5 Things Every Chicken Coop Needs

If you are planning on building or buying a chicken coop you need to make sure it has these 5 things.

Prebuilt chicken coops can be found in almost any feed store. While these chicken coops are easy to assemble and use, they aren't very customizable.

These prebuilt chicken coops don't give you much flexibility, but they usually have all the necessary things a chicken coop needs.

If you plan on building a chicken coop you need to include these 5 things, but even if you are buying one it is always good to double check that these items are included.

Roost Bar

Chickens still have their wild instincts in them because they like to sleep above the ground. In the wild, chickens roost in trees because predators cannot reach them as well.

Chickens will still choose the highest point they can reach to sleep at night. That is why every chicken coop needs a good roost bar.

In my coop I used a single two by four and cut it in half. This is a nice wide roost bar for my chickens to sleep on.

Wood is the best material for a roost bar and you should sand it to protect your hen's feet. Each chicken requires about 10-12 inches of roost space so plan accordingly.

Nest Boxes

The nest boxes in a chicken coop are where your chickens should lay their eggs. I say should because sometimes chickens need to be taught where to lay their eggs, but that is a whole different post.

Every chicken coop needs a nest box if you are raising egg laying chickens. It is also recommended that you have one nest box for every 5 chickens you have.

Even though that is the recommendation my hens usually cram themselves into a single box to lay eggs.

Ventilation

This is the most overlooked thing when it comes to making a chicken coop, but it is very necessary. Good ventilation reduces sickness in your chickens and it also keeps them safe during the winter.

Ventilation is so important during the winter because it keeps the air dry. If the air is moist in the chicken coop the cold air will cause ice crystals to form on your hen's combs and feet causing frostbite.

In my coop I have roof vents that allow for good ventilation. I also built these vents so that the roof overlaps them. This prevents cold breezes from going directly through the coop.

Every chicken coop needs good ventilation, but drafts and breezes that blow on your chickens are dangerous.

Adequate Run Space

The run is the part of the chicken coop where your chickens will spend most their day. Runs are usually covered in chicken wire to protect the hens.

My run is made out of two by fours that have been cut in half. Each post is buried in the ground about two feet, but their is still enough room so that I can stand up straight in the run.

The whole run is then covered in chicken wire to keep predators out. Each chicken requires 8-10 square feet of run space to live comfortably.

I also allow my chickens to free range, but during the winter they are confined to just the coop and run.

Predator Proofness

Foxes, wolves, coyotes, and hawks all want to eat your chickens. Predator proofing your chicken coop should be a number one priority.

I have yet to have a chicken killed by a predator even though we have plenty of them in our area.

To keep my hens safe I have buried the chicken wire around the run about 6 inches into the ground. The run also has chicken wire all around the sides and top.

The coop is set on the ground and there are no large gaps for animals to burrow in. This has kept my chickens safe, but if you live in an area with large predators like bears you will need to provide extra protection.

If you want more information on building a predator proof chicken coop and run read this post.