The Chicken Coop
Choosing the Right Chicken CoopLearn About Chicken Coops
What is a chicken Coop?
A chicken coop is a covered, secure area where the chickens sleep. The coop needs shade, adequate ventilation and approximately four square feet per standard-sized bird. Most importantly, it should be secure to keep the chickens in and predators out. Make sure the location is in compliance with City ordinances. In addition to having a chicken coop, you will also need these essentials to properly care for your flock: a run, a nesting box, roost, and bedding.
Chicken Coop Essentials
A Run
A run is an area, usually enclosed, that the chickens use during the day. The run should have at least six square feet per bird.
A Nesting Box
Nesting boxes are comfortable spaces for chickens to lay eggs within the coop. Nesting boxes should provide privacy and good ventilation. The coop will need one nesting box per four or five hens. Dimensions are generally 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 14 inches high.
A Roost
Chickens like to sleep on a perch on a roost which are bars, where chickens perch to sleep at night inside the coop. Roosts should ideally be 18 to 24 inches from the ground, with eight to 10 inches of roosting space per bird. The perch should be covered by a roof, but allow enough space for air to flow underneath it.
Bedding
Bedding is used to line the coop and nesting boxes, and can consist of leaves, straw, hay, pine shavings, wood chips or other organic, absorbent materials. Do not use cedar or juniper shavings because they are toxic to chickens! Hay works great as bedding but is more expensive than other options. Wood chips and pine shavings are less expensive.
Close Accordion
Stationary or mobile
What Type of Coop Should I Get?
There are many different types of chicken coops to choose from. They can be stationary or mobile, some have runs included, while others do not. You can buy one or make one yourself. There are also a number of different designs and sizes to choose from. The type you choose will depend on the number of hens you want to keep, how much space you have available in your yard, the climate where you live and your budget.
Stationary with Run
Stationary coop without a run
Chicken Tractor
Learn About Chicken Coops
What is a chicken Coop?
A chicken coop is a covered, secure area where the chickens sleep. The coop needs shade, adequate ventilation and approximately four square feet per standard-sized bird. Most importantly, it should be secure to keep the chickens in and predators out. Make sure the location is in compliance with City ordinances. In addition to having a chicken coop, you will also need these essentials to properly care for your flock: a run, a nesting box, roost, and bedding.
Chicken Coop Essentials
A Run
A run is an area, usually enclosed, that the chickens use during the day. The run should have at least six square feet per bird.
A Nesting Box
Nesting boxes are comfortable spaces for chickens to lay eggs within the coop. Nesting boxes should provide privacy and good ventilation. The coop will need one nesting box per four or five hens. Dimensions are generally 12 inches long, 12 inches wide and 14 inches high.
A Roost
Chickens like to sleep on a perch on a roost which are bars, where chickens perch to sleep at night inside the coop. Roosts should ideally be 18 to 24 inches from the ground, with eight to 10 inches of roosting space per bird. The perch should be covered by a roof, but allow enough space for air to flow underneath it.
Bedding
Bedding is used to line the coop and nesting boxes, and can consist of leaves, straw, hay, pine shavings, wood chips or other organic, absorbent materials. Do not use cedar or juniper shavings because they are toxic to chickens! Hay works great as bedding but is more expensive than other options. Wood chips and pine shavings are less expensive.
Close Accordion
Stationary or mobile
What Type of Coop Should I Get?
There are many different types of chicken coops to choose from. They can be stationary or mobile, some have runs included, while others do not. You can buy one or make one yourself. There are also a number of different designs and sizes to choose from. The type you choose will depend on the number of hens you want to keep, how much space you have available in your yard, the climate where you live and your budget.
Stationary with Run
Stationary coop without a run
Chicken tractor