The Best Chicken Coop: Providing Your Flock with Comfort and Safety
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Are you looking for the best chicken coop to keep your flock comfortable and safe? If so, you're in the right place. We've searched high and low for top-rated products on the market.
Here, we explore various chicken coops for different numbers of chickens, ranging from small to large. You'll learn which features to look for, the brands making the best products today, and the top hen houses for winter. Read on to learn more!
Best Chicken Coop for 6 Chickens
This section reviews the best chicken coop for 6 chickens. Coops in this category should provide at least 24 square feet for this number of birds to live comfortably side by side.
1. Petmate Superior Construction Chicken Coop
The Petmate Superior Construction Chicken Coop is our top pick in the six-chicken category. The spacious construction provides enough room for up to ten birds, making it a great option if you ever want to expand your flock.
Our favorite aspect of the coop is the addition of extra conveniences for chickens and their owners. The standout feature is the nesting box on the rear door, which makes egg retrieval straightforward. There's also a removable cleaning tray you can pull out of the unit's side for quick litter removal.
Petmate makes the coop with double-thick wood panels, compared to standard 7.5mm options. This feature makes the henhouse robust against fox attacks and more attractive in your yard. The wood is unstained, but you can paint it, depending on your requirements.
The coop also comes with adjustable ventilation, depending on your chickens' requirements and the bedding you use. Dustier beddings may require you to open the rear vent more fully.
Finally, you get two internal and one external roosting bar. These features prevent your flock from sleeping in their droppings. Chickens remain further from their litter or bedding, reducing the risk of lice and other parasites.
Pros:
- Spacious accommodation for your chickens
- Removable cleaning tray
- Comes with an attached run
Cons:
- Wood construction that requires treatment if left outdoors
- Steep ramp
2. Coops And Hutches XL Cottage
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Are you looking for the best chicken coop to keep your flock comfortable and safe? If so, you're in the right place. We've searched high and low for top-rated products on the market.
Here, we explore various chicken coops for different numbers of chickens, ranging from small to large. You'll learn which features to look for, the brands making the best products today, and the top hen houses for winter. Read on to learn more!
Pros:
- Solid front door, compatible with an automatic opener
- Adjustable, rot-free plastic leg covers
- Front door ventilation
Cons:
- Challenging to muck out
- Requires assembly (arrives flat-packed)
3. Rita Marie’s IHS A-Frame 4’ x 6’ Chicken Coop
The IHS A-Frame 4' x 6' is number three on our list of top chicken coops. While pricey, the unit brings immense quality and is designed to last for well over a decade. The unit comes with up to 6 feet of roosting space and two or three nesting boxes, depending on your requirements.
Rita Marie is a family-owned chicken coop business that prides itself on building the best coops in the country. Everything about the product smacks of quality, from the automatic door to the optional electrical package. It even has a metal roof for extra durability.
Pros:
- Constructed to high standards
- Quality mesh wiring to prevent predator entry
- Up to three nesting boxes
Cons:
- Pricey
- You must pay a fee to get extra features, such as a clean-out lid and insulated ceilings
Best Chicken Coops for Winter
This section explores the best chicken coops for cold weather: those most likely to keep your birds warm when temperatures plummet.
1. Omlet Eglu Cube
The best chicken coop for winter is the Omlet Eglu Cube. The coop is tested at temperatures as low as -14°F and still works well.
The coop's revolutionary thermal performance comes from its insulation. Omlet equips it with a double-wall system that works similarly to conventional double-glazing. Heat trapped inside from brooding chickens continues to circulate at night instead of escaping, protecting them from plummeting temperatures.
Interestingly, though, the coop won't overheat in the summer. Omlet equips it with a draft-free ventilation system that lets fresh air blow through the main body of the hen house without affecting the roosting area.
Cleaning the coop is surprisingly easy. Omlet builds it with smooth plastic surfaces that you can literally spray clean with a hose nozzle, once you remove the bedding. And the main unit comes apart into multiple sections that you can clean individually.
Pros:
- Double exterior walls with insulating core
- Vented sections to keep birds cool in the summer
- Plastic, easy-clean construction
Cons:
- Small size, not for commercial growers
- Lack of customization options
2. OverEZ Large Chicken Coop
If you need a little extra space in the winter, you might want to check out the OverEZ Large Chicken Coop. While it has a mostly wood construction, it can house up to 15 chickens and features two attractive screened windows.
It's a good option for winter because of its roof profile. The steep single-sided gable lets water flow off the roof during rainstorms, and the treated exterior wood and ramp protect against weathering.
Pros:
- Beautiful wood construction and paint effect
- Ventilation under each gable for keeping chickens cool in the summer
- Built by Amish-trained craftsmen
Cons:
- Lack of proper insulation
3. Omlet Eglu Go
Finally, if you're looking for the best prefab chicken coop for beginners in the winter, then you might want to check out the Omlet Eglu Go. This relatively small henhouse offers the same insulating technology as the Cube but at a lower price point.
Easy to clean, it comes in purple and green options, and you can choose the length of the accompanying run – anywhere from 6 to 12 feet. The entire bottom tray section slides out from underneath the roof section, letting you grab any eggs laid in the night or clean out used bedding.
Pros:
- Durable materials designed to prevent red mite buildup
- Quick and easy to clean
- Suitable for beginners keeping backyard chickens
Cons:
- The plastic design might not be popular among some keepers
- Not suitable for the largest hens
Best Small Chicken Coop
If you only want to keep two or three chickens, you need a small coop. But which are the best on the market? Let's take a look.
1. OverEZ Small Chicken Coop
The OverEZ Small Chicken Coop is built with space for up to five chickens. Trained artisans construct it from high-quality materials, designed to last.
We like the fact the coop is made for both hot and cold weather. During the summer, ventilation under the eaves on either side lets a cool breeze flow through the interior, while door insulation and extra thick wood keep the temperature balmy in the summer.
It's also easy to assemble. From flat-pack to chicken-ready takes approximately 60 minutes.
Pros:
- Sits high off the ground, away from damp
- Screened windows with the option of opening them for more fresh air
- Two roost and one man door
Cons:
- Requires on-site assembly
2. Petsfit Chicken Coop With Nesting Box
Coming in at number two on our list of best chicken coops for those who need something small is the Petsfit coop with a removable bottom and nesting box. The product is made from thick natural fir wood and painted with eco-friendly paint. Petsfit designs it to be easy to clean, making it possible to reach every area of the coop from three access panels. Exterior doors all come with locks, keeping birds safe.
Pros:
- Good quality wood for the price
- Waterproof construction
- Easy to clean, thanks to numerous access hatches
Cons:
- Some latches may not be predator-proof
- The roof does not slope significantly
3. Tucker Murphy Pet Diego 14.1-Square Foot Coop
Finally, if you're looking for something ultra-compact for just a couple of chickens, then the Tucker Murphy Pet Diego 14.1-square-foot coop could be just what you need. Despite its small size, it comes with a host of features, including an attached run, pull-out tray, wire mesh, and numerous windows and doors. Above the main access point is a closable ventilation panel for keeping chickens cool in the summer. And there's a liftable roofing section on the nesting box for accessing eggs.
Pros:
- Nesting box and run included
- High-quality, durable roof construction
- Lockable doors for predator-proofing
Cons:
- The compact design may be too small for some keepers
- No roosting bar included
Best Large Chicken Coops
This final section discusses the best large chicken coops on the market. These products are ideal for anyone who wants to keep a lot of chickens safely on their property.
1: Tucker Murphy Sabre 27 Square Foot Chicken Coop
Our best large chicken coop is the Sabre 27 Square Foot model by Tucker Murphy. It comes with an extra-large activity space for your birds to stretch their legs and remain healthy.
One of the best features is the extended run panels under each nesting box. These additions provide hens with extra roaming space while preventing the unit from sinking into the ground.
You also get four round-edge perches. These protect birds' delicate feet and prevent them from developing gait or foot conditions.
Finally, the whole roof is covered in asphalt for superior waterproofing. Hens in the run and coop benefit from being kept dry at all times, preventing their feathers from becoming soggy.
Pros:
- Hassle-free cleaning, thanks to the metal pull-out tray
- Superior weather protection from the asphalt roof
- Two built-in nesting boxes with removable dividers for egg collection
Cons:
- The walk-in feature requires most people to stoop when entering the run
- No wheels are included
2. OverEZ XL Chicken Coop
The OverEZ XL Chicken Coop earns a well-deserved second place on this list. The striking hen house has space for up to twenty birds and is suitable for indoor and outdoor areas.
What makes it so special? Primarily its sturdy and durable construction. OverEZ makes the XL from natural wood and eco-friendly, non-toxic paint, protecting you and your birds.
You can also use it for other purposes if you ever stop keeping chickens. OverEZ says that the product doubles as a shelter for other small pets, such as ducks or rabbits.
Pros:
- Space for up to 20 chickens
- Chickens remain safe inside behind durable, natural wood
- Two vents on either side of the roof
Cons:
- Requires regular upkeep and straining
- Locks may not be predator-proof
3. Producer’s Pride Prairie Chicken Coop
Finally, on our list of best chicken coops for sale in this category is the Producer's Pride Prairie Chicken Coop. It has space for up to 8 birds and comes equipped with a roosting bar and predator-resistant door latches.
Producer's Pride designs the coop in an attractive American barn style. Next to the coop is an extensive run with roosting bars and wire protective panels. Chickens can roam freely during the day and return to the main house at night for shelter.
Pros:
- Predator-resistant door latches
- Reinforced Wood panels
- Space for up to 8 chickens
Cons:
- Requires assembly
- Difficult to access the door from the coop to the run
Buyer’s Guide
If you're new to chicken coops, figuring out which to buy can be a little overwhelming. This section is here to help. We list the top-rated chicken coops on the market and then some of the features you want to look out for before making a purchase.
Top Rated Chicken Coops
- Williams Sonoma Cedar Chicken Coop & Run
- Cutest Coops Charming Coop
- Producer's Pride MDC001 Sentinel Chicken Coop
- Omlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken Coop
- Petmate Superior Construction Chicken Coop
Finding the Best Rated Chicken Coop
To find a chicken coop that satisfies your needs and those of your chickens, look for a product with:
- Roosting bars
- Easy cleaning options
- Nesting boxes
- Plenty of ventilation
- Sturdy construction
- Sufficient size and capacity for your birds
Chicken Coop Reviews
You should also check out chicken coop reviews.
Chicken coop reviews tell you more about people's real-world experience than the products listed here. These can help you make a better decision on which product to choose.
Find these on Amazon, Google, and independent third-party sites, like Trustpilot. You can also get recommendations on the best place to buy a chicken coop, including suppliers who offer industry-specific instructions and support.
Our Verdict
Overall, the Omlet Eglu Cube is the best product on the market, thanks to its innovative double-layer insulation and easy cleaning. The design enables owners to sit back, relax, and know their chickens are safe and hygienic. However, the specific coop you choose will depend on the number of chickens you own and the environment in which you operate.
Order your Omlet Eglu Cube today.