 hens	Hard
64 sq ft	Chicken Mansion
The Chicken Mansion is well built and attractive looking coop, complete with a porch. The coop is 8×8 ft with a 4x8ft porch attached. We’ve rated this as one of the more difficult builds because it takes a lot of time and effort, but the results are great.

Get This Coop

$$$ cost	1-6 hens	Easy
18 sq ft	Chicken Shed
This narrow, but tall coop is ideal for just 1-6 chickens, but its height allows a person to get inside and clean it out. It’s easy, yet slightly more on the expensive side to build. The roof is quite easy to attach though, as it is just one sloped side.

Get This Coop

$$ cost	13-24 hens	Medium
49 sq ft	Clutch Hutch
This square shaped plan can easily be built from recycled materials, and is tall enough to walk into. It’s 8×8 square foot, and can house between 13-24 chickens. The Clutch Hutch has a sloping roof, which allows 6ft of head height at the front, and 4ft at the back.

Get This Coop

$$ cost	7-12 hens	Easy
32 sq ft	Creative Mom
If you’re looking for a unique and different shaped chicken coop this one is for you. It has a drop down side to make cleaning easy, and is 32 sq ft which give you enough space for 12 chickens. The plan also includes instructions for adding ventilation to prevent overheating.

Get This Coop

$ cost	25+ hens	Medium
96 sq ft	Debbys Roost
This 96 square foot coop has both a full size door and a chicken door at either end. The ramp cleverly doubles as the chicken door. The plans include hand sketched dimensions of various parts, and step by step photos of it being built.

Get This Coop

$ cost	7-12 hens	Easy
32 sq ft	Down East
This coop was built with the aim of being like Fort Knox, and keep out predators. It has a locked outside door for egg collection, and a slanted steel roof. The plans include detailed photographs of the sweet, but sturdy looking coop being built.

Get This Coop

$ cost	7-12 hens	Medium
22 sq ft	Easy Coop
The plans for this 22 square foot come complete with a video and computerized step-by-step pictures of the coop being built. It has shutter windows with wire mesh behind. It can house 7-12 chickens and is relatively cheap to build.

Get This Coop

$$$ cost	7-12 hens	Hard
20 sq ft	Egg Plant
This insulated chicken coop is a cube shape with an interesting roof. There are windows on every side of the coop, up at the top to let light in. The Egg Plant can house 7-12 chickens, although is it quite expensive and difficult to build.

Is it cold enough?

How to Winterize your Chicken Coop

November 14, 2017 https://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2017/11/how-to-winterize-your-chicken-coop.html

Chickens do far better in the cold than you might imagine, but there are still a few simple things you can do to winterize your chicken coop and make it more comfortable for your flock.  As the temperatures drop below freezing, a few modifications to your coop will help it stay warmer through the winter months (and no, I'm not talking about adding heat!)

Move the Feed and Water Outside (if you haven't already)

Chickens can't see well in the dark and therefore don't eat or drink at night, so there's no need to leave any feed or water inside the coop for them any time of the year. Especially in the winter, it's a good idea to feed outside. Feed in the coop will attract rodents, demand more frequent coop cleanings (NO fun in the ice and snow) and water will just freeze overnight anyway, so you'll have to refill the water each morning anyway.  I never leave feed or water inside my coop - summer or winter. If my chickens want their breakfast, they have to come outside to eat it. This ensures they're getting some fresh air, sunlight and exercise, plus it keeps the coop cleaner, rodent free and the moisture level  lower - all of which are important. Especially in the cold weather.

Ventilation

The most important thing in the winter is that your coop stays dry and draft-free. That means closing any windows or vents at roost level or lower. But a common mistake is thinking that your coop needs to be buttoned up completely.  You still need ventilation and good cross air flow. Adequate ventilation is critical for allowing ammonia fumes in the chicken manure to escape - and also to prevent frostbite.  Frostbite is partially caused by damp conditions, so having adequate ventilation to allow any moisture your chickens emit at night when they breathe can help to prevent it. If you're seeing condensation on the inside of the windows, you need more ventilation - but be sure it's up high.  Any open vents need to be well above your chickens' heads when they are sleeping.  Vents up under the eaves are a good way to keep the air flowing without creating a cold draft.

Wide Roosts

Speaking of frostbite, it's not just chickens' combs that are susceptible. They can get frostbite on their toes and feet as well. For that reason, roosts should be wide enough that your hens' feet are completely covered by the warm feathers on their abdomen from the top and the roost from underneath.  A 2x4 with the 4" side facing up with the corners rounded makes a perfect roosting bar to protect feet from frostbite.

Block the Windows

Since your coop windows likely aren't double paned, and therefore let heat escape and cold in, hanging a blanket or towel over them at night will help to retain the heat your chickens create with their body heat.  You can nail or staple the window covers up, and then just roll them up during the day to allow sunlight to shine in. If your coop is large and your flock small, hanging wool blankets or tarps to partially enclose the sleeping area can also help keep your flock warmer at night when they're sleeping.

Lots of Straw

Straw is my preferred coop bedding choice year round, but especially in the winter. The hollow shafts in the straw trap and hold warm air, effectively insulating your coop floor.  A layer of straw up to a foot deep on your coop floor will help keep your chickens warmer at night. Likewise, straw bales stacked along the inside walls of the coop provide even more insulation. 

Pop Door Draft Drapes

One of the biggest sources of drafts in your coop is the small pop door your chickens use to go in and out. Clearly you can't keep it closed all day long - you want to encourage your chickens to go in and out as they please during daylight hours.  So installing "draft drapes" across the opening can help. You can hang fabric, tarp or even a plastic shower curtain cut into strips (think car wash!) across the opening.  Or style drapes that hang down with an opening in the middle your chickens can walk through. Try tying them back at first to let your chickens get used to them.

Heating your coop is not only not the best course of action as far as your chickens' health and well-being goes, but also a huge fire risk. Instead, try some of these simple, inexpensive ways to winterize your coop this winter.

Giving Thanks for your Chickens

At Thanksgiving, Turkeys get all the attention, as they should for what they bring to our Holiday table. But year round Chickens bring us daily abundance of eggs, meat, entertainment and love. For those of us that are "Chicken Keepers", we spend a lot of time, money and conversation around chickens. As we give thanks this year, toss a little over to your girls for all they give us throughout the year. Happy Thanksgiving, Anice


9 Healthy Treats Your Chickens Will Love

Posted by The Happy Chicken Coop on July 10, 2015

https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/9-healthy-treats-your-chickens-will-love/

We all love to spoil our chickens with treats every now and then.
Giving treats to your chickens helps to give their diet some variation. It also helps to keep them happy and laying eggs.
If you’re not careful buying treats for your chickens can cost lots of money, that’s why most of our treats are normally kitchen scraps and left overs… In fact, 75% of the cost of keeping chickens is made up of chicken feed.
With that being said, I still love to spoil our chickens and they get more than their fair share of treats!
Let’s take a look at our girls’ top 9 favourite healthy treats.
If you’re looking for even more treats, you can use this handy chicken treat chart.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is one of our girls’ favourite treats and it’s probably their favourite treat during the cold winter months.

Picture the scene: its 6:30am, pitch-black, and there is a thick frost on the ground.

I let our girls out of their coop and straight away they can smell the oatmeal. I just pour the oatmeal straight out into their trough- I’ve found in the past they can bully each other if I just put the pan down because they can’t all get to it at once.
You can also add either maple syrup or bananas to the oatmeal to help give it some variety.

Cottage Cheese

There’s something about cottage cheese that our chickens just love. Maybe it’s the cheese taste or maybe it’s just the consistency?

Either way, they love it!

You can give your chickens cottage cheese straight out of the tub or you can mix it with vegetables. Both carrots and broccoli go really well with it.
It provides your chickens with several essential nutrients such as calcium which helps keep their bones strong. It’s also a great source of protein as laying chickens need around 20 grams of protein a day to produce an egg.

Pasta and Noodles

Have you ever seen free range chickens running around the garden with streams of pasta flowing out of their beak!?

Cooked pasta can be a cheap but filling treat for your chickens. Two cups of pasta is more than enough for a flock of six chickens.

Again, like with cottage cheese you can mix other food into the pasta. A nice creamy sauce or chopped up vegetables can go a long way to keeping your chickens happy.
However, they will be perfectly happy with just dry pasta.
If you are going to feed your chicken pasta, just make sure to cook it beforehand! I’m not sure they would appreciate hard, crunchy, raw pasta…

Mealworms

Mealworms are without a doubt our chickens’ favourite treat of all time.
They are a very quick and easy treat to give your chickens and require no preparation.
I just buy a 1lb bag of them and dump them into a pile inside our girls’ pen. It’s very entertaining to watch the chickens run back and forth with the mealworms in their mouth.
You can normally buy them from your local fishing/tackle store but they can be quite expensive- $20USD for 1lb. If you give your chickens mealworms regularly it might be worth considering farming your own mealworms.

Corn

You can either feed sweetcorn to them loose, mix it in with their pellets, or you can feed it to them straight from the cob.
Here’s a great idea if you want to keep your girls busy. Buy several corn on the cobs and hang the cobs using some string. You can then let the girls peck away at them- this should keep them amused for several hours.
Not only is sweetcorn a cheap treat, it’s packed with lutein and zeaxanthin which are phytochemicals that help keep your chickens vision healthy. It will also provide your girls with some much needed fiber.

Ginger

We’ve already written about the superfood ginger and some of the health benefits your chickens will experience when eating ginger. Certain studies claim that feeding chickens ginger can increase the size of the eggs and also improve the amount of antioxidants in the egg yolk.
I tend to only use ginger when our chickens moult as it can help them grow back their feathers quicker.
If you are going to feed your chickens ginger you can either mix ginger powder in with their pellets or you can mix it in with their water.
However, make sure you only give your chickens ginger no more than once per month. Feeding your chickens too much ginger can cause muscle swelling and occasionally death.

Watermelon

Watermelon is the perfect summer snack for chickens.
Not only is it full of water and extremely refreshing for them, it also contains lots of essential vitamins and minerals.
I buy watermelon cheap when it’s in season and slice them up into small chunks. I then take the small chunks and freeze them.
During a hot summers day I get the frozen chunks out and place them into the chickens’ water bowl. This helps keep the water cool and the chickens can also peck at the watermelon.
You could also, mix the frozen watermelon in with plain greek yogurt. This helps spread the watermelon out and greek yogurt is also very refreshing for them.

Pumpkin

Pumpkins are another one of those refreshing treats with added health benefits.
The seeds inside pumpkins help with worming. According to Delaware State University pumpkin seeds “contain a deworming compound called cucurbitacin which has been used to expel tapeworms”.
Pumpkin can be very hard to cut, so I just put the pumpkin inside our chicken pen and then hit it with a mallet to break it open for the girls.
Your girls will be entertained for hours as they merrily peck away. You will notice they will eat the pumpkin in its entirety- bar the skin.
Another benefit I found was that their egg yolks turned vibrant orange for a few days after they’d eaten the pumpkin.

Scrambled Egg

Sometimes during the peak of summer, our girls can get carried away and lay too many eggs for us to cope with!
I could store the eggs or freeze them to use later, but instead I prefer to cook several of them and make scrambled eggs for the girls.
Scrambled egg is full of protein and can quickly fill your girl’s up.
Note: Always make sure you cook any eggs which you feed your chickens. You DON’T want your chickens getting a taste for raw eggs because they will start eating their own eggs.


One important point to make here is that you shouldn’t give your chickens too many treats as this can actually cause your chickens to stop laying eggs. Just make sure that their treats are part of a consistent and varied diet and your chickens will be fine.