Whether you're a seasoned farmer or a backyard enthusiast, setting up a chicken coop that meets your feathered friends' needs is crucial for their well-being and productivity.

We have had chickens for many years now and have learned a few things about what works best for our flock. We recently upgraded to a bigger coop as our mixed flock grew, and with years of experience, we knew what works and what we should include when we designed the new coop.

In this blog post, I’ll share what should be inside a chicken coop, the things to consider when designing a chicken coop, and the elements to avoid.

By providing a safe and comfortable environment, you'll not only ensure the health of your flock but also maximize their egg production!

What is a chicken coop?

A chicken coop is essentially a house for your beloved feathered friends. It is a structure specifically designed to house and protect them. It serves as a shelter for chickens (and other flock friends) to roost, lay eggs, and seek refuge from predators and harsh weather conditions.

Chicken coops come in various sizes and designs, ranging from small backyard coops for a few hens to larger custom-built structures if you have a big party!

They typically consist of a secure enclosure with walls made of materials like wood, wire mesh, or metal, providing both ventilation and protection.

Inside the coop, you'll find features such as nesting boxes, roosting bars, feeders, and waterers, that cater to the chickens' basic needs, which we will go into more detail below.

A well-designed chicken coop promotes the health, safety, and productivity of your flock!

what should be inside a chicken coop - the essentials

It is not only about what should be inside the chicken coop but also the coop’s structure which is essential for a healthy flock and their needs. Below are some of the most important elements of a coop!

Size and Space

Adequate space is vital for your chickens' overall health and happiness.

On average, chickens need 2-3 sq ft of floor space per chicken inside the coop and 4-5 sq ft of secure outdoor space in the run. This will give them ample room to move around, stretch their wings, and be themselves.

Ventilation

Proper ventilation (but not a draft) is essential to maintain fresh air circulation and prevent the buildup of harmful ammonia fumes.

Your coop should have windows, vents, or openings that can be adjusted according to weather conditions.

Adequate airflow helps:

Supplies oxygen-rich air
Removes moisture from the air
Removes dust particles
Reduces the amount of disease-causing organisms that are in the air.
Prevents respiratory issues
Keeps the coop cool during hot summer months.

If you go into the coop and smell ammonia, etc., then the coop needs to be better ventilated.

Security

Protecting your chickens from predators should be a top priority.

Ensure your coop has sturdy walls made of hardware cloth, wood, or welded wire mesh to prevent entry by predators like raccoons, foxes, or snakes.

Additionally, install locks on doors and windows to keep out curious, clever critters.

Shade

Shade within the chicken run or coop is essential, especially during the hot summer months.

Although many chicken breeds are somewhat heat tolerant, you do not want your babies to suffer from heat stroke or exhaustion. This can also severely impact their egg-laying capacity.

Incorporate shade structures, such as awnings or trees, to protect your flock from excessive heat and direct sunlight. This helps prevent heat stress and keeps your chickens comfortable.

And now for the inside of the coop

A type of floor covering

Wood or pine shavings will give off a pleasant smell, absorb moisture to prevent bacteria from growing and causing illnesses in your flock, and are easy to clean out and replace.

I like to first spread a layer of First Saturday Lime all over the floor and then a layer of pine shavings. I use a whole bag of pine shavings, which ends up being about 3 inches or so.

Roosting Bars

Chickens love to roost, so providing them with sturdy perches is essential.

Place roosting bars at different staggered heights (2 feet and higher) within the coop, allowing approximately eight inches of space per bird. Smooth and rounded perches free from splinters help prevent foot injuries and promote restful sleep.

Ensure the roosting pole's circumference is large enough for the birds to comfortably grip their feet for maximum stability while sleeping.

As chickens poop the most during the night, having a "poop board" below the roosting bars will make daily/weekly cleaning a lot easier.

Read more: Cleaning your chicken coop

Nesting Boxes

Hens need a cozy place to lay their eggs.

Provide nesting boxes lined with soft bedding materials, such as straw, wood shavings, or nesting pads to create a comfortable and inviting space for egg-laying.

Aim for one nesting box per four to five hens.

Just a friendly warning: You can supply the coziest nesting boxes and have enough for everyone, but 90% of the time, they will fight over one! They will even lie on top of each other! It's really an instinctual thing. If they lay them in one place, it is easier for one hen to sit on and brood them for hatching.

Ensure your nesting boxes are elevated but no higher than 3 feet off the ground and easily accessible for collecting eggs. We usually use 12x12x12 squares.

Waterers and Feeders

Yup, chickens are messy. So get ready to step in chicken poop and have chicken poop everywhere! Oh, and they love to scratch and take dust baths, soiling everything around them.

For this very messy reason, you should choose sturdy and easy-to-clean waterers and feeders that accommodate your flock's size and habits.

Have enough feeders so at least 1/3 of the flock can feed at a time. Elevated or hung feeders will help to keep things a bit more manageable.

Your chickens should always have access to clean water and food, so regular cleaning of waterers and feeders is unavoidable.

Tip! If your flock is only locked up in the coop for the night, they do not need to have their waterers inside as they don't drink or eat during sleep time. They then only need waterers in the run for during the day.

Food Storage Containers

When you have chickens, you can be sure there will be rodents and rats; it's inevitable.

Having your chicken feed nearby in storage containers will protect the feed from these pests and save you a lot of time walking back and forth.

Invest in secure, airtight food storage containers to keep your chicken feed fresh, dry, and protected from pests. Proper storage helps maintain the nutritional value of the feed and prevents spoilage.

Diatomaceous Earth

As I mentioned earlier, dust baths are one of the chickens' favorite pastimes. It is like a spa treatment for them! This is their natural way to deter insects such as mites and lice.

Adding food-grade diatomaceous earth to your chicken coop will make this pastime activity even more beneficial. Diatomaceous earth combines minerals from clay, iron oxide, and silica from fossil remains that aid in controlling external parasites like mites and lice.

Apply a thin layer of diatomaceous earth in areas where your chickens dust bathe or nest, as it acts as a natural insecticide.

You can get Diatomaceous Earth here

Even better than DE is something called First Saturday Lime. It’s not DE but it is similar and completely non-toxic to all animals. Sometimes Diatomaceous Earth can be toxic to some animals if inhaled. And as humans we have to wear a mask and be cautious when spreading it. First Saturday Lime does all the same things DE does but better. You can read more about it HERE

designing your chicken coop -Tips

There are many things to take into consideration before building your coop! Here are some more tips when designing and building your chicken coop:

When you are ready to build a chicken coop, do your homework. If nearby subdivisions allow coops, determine what variances may have been employed and get documentation whenever possible.
Talk to your neighbors. See if you can get it in writing if they are amenable to your plans.
Make sure your planned coop is attractive and adheres to any outbuilding guidelines that may be in place.
Consider how many chickens you will keep, and remember that your flock will probably grow larger than you have anticipated! I always said I wanted only 10 and ended up with way more! There's this thing called "chicken math," where you end up with many more than you planned. Keep this in mind when planning your coop.
Will you provide a contained run, or will they free range? If your chickens will range freely, a run is unnecessary (but nice to have).
What is the distance between your planned coop location and your home and nearby residences? Will the noise or smell be an issue? How far do you have to walk in cold winter weather to tend to your chickens daily?
Will other birds live with them as well? I have a mixed flock of chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guinea fowl, and they all live happily together. The secret? They free range, and our coop and run are big enough, so they all have their own space to do their thing and mind their own business.
Read more: Raising a mixed flock
Consider which flooring you will use. We put a concrete floor in ours after realizing rodents could chew their way up through the floor and into the coop. Keeping rodents out as best as possible is a must. It's also nice to put a layer of linoleum on top, which makes it easier to clean.
If you have a big chicken coop, ensure the door is big enough for you to enter the coop for easier cleaning. It's also a bonus if you can have a Dutch door. That way, you can have fresh air coming in while restricting the movement of animals (and sneaky pests) going in or out.
If you have a small coop for just a few chickens, the door for the chickens needs to be about 10 inches wide by 13 inches high.
If you live in a neighborhood and plan to only have a few hens. It's totally OK to have a much smaller coop! Tractor Supply and even Hope Depot sell smaller coops. They have nesting boxes built in and even a small run.
My only thought would be to try to have a fenced area for your ladies to forage apart from the small run. They will need the extra space.
Make sure your ventilation is good as well. But a small coop is just as great for nighttime, roosting, and nesting box purposes!

chicken coop don’ts

If you follow our guidelines and tips above, your coop will not only be a house but a home for your flock where they are safe, comfortable, healthy, and happy!

Don’t:

• Make it too crowded: Overcrowding leads to stress, increased disease susceptibility, and reduced egg production.

• Use sharp edges or protruding nails: These pose injury risks like bumblefoot.

• Have poor insulation: Inadequate insulation can expose your flock to extreme temperatures, illness and disease, and discomfort.

• Use toxic materials: Avoid using chemically treated wood or harmful substances in the coop's construction. Also don’t feed them toxic things and food ;-)

• Have a lack of predator protection: Insufficient security measures can result in devastating losses.

Designing the perfect chicken coop with essential features will take some time, but it will ensure the well-being of your flock and enhance their productivity.

Adequate space, proper ventilation, security, nesting boxes, roosting bars, and easy maintenance are all vital elements to consider.

Remember, a happy and healthy flock will reward you with delicious, fresh eggs and a joyful experience in backyard poultry keeping!

Love, Annette xx

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