Coops & Runs

A good coop keeps hens dry, safe from predators and comfortable through every season, and most of that comes down to a handful of measurements and details.

The guides in this section start with space: floor area per bird in the coop and the run, roost length and the number of nest boxes, worked out for common flock sizes. From there they cover layout, ventilation that removes moisture without creating drafts, flooring and bedding, and predator-proofing, where small things like latch type and mesh size matter more than how the coop looks.

You will also find help judging kit coops, whose capacity claims often allow far less room per bird than experienced keepers recommend, and choosing between a fixed coop, a mobile coop and a chicken tractor.