Sizing
How big should a chicken coop be?
Plan 3 sq ft of house per hen, 9 inches of roost and one nest box per four or five hens. Sizes for 3 to 20 hens, and which coops really fit them.
Read the guideChicken coop guides
Straight answers before you spend: coop size, winter, predators, plastic or wood, what a flock costs, and whether your town allows hens.
Winter
How to winterize a chicken coop
Keep the coop dry before you keep it warm: vents, sealed drafts, roosts, unfrozen water, heat below 35°F. UMN Extension's steps, and coops that help.
Read the guide
Predators
How to predator proof a chicken coop
Lock every door at dusk, swap chicken wire for hardware cloth, bury it 12 inches and cover the run. The Extension steps, and the coops that come closest.
Read the guide
Materials
Plastic vs wood chicken coop: which should you buy?
Plastic coops clean in minutes and carry 10 to 25-year warranties; wooden coops give more floor and walk-in sizes. 12 coops compared on published facts.
Read the guide
Costs
How much does it cost to raise chickens?
The coop is the big one-off: $460 to $1,359 for up to six hens on November 14, 2026. Then feed, about 3 lb per hen a week. A budget you can fill in.
Read the guide
Rules
Can I have chickens in my backyard?
Often yes, with limits: your city code and your HOA decide, and roosters are widely banned. Where to look, what to ask, and CDC and USDA health rules.
Read the guide