As a chicken owner, one of the most important aspects you’ll need to consider is accommodation. And no, you can’t have them in diapers, living in your bedroom, no matter how cute they are.
Chickens require a spacious and secure coop, not just to keep them happy but also to keep them safe.
While you can buy readymade coops for chickens, these are often expensive.
A better choice is to build your own using a coop kit. I’ve tried my fair share of them and the time I saved not worrying about whether I’ve got all I need was well worth the price.
Read on to see how you might be able to save some time and avoid a headache with some of the best chicken coop kits available.
Choosing a Coop
When I first started keeping chickens, I was a little overwhelmed with coop choices, and I wasn’t sure what to look for.
I didn’t have a huge budget, but I wanted to make sure my hens had a durable and cozy home to live in.
Finding The Best Chicken Coop Kit
After a lot of time spent researching coops, which I wrote about here, I decided to build my own coop using a kit, which allowed me to make a quality and spacious area for my hens to live in without eating into all my savings.
So, if you need some help finding the best chicken coop kits for your flock, stick around!
Here I’ll be giving the run-down on what you need to look for in a chicken coop, as well as reviewing some of the best coop kits I’ve found on my search.
Best Chicken Coop Kits From The Review
Here’s a summary of all the chicken coop kits from the review sorted by category.
Top Pick
Pets Imperial Double Savoy Large Chicken Coop
Built with animal-friendly treated timber, this chicken coop is built to last.
Pets Imperial Double Savoy Large Chicken Coop
Out of all the chicken coop kits I’ve looked at, the Pets Imperial Double Savoy Coop is my overall top pick as I think it fits the bill (or beak!) in most features.
It’s large, sturdy, safe, and has an attractive design.
Best Value
COZIWOW Large 2-Tier Wooden Rabbit Chicken Coop Hutch
A great option if you need an affordable but sturdy home for your birds.
COZIWOW Large 2-Tier Wooden Rabbit Chicken Coop Hutch
Need a safe and secure house for your hens that doesn’t break the bank?
The COZIWOW two-tier chicken coop is a solid choice for chicken keepers on a budget without sacrificing quality.
Editor’s Choice
SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop
A coop made from plastic. Even though it’s made from plastic it’s very durable and helps prevent mites.
SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop
The SnapLock Formex large chicken coop is a well-built and sturdy house for your chickens, with the added bonus of being extremely easy to clean and maintain due to its plastic construction.
Best Starter Chicken Coop
Best Choice Products 80in Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop
A simple but comfortable chicken coop that can accommodate up to five chickens. An excellent choice for a starting setup.
Best Choice Products 80in Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop
The best starter chicken homes should be made from durable and sturdy materials, and offer plenty of space for chickens.
The Best Choice Products chicken coop delivers on all these features, boasting a cozy and warm home and outdoor run for your birds.
Best High-End Chicken Coop and Chicken Run
Coops & Feathers Wood and Wire Chicken Coop, XX-Large
One of the best chicken coops for large flocks, so if you’re thinking of owning more than ten small chickens, this hen house is designed with you in mind.
Coops & Feathers Wood and Wire Chicken Coop, XX-Large
If you’re looking for a high-end chicken coop with run, that exudes quality, the Coops and Feathers wooden chicken coop is a great pick.
It offers a huge amount of space for your chickens, and keeps them safe and sound from predators.
Top Chicken Coop Kits
Here are the full reviews of all the products from the lineup…
Top Pick
Pets Imperial Double Savoy Large Chicken Coop
Built with animal-friendly treated timber, this chicken coop is built to last.
Pets Imperial Double Savoy Large Chicken Coop
Built with animal-friendly treated timber, the Pets Imperial large chicken coop is designed with longevity in mind. Pets Imperial also have great walk in chicken coops in their inventory if you need something along those lines.
Build
The hen house has a polished tan finish, so your chickens can live comfortably and in style.
What’s better than one nesting box?
Two nesting boxes! The coop kit includes two nest boxes, four perches, and six compartments.
This makes it suitable for a small flock of chickens (up to ten depending on size), and ensures each bird has enough space to rest.
Maintenance
One of my favorite features of the Pets Imperial large chicken coop is how easy it is to clean.
The unit has a galvanized metal pull-out tray so you can quickly remove droppings and dirty bedding from the nesting box.
This makes maintaining the coop swift and straightforward.
Roof, Window, and Feet
The coop has a waterproof asphalt roof to protect your hens from all weather conditions, as well as a big predator-proof door for easy access.
There’s also a window constructed out of sturdy metal wire mesh near the top of the coop to keep each nesting box well ventilated.
The feet of the coop is covered by rot-free adjustable plastic caps, which also increases the stability and durability of the unit.
Assembly
My main gripe with the Pets Imperial large chicken coop is its difficult assembly. Building the hen house can be a bit frustrating and fiddly as some parts such as the roof hinges don’t fit together as well as they should.
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 39.6” x 58.8” x 37.2”
- Product Weight: Not Specified
- Design Materials: Timber Wood and Asphalt
- Color: Tan
Pros
- Offers a lot of space for up to 10 chickens
- Comes with many features: 2 nesting boxes, 4 perches, and 6 compartments
- Built-in removable tray allows for easy cleaning
- Waterproof and well ventilated design
- Large and secure door offers easy access
Cons
- Assembly can be a bit time consuming as some products don’t fit together easily such as the roof
Best Value
COZIWOW Large 2-Tier Wooden Chicken Coop
A great option if you need an affordable but sturdy home for your birds.
COZIWOW Large 2-Tier Wooden Chicken Coop
Boasting a two-tier design, the COZIWOW wooden chicken coop is a great option if you need an affordable but sturdy home for your birds.
Build
It’s made from treated and grooved fir wood that increases its strength and durability, giving you a chicken house that’s built to last.
The chicken coop is coated in an eco-friendly waterproof paint to help it withstand the elements, and features a sloped asphalt roof that helps keep your hens warm and dry.
The latter also gives this chicken coop a rustic feel, which I think would complement any backyard.
Design
This also brings me onto my next favorite aspect about this coop: appearance.
The COZIWOW chicken coop comes in two attractive colors: burlywood and red, and green and white.
Both look refined and appealing, but I personally like the red finish as I enjoy the more traditional coop color.
Doors
To make it easy to access your hens, the coop has three doors that each have side-bolt latches.
This makes feeding your hens and collecting eggs easy, and also helps keep them safe from predators.
Compartments
Another aspect I like about this chicken coop is the multiple compartments it comes with.
Not only does the unit include a large nest box (with metal chicken wire mesh for optimal ventilation) to provide your hens with a cozy area to rest, but it also comes with a coop run for exercising. Great for when you’re too busy or tired to break out the harness.
To allow for easy access between each section, a wooden ramp separates the nest boxes from the run.
Materials
The chicken run uses galvanized wire mesh that keeps your hens safe and secure, ensuring they don’t get themselves into mischief.
My hens are little troublemakers – they’re always trying to get into things or areas they’re not supposed to.
A predator-proof, secure chicken run like the one on the COZIWOW coop is definitely something I could use for my flock!
Assembly
The coop is also easy to assemble as the unit isn’t overly large or bulky. It comes with detailed instructions to help you build it step by step.
The main downside of this chicken coop is its small size. I’d only advise keeping two or three bantam (small) varieties of chicken in this hen house.
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 58” x 47” x 33”
- Product Weight: 38.3 lbs
- Design Materials: Fir Wood and Asphalt
- Color: Burlywood and Red
Pros
- Durable and strong construction that’s waterproof
- Attractive and rustic design
- Comes with a coop run, ramp, and nest box
- Easy to assemble
Cons
- Unit is a little on the small side, so may be unsuitable for standard-sized chickens
Editor’s Choice
SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop
A coop made from plastic. Even though it’s made from plastic it’s very durable and helps prevent mites.
SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop
Another great large chicken coop for your chickens is this one from SnapLock Formex.
Material
One of the features that sets this chicken coop apart from some of the other products I’ve looked at is its plastic design.
Most coops are made out of wood, but that can make them a bit harder to keep clean.
Plastic coops are simple to clean as you can easily wipe them down.
You also don’t need to worry about the coop rotting, unlike coops made out of wood.
Prevents Mites
Another great feature of plastic houses is that they are less likely to become infested with red mites.
Red mites are blood-feeding ectoparasites that reside in small crevices in chicken coops.
They can cause serious health issues and reduce egg production in chickens.
In wooden coops, there are a lot of gaps and spaces that these parasites can hide in. However, in plastic chicken coops like the SnapLock Formex coop, there are less crevices for red mites to run around in.
Build
This reason alone makes the SnapLock Formex one of the best houses for chickens in my book. But, what else is great about the design of this coop?
Well, the unit features an impact resistant, ultraviolet resistant, water resistant, and chemical resistant construction.
When your chickens are resting in their nesting boxes, they’ll be safe and comfortable in even the most extreme weather.
Maintenance
In addition to its easy-cleaning plastic design, the coop comes with a removable tray so you can easily and quickly clean inside the nesting boxes.
My chickens always produce a lot of mess inside their nesting boxes, so a removable tray like the one on this nesting box would be a real time saver!
Size
This coop offers enough space for four to six large chickens or six to twelve small chickens, so it’s one of the best picks for a small flock.
It has four nesting spots, three roosts, and removable dividers.
The latter makes it easy to create more space for your chickens or add more ventilation.
Accessibility
I really like that the coop has multiple doors for accessibility, as well as one that’s designed to make collecting eggs easy and simple.
The coop offers plenty of warmth as it has an insulating, sturdy, and double-wall construction.
Assembly
Even with all its best features, the coop does have two drawbacks.
Firstly, the coop isn’t too easy to assemble as some parts like the roof don’t slot together too well.
Secondly, the roosting perches are positioned a bit too close to the nesting box, which can create more mess and cleaning when your birds go to the toilet.
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 64” x 39” x 42£
- Product Weight: 65 lbs
- Design Materials: Plastic
- Color: Beige and Grey
Pros
- Plastic design makes it less likely to be infested with red mites
- Provides ample space for a small flock of chickens (4 to 6 standard-sized birds!)
- Removable litter tray for easy cleaning
- Features multiple doors for easy access
Cons
- Not the best or easiest coop to assemble – some parts don’t fit together well
- Roosting perches are positioned a bit close to the nesting box
Best Starter Chicken Coop
Best Choice Products 80in Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop
A simple but comfortable chicken coop that can accommodate up to five chickens. An excellent choice for a starting setup.
Best Choice Products 80in Outdoor Wooden Chicken Coop
If you need a simple but comfortable chicken coop that can accommodate up to five chickens, the Best Choice Products chicken coop is an excellent choice.
Materials
This coop is made from fir wood and galvanized metal mesh to give you a cozy and natural home for your chickens that’s built to last.
In addition to having a roomy nesting box, the chicken coop has a second level to provide your chickens with even more space.
Accessibility
There’s a wooden ramp that connects the coop with a run too, allowing your chickens to graze and get some fresh air.
The coop has multiple doors which makes accessing your chickens easy.
Each door has a series of locks that offers security for your flock.
How’s the nesting box?
The nesting box on this chicken coop has removable dividers, which is useful if you want to give your chickens more room.
It even has a top door so you can peek inside to check on your chickens.
One of my favorite features about this chicken coop is its time-saving and easy-cleaning design.
The nesting box comes with a removable tray so you can dispose of droppings and dirty bedding with ease.
Stability
My only issue with this chicken coop is that it can be a bit unstable.
The wood is quite soft, so it can be prone to cracking.
The unit is also a little lightweight, so you may need to make some adjustments to make it heavier and sturdier.
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 79.25” x 26.5” x 51.5”
- Product Weight: 36 lbs
- Design Materials: Fir Wood and Asphalt
- Color: Orange
Pros
- Made from fir wood that gives the coop a natural feel
- Features multiple doors (including a door on the top!) for easy and cleaning – each door has a series of locks
- Features a removable tray to make the nesting box easy to clean
- Comes with two levels, including a run connected by a sturdy ramp
- Provides enough space for up to 5 chickens
Cons
- Coop is a little lightweight so may require modifications to make it heavier
- Wood is a bit soft and can be prone to cracking
Best High-End Chicken Coop and Run
Coops and Feathers Wood and Wire Chicken Coop
One of the best chicken coops for large flocks, so if you’re thinking of owning more than ten small chickens, this hen house is designed with you in mind
Coops and Feathers Wood and Wire Chicken Coop
One of my personal favorite chicken coop kits is this one from Coops and Feathers.
It’s an extremely large and spacious coop that offers your hens plenty of room and ventilation.
Size
I think this is one of the best chicken coops for large flocks, so if you’re thinking of owning more than ten small chickens, this hen house is designed with you in mind.
Not only does this chicken coop give each of your hens a lot of space, but it’s also built to endure heavy use due to its sturdy and stable design.
Materials
The unit is made using wood (the type isn’t specified, but it certainly looks high quality!), asphalt (for the roof), and metal chicken wire mesh.
All of these materials help keep your hens safe, dry, warm, and protected from predators.
This wooden chicken coop features a unique design as it has two separated areas and two separate entrances.
Accessibility
You can access the coop from the big outdoor chicken run or through the full-sized doors located at the front.
The outdoor run gives your chickens a decent amount of space to roam and get some fresh air, and they can easily enter this area through a small door on the bottom of the barn compartment.
The barn area or the main house compartment contains a large nesting box and roosting box, which is adequate for up to twelve chickens.
Nesting Box
The nesting box can be popped out from outside of the barn so you can easily access all of your hens’ eggs – this is a really convenient feature for raising chickens, and one I wish my own hen house had!
You can easily open up the barn section and door on this large chicken coop to give each hen the opportunity to free roam.
Then when it’s time to tuck your chickens in at night, you can close the barn and door up securely to keep them warm and cozy.
Assembly
Despite all the positives of this wooden chicken coop for raising chickens, it does have two downsides. For one, the house isn’t exactly easy to assemble as some parts are a little fiddly to put together.
This can make building the coop a bit time consuming.
And secondly, the coop isn’t overly sturdy in windy conditions. You might need to make some slight adjustments to the unit and reinforce it to keep it from blowing over.
Specs
- Product Dimensions: 140.59” x 108.26” x 96.06”
- Product Weight: 599 lbs
- Design Materials: Wood and Asphalt
- Color: Grey and White
Pros
- Offers a lot of space for chickens, including a big coop and chicken run
- Features two full-size doors for easy access and cleaning
- Well-built and durable design – nesting boxes, roof, and run are secure
- Metal wire mesh windows offers optimal ventilation
Cons
- Coop isn’t the best in windy conditions – may need reinforcing with extra products or materials to increase its stability
- Can be hard to assemble as some parts don’t fit together as best as they could
What’s a Chicken Coop Kit?
If you’ve been hitting some of the books I’ve reviewed here, you’ll know a chicken coop kit contains most of or all the parts you need to build a coop for your chickens.
Some products come with everything you need, while others lack certain components and features such as roof shingles.
If you’re interested in buying a chicken coop kit, make sure you check the contents of the package so you know exactly what it includes.
Ideal Features
If you require features like a chicken run, ramp, a removable tray, large door or multiple doors, then make sure the kit offers these.
This will prevent any issues in the long run – you don’t want to be halfway into building your coop before realizing you’re missing one or two tools or a crucial component!
Why Buy a Chicken Coop Kit?
One of the biggest advantages of buying a chicken coop kit is cost.
Building your own backyard chicken coop is a lot cheaper than simply buying a readymade coop.
Commercial pre-assembled chicken houses can be quite pricey, so choosing to build your own is a fantastic option for raising chickens on a budget.
In fact, a chicken coop kit can cost up to half less than most pre-assembled chicken coops. The savings can be even greater if you go completely from scratch and use recycled materials rather than new ones.
Below is a quick informative video that gives good insight on deciding on a chicken coop.
DIY
Do you enjoy DIY? If so, a chicken coop kit could be your next project or one for all the family to get stuck into.
Building your own coop will give you a huge sense of accomplishment, and there’s nothing quite like seeing the finished result after a lot of planning and work.
Quality
Knowing you made your coop with your own hands is extremely rewarding and satisfying, so why not give it a try?
Even better, you’ll have full control of the materials you use.
So, if you’d rather spend a bit extra on the base of your coop to ensure its durability, you can do just that!
Is It Cheaper to Buy or Build a Chicken Coop Kit?
Building your own backyard chicken coop using a chicken coop kit is a lot cheaper than purchasing a readymade one.
Commercial pre-built coops can be expensive, especially if you opt for ones made from higher quality materials or additional features.
The high cost of readymade chicken coops is due to their convenience.
You don’t need to buy extra materials, tools, or spend time putting them together, unlike chicken coop kits.
TIP
If you’re low on time or don’t have the best DIY skills, a pre-built chicken coop can be a great choice.
FAQs
What Size Chicken Coop and Chicken Run Should I Get?
Chicken Coop
When choosing the size of your chicken coop, you’ll need to take into consideration the number of chickens you plan to get.
As a rule, your chicken coop should provide each bird with at least three square feet of space to move around in.
For bantam (small) bantam varieties, a square foot or two square feet of space per hen in the house is usually sufficient.
Chicken Run
A chicken run, on the other hand, should be designed to give each chicken around ten square feet of space.
So, a coop for ten standard-sized chickens should contain a minimum of thirty square feet of space to move around in.
TIP
Bigger is always best, so try to make sure your hen house and run is as large as possible.
What Should a Chicken Coop Be Made Of?
Chicken coops are normally made out of wood, but some coops are built out of plastic.
Wood
For wooden coops, the quality and type of wood you use depends on your budget.
Tropical hardwoods and redwood are durable and naturally rot resistant, but they can be rather costly.
Softwoods like pine, hemlock, and spruce are cheaper, but they can quickly deteriorate over time if they aren’t sealed with a non-toxic preservative treatment.
Roof and Ventilation
Most chicken coop kits have an asphalt roof to keep your birds warm and dry from all weather conditions.
The house should feature a well-ventilated design to ensure good air circulation within the nest boxes.
NOTE
Metal wire mesh is best as it offers great ventilation while helping keep predators out. If your coop simply has an open window or gap, pests and large animals will have easy access to your chickens.
Door
Ideally, your chicken coop should be designed with a large door so you can access your chickens easily. You can also opt for an automatic chicken door for extra convenience.
This also makes cleaning the coop quick and simple, especially if the unit comes with a built-in removable tray.
Can Chickens Stay in the Coop All Day?
Chicken coops provide poultry with a safe area to roost at night and lay their eggs, but they shouldn’t be their only habitat.
Your chickens need access to a chicken run or enclosed outdoor space so they can forage, exercise, and explore.
NOTE
Chickens that are confined to a coop all day are likely to become bored, stressed, and develop behavioral issues like feather picking.
Where Should I Put a Chicken Coop?
It’s best to place your chicken coop in a location that is slightly in the shade but also slightly in the sun.
This will allow your birds to choose between basking in the sunlight and retreating to the shade when they get too warm.
Why Are Chicken Coops Raised Off the Ground?
Chicken coops are usually raised off the ground for a few reasons.
For one, it helps deter predators and pests like rodents from burrowing around underneath the coop.
Secondly, it helps ensure good air circulation within the coop. And lastly, it can help stop the coop from flooding in areas at risk of flooding.
How High Should a Coop Be Off the Ground?
Most poultry houses are raised around 1 foot off the ground.
Do You Need Planning Permission for a Chicken Coop?
Large chicken coops and runs may need planning permission if they’re bigger than regulations permit in your area.
It’s a good idea to check whether you’ll need planning permission for a chicken coop or chicken run with your local planning officer before you go ahead and build one.
When Should I Clean My Chicken Coop?
Chicken houses will need daily, weekly, and yearly maintenance.
Once a night, you should remove droppings and leftover food and water from the chicken nesting boxes.
If your coop has a built-in removable tray, this can save you a bit of time when cleaning.
TIP
Every week, you should replace old bedding with new substrate. And around two times a year, perform a deep clean of your coop.
Do Chickens Attract Rats?
Chicken food and droppings will attract rodents like mice and rats.
That’s why it’s a good idea to keep your coop clean, use an auto feeder, store chicken feed in secure metal containers away from the coop, and consider using hardware cloth buried around your chicken run and coop.
The latter will help prevent digging predators and rodents from getting into your chicken coop and chicken run.
Ideal Chicken Coop Temperature
The ideal chicken coop temperature for most chickens is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Final Thoughts
Top Pick
Out of all the coops I’ve looked at, I think the best one overall is the Pets Imperial Double Savoy Large Chicken Coop as it’s sturdy, durable, spacious, and secure.
These are all the features you need in a chicken coop!
The enclosure has two nesting boxes, four perches, and six compartments.
It’s easy to clean as it has a removable tray, and gives your flock plenty of ventilation thanks to its metal mesh windows.
Other Great Options
My other two top picks are the COZIWOW Large 2-Tier Wooden Rabbit Chicken Coop Hutch and SnapLock Formex Large Chicken Coop.
Best Value
The former is a fantastic option if you need an affordable but quality home for your flock.
It features an attractive design, three secure doors, spacious nesting box, and even an enclosed run separated by a ramp.
It’s also easy to assemble, which I definitely appreciate in a coop (DIY isn’t exactly my forte, but I still enjoy doing it!).
Editor’s Choice
The SnapLock Formex chicken coop is a good investment if you need enough space for four to six large chickens.
One of the best features about the coop is its high-quality plastic construction.
This not only makes the coop easy to clean, but also reduces the likelihood of a red mite infestation.
Feel Free To Share!
I hope I helped you find the best chicken coop kit for your flock.
Which coop kit did you decide on?
Be sure to let me know on our social media platforms or in the comments below!
If you have a minute or two to spare, run and check out our other chicken guides and product reviews to make sure your feathered friends receive only the best care. If you’re interested in other types of chicken coops, this portable coop guide is for you.
