Chickens are kept for meat, egg production, and as pets. There are, of course, other purposes but these tend to be the most common ones. Chickens are very sensitive animals which are highly susceptible to extreme weather and predators. Due to those aspects it is important that chickens be provided with adequate protective housing. This is where chicken coops come in because they provide that much needed protection, plus more. So it’s important that you get the best chicken coop for your poultry.
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When it comes to poultry coops, there are several suppliers on Amazon. It becomes challenging to select the best chicken coop, especially when you have no experience. We have solved this problem for you. Go through this chickens coops buying guide, and select the best chicken coop that suits your requirements and preferences. After reading this guide, you will know the best chickens coops for sale, and the most affordable budget chicken coops.
Table of Contents
Best chicken coops Comparison Chart
| Overall Best Chicken Coop | Most Affordable Chicken Coop | Best Dual Chicken Coop | Best Walk In Chicken Coop |
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| SNAPLOCK FORMEX LARGE CHICKEN COOP | BESTPET CHICKEN COOP | PAWHUT 124″ DUAL BACKYARD CHICKEN COOPS | GIANTEX LARGE METAL CHICKEN COOP |
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| PETSFIT WEATHERPROOF OUTDOOR CHICKEN COOP WITH NESTING BOX | BEST CHOICE PRODUCTS 80 INCH OUTDOOR WOODEN CHICKEN COOP | PAWHUT 83″ WOODEN BACKYARD CHICKEN COOP |
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| OMLET EGLU CUBE CHICKEN COOP | PRECISION PET NANTUCKET CHICKEN COOP/RABBIT HUTCH | TANGKULA LARGE CHICKEN COOP |
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Reviews of The Best CHICKEN COOPS
1. Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop with Nesting Box
Features
This chicken coop has a nesting box and its bottom can be removed for easy cleaning. It measures 53 by 25 by 28 inches. It has side nesting box that has a divider for 2 birds. It is made out of fir wood which is water proof and durable. The box can fit at most 4 grown birds. There are two front doors and one with stairs – this provides easy access for the birds. The chicken coop weighs 62.2 pounds and can also be used for cats and rabbits. This chicken coop does not have a raised platform design and does not have a chicken run.
Review
This chicken coop gets a rating of 3.9 out 5 from us. It is very easy to assemble – this is its outstanding attribute. It might not be that secure wholly on its own. You would need to reinforce in some way e.g. placing it in a well-protected area. It easily qualifies as one of the best chicken coops.
2. SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop
Features
It is impact, water, chemical, and UV resistant. It has a removable litter tray which makes it easy to clean and maintain. It has a design that makes it easy to access eggs. It also has adjustable ventilation. It has an insulating, double-wall built. There is lockable access and is predator resistant. It measures 43 by 17 by 26 inches and weighs 65 pounds. It has 4 nests and 3 roosts which is why it is very spacious.
Review
Our rating for this chicken coop is 4.5 out 5. It is easy to assemble, is quite sturdy and very easy to clean. Due to its having three perches inside this chicken coop is quite spacious. One notable shortcoming of this chicken coop is that it does not have a run. This ultimately confines the chickens indoors. If you are thinking of keeping layer chickens it might not be the best fit due to limited natural light getting in. This is undoubtedly the best chicken coop on the market.
3. Giantex Large Metal Chicken Coop
Features
This chicken coop measures 10 by 26 by 6.4 feet. It is made out of a solid steel frame. It is perfect for outdoor use because of the immense space it carries. It has a galvanised tube (1.25 inches in diameter) and a PVC coated hexagonal wire mesh. It also has a water proof and UV protected oxford cloth. The roof is pitched thus allowing non-accumulation of things like water or debris on the roof. It has a lockable steel door and its quick-connect frame makes for ease of assembling it.
Review
We give this chicken coop a rating of 4.1 out 5. It does provide considerable protection for chickens from adverse weather and low-key predators. However, for much more vicious predators it needs extra reinforcements by replacing some of its components with tougher ones. This is the best walk in chicken coop.
4. Best Choice Products 80 Inch Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop
Features
It weighs 50 pounds and measures 79.5 by 26.5 by 51.5 inches. It has 2 doors with a locking system made out of metal. There is a sliding door ramp that enables chickens to easily move in and out. It is made out of fir wood which makes it water proof and durable. There is a removable bottom sliding tray – that is where bird droppings accumulate. This chicken coop is enclosed with metal wire fencing.
Review
We rate this chicken coop 3.9 out 5. It is quite easy to clean and also easy to assemble. It’s easily among the best chicken coops on the market. This poultry coop has a good design but in order to be top notch it will require some minor tweaks. For instance, you can paint it with a good outdoor paint to improve the wood surface. You can place it at an elevated spot to avoid direct contact with the ground. That also somehow reduces the likely of access by predators. It’s among the best chicken coops with run.
5. BestPet Chicken Coop
Features
This goes beyond just being used for chickens. It can also be used for rabbits, cats and ducks. There is UV protection which prevents ripping, cracking, fading and peeling. The pitched design of the roof allows for easy runoff of water, debris and the like. The frame has an epoxy coating finish which protects against corrosion and other adverse weather conditions. It weighs 45.2 pounds and measures 86 by 40 by 40 inches.
Review
We give this one a 4.2 out 5. It is easy to manoeuvre or move around.
6. PawHut 124″ Dual Backyard Chicken Coops
Features
It has a double chicken nesting box that has a hinged top. This makes it easy to deposit and collect eggs. It has perches inside that work great for chickens to roost. There are two ramps for easy access to get inside. Adequate ventilation is made possible by the screened windows. The roof opens to the inside and this makes cleaning and maintenance smooth. Not forgetting that it has 4 outside doors. The material used to make this chicken coop is fir wood. The fir wood is coated with a nitro lacquer to make the wood last longer. This chicken coop weighs about 99 pounds. It measures 121 by 27.5 by 42.5 inches.
Reviews
We rate this poultry coop 3.7 out 5. It’s one of the best backyard chicken coops. It most notable attribute is that is sturdy. It has all the basic attributes that people look for in a chicken coop. We are referring to things like ease of access, cleaning and durability. It has fitted large outdoor chicken run which allows for free movement of chicken outdoors. Most people do note the need to add some tweaks in order to reinforce it for protection against weather elements and predators. This is the best dual chicken coop on the market.
7. PawHut 83″ Wooden Backyard Chicken Coop
Features
This chicken coop weighs 56 pounds and is built from treated fir wood. It measures 36 by 84 by 48 inches in size. Chickens get to enjoy lots space plus there is a dual-sectioned nesting box. There is lots of space inside and there is a heavy-duty fenced enclosure outside for the chickens to freely move around. The nesting box has a hinged top which makes it easy to deposit or collect eggs. There are perches for roosting and a ramp for quick and easy access. The design of this chicken coop is compact thus making it fit in small areas. The litter trays are removable and there are multiple doors.
Review
This chicken coop gets a 3.7 out 5 rating from us. It is quite easy to assemble and has average performance in terms of being weather-proof and sturdy. This chicken coop can be great for keeping your chickens; however, longevity might be a long stretch. Thus most people would recommend this chicken coop for temporary short term use.
8. Tangkula Large Chicken Coop
Features
This is not only usable for chickens but can also be used for ducks, rabbits and other small livestock. The roof is made out of water-resistant material. The coop is generally made out of a composite material of green asphalt (fir wood). It has a water proof vanish which is non-toxic. There is a ladder that provides ease of access to upper and lower spaces. As for protection, the coop has a premium galvanized wire. It has a window for adequate ventilation for the birds. Overall dimensions are 58 by 21 by 34 inches with a net weight of 41 pounds. It has one hutch and one instruction. This coop has a nesting box, resting box and a ramp. The perches are raised and this ensures chickens are kept warm and dry.
Review
We give this a rating of 3.5 out of 5. It is generally easy to assemble and clean. This chicken coop is overally appreciable for most of its features but tends to fall short on the spacing aspect.
9. Precision Pet Nantucket Chicken Coop/Rabbit Hutch
Features
This chicken coop has a two-bay locking nesting box and two roosting bars. There is an outdoor area for foraging plus enclosed sleeping quarters. It features one ramp and three side doors. The floor plan is removable thus making it easy to clean. This chicken coop is excellent for the outdoors because of the use of hardwood coated with a rot and pest-resistant formula. It weighs 97 pounds and measures 48 by 31.9 by 73.6 inches.
Reviews
We give this one a rating of 3 out 5. This chicken coop has basically most of the desirable features. It is easy to assemble, easy to access and easy to clean. It is exclusively well-suited for very tiny flocks. If you are looking for something that is small then this is it.
10. Omlet Eglu Cube Chicken Coop
Features
This chicken coop comes with non-spill food and water containers. There are roosting bars and slide-out litter trays plus an integrated nest box. There is an egg port that makes access to eggs very easy. It has doors that are secured by locking rotary latches. The chicken run is made out of tough steel weld mesh that is impenetrable to predators. It has an anti-tunnel skirt that makes it impossible for predators to tunnel in. Droppings fall through the slatted floor into slide-out dropping trays. Those trays can then be easily emptied. The back panel can be removed thus making it possible to take out the nest box and roosting bars. All this makes it easier to clean the structure. It is obviously quite heavy as it weighs 184.8 pounds. There are of course optional wheels that make it easy to move the coop.
Review
We give this one a 4 out 5 rating. This chicken coop features an elaborate and atypical design. It is very easy to clean and maintain plus it is very strong. It is secure enough to keep predators out. Since it features a spacious chicken run the chickens can roam around outdoors freely. Mobility can be incorporated by using wheels that are usually included as part of the package.
The Cheapest chicken coop
From our list of 10 best chicken coops for 2020 the cheapest one is the BestPet Chicken Coop. Despite its being the cheapest here, it is also highly rated amongst consumers.
Overall Best chicken coop of 2020
Our best pick for the best chicken coop of 2020 is the SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop. Of course, it is quite pricey but the features it carries are much needed. It is spacious, has sufficient protection against weather elements. It is very easy to assemble and has design mechanisms that make it easy to clean. It also predator-resistant and it is easy to access. It is quite durable because it is impact, water, chemical, and UV resistant. Generally, this is a highly acclaimed chicken coop on the market.
What Is A Chicken Coop
This is a small housing structure for chicken. Primarily, chicken coops are meant to protect chickens from adverse weather. The other purpose is to protect chickens from predators spanning from domestic to wild animals. Usually, a chicken coop has an indoor and outdoor area. The indoor area is where the chickens either rest or sleep. The outdoor area is usually for them to move around during the day – it is normally fenced.
Advantages OF USING CHICKEN COOPS
Chicken coops are a relatively cheap option for housing chickens. This does depend on the types of chicken coop in question. Some more premium design or size ones can be very costly. Usually, the small to medium sized chicken coops are reasonably priced.
Chicken coops do require routine care and maintenance – literally daily. However, they are easy to care for and maintain. If you diligently do this well the chicken coops can actually last for ages.
Portability is one of the convenient attributes of most chicken coops. Some are quite large and heavy thus needing considerable effort to move. Most of them, however, are sleek and portable and this makes it easy for them to be moved around if needs be.
disADVANTAGES OF USING CHICKEN COOPS
Chicken coops can lead to limitations in the number of chickens you can raise. Most chicken coops can house a limited number of chickens.
In the case that you want to increase the number of chickens you are raising it might cost more. Here is the thing, earlier we just highlighted that can be limitations in the number of chickens you can raise. When you want to expand you will most likely have to purchase another or more chicken coops.
Buying pre-built chicken coops might not always be cheap. It can be costly to buy pre-built chicken coops. This is obviously because the labour costs of building one are incorporated when pricing them.
What Are The Prices Of Chicken Coops
Prices of chicken coops are quite varied and it depends of a variety of factors. There are different types of chicken coops ranging from small, to deluxe and high end ones. Considering those 3 categories and provided they are new, you can get one from, on average, US$100 to at most US$5000 or even more.
What Are The Different Types Of Chicken Coops
There are different types of chicken coops. Types can differ based on the size or the design (or style). There are 3 broad types of chicken coops as follows:
Stationary
These are specifically designed to be in one particular spot. These normally have solid floors such as concrete, for instance. Optionally they can have an attached extension (usually a run) that provides the chicken with an outdoor environment.
Mobile
Their built has a mechanism that allows for mobility. Some can actually be moved by hand whilst others need to be moved by a vehicle. Normally their flooring is not solid but rather it is bare. This allows for the chicken to easily have contact with the earth for foraging.
Semi-Mobile
This type is a cross between the previous two we just discussed. It is usually designed in such a way that it can be placed in one spot for an extended period. Then when there is need to move it can be easily moved.
You must also bear in mind that chicken coops can differ based on certain other issues. It could be size, it could be certain design features, and it could be the type of building materials and so on.
Features Of A Good Chicken Coop
It Must Be Secure
There must be sufficient security features incorporated into the design and structure. For instance, the door to the chicken coop must be solid and robust. There must be solid wire mesh to be used to cover any possible loopholes. These are just some of the considerations but overall, security must be a key attribute of a good chicken coop.
It Must Have Good Ventilation
It is a well-established fact that chickens have very delicate temperature needs. If temperatures get too high or too low it can adversely affect their well-being – it can even lead to mortalities. So a good chicken coop must have vents or even windows that provide adequate ventilation.
Adequate Space
The issue of ventilation we just discussed plays also into this aspect of space. If chickens are too crowded it compromises the ventilation of the chicken coop. Chickens need to have the freedom to considerably move around. These are some of the reasons why adequate space is paramount.
Must-Haves
Any chicken coop must include a roost and nest boxes. The roost is important because that is where the chickens will most likely sleep. Typically a roost space of 12 inches must be allowed per chicken. Depending on the type of chicken coop the roost area must be sufficiently clear off the ground. The other important feature for a chicken coop to have is a run.
What Kind Of Chickens Are Suitable For Chicken Coops
There are many kinds of chickens that are suitable for chicken coops – be it for meat or eggs. Some of the best egg-laying chicken breeds suitable for chicken coops are Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, Hybrids, Buff Orpington and Rhode Island Red amongst plenty more. Broiler chickens are also suitable for chicken coops but obviously you will need substantially big ones. This is because broiler chickens are often raised in big numbers. It can also accomodate other types of poultry such as ducks.
Factors To Consider When Buying Chicken Coops
As much as there is an option to build your own poultry coops, buying one will always be more preferable in most cases. In order to buy the best chicken coop there are factors that you definitely have to consider. Some of them are:
Ease Of Chicken And Human Access
There will be need for cleaning and doing routine maintenance of the chicken coop. A good chicken coop should make it easy for humans to either enter or at least access whatever they need to access in it. In terms of chicken access, it should be easy for them to move from the interior to the exterior and vice versa. The presence of ramps in the designs makes it easier to do so.
Good Ventilation
We have already discussed this but it is worth mentioning here. The design or style of a chicken coop is enough to show you whether it will have proper ventilation or not. Issues like the presence of windows or vents must be looked at. You also have to consider the presence or lack thereof of a run. It is usually good to have a run as part of the design so that chickens can roam about in the open air during the day.
Adequate Square Footage
This will be crucial for the birds that will be housed. As we earlier discussed there must be adequate space to allow the bird to move freely. They must not be too crowded. This will be informed by the number of chickens you intend to keep of course. The presence of run again helps in this regard. If a run is present it means square footage is not just confined to the interior only.
Perches And Nesting Boxes
Typically, there must be roughly one foot (ft.) of perch per bird. As for the nesting boxes, there must be a nest box per every 3 to 4 birds. So you must look at the number of perches and nesting boxes a chicken coop comes with. Alternatively you can look at the space available so see if additional ones can be incorporated.
Quality Considerations
You can look at things like materials used, sturdiness of the chicken coop or the presence of wire meshes. For instance, plastic can be an easy target for predators such as rodents. If it is wood, it must be hard and thick enough. You can also assess things like flashness of adjoining components – gaps are potentially loopholes. These are just some of the things you can look at in endeavouring to figure out the quality of a chicken coop.
What Kind Of Chicken Coop Should I Get
The type of the best chicken coop to get really depends on so many factors. One of the primary determinants is space – the number of chickens you intend to keep should be adequately accommodated. Earlier we discussed how that space considerations closely affect ventilation and other metrics. Then there is the issue of nests if you are raising chickens for egg production. Enough nests must be able to fit in the chicken coop. Nest boxes do have to be considerably big to provide comfort for the birds so adequate space must be available. The best chicken coop to get will also depend on the material used. The most standard material used is wood because of its reasonable strength – those it does have its downsides. Plastic is not typically used but its use is steadily gaining popularity. Metal is at the bottom of the list – of course it is the strongest but it has limitations pertaining to being a poor insulator. There are also issues of possible rusting and it compromises proper ventilation.
Location Of The Chicken Coop
There are important considerations to make when choosing the location of a chicken coop. You must bear in mind that chickens are very sensitive as we alluded to earlier. A chicken coop must be located at a spot that has some considerable shade – by all means, avoid direct exposure to the sun. A chicken coop should also be located in close proximity to human living quarters. Depending on where one stays the regulations can vary. Typically the distance from human living quarters can span from just a few feet to even more mover than a hundred feet. Chickens tend to become hysteric if there is some of form of danger around, for instance, predators. If it is located close enough people can hear it if something is not right. It is also recommended that when setting up the chicken coop it must be facing the southern direction. This is to ensure that the chickens receive adequate sunlight during the day. Be that as it may you must not forget that direct exposure to the sun is a big no!
