Chicken Coop Ideas (110 UNIQUE IDEAS)

CREATIVE AND UNIQUE COOPS

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Rockin’ Roost

This rock and roll-inspired chicken coop, created by The Little Red Farmstead & Farmtique, is covered in bright vinyl designs and even has its own line-up of performing artists. It’s a proper labour of love, and a fun, one-of-a-kind home for their hens.

KFC Cluck House

This fun project, crafted by Munroe Family Farm, features a delightful twist with a portrait of the famous Colonel Sanders painted on its side. It adds a playful and whimsical touch to their farm, bringing a dash of KFC-inspired humour to their feathered friends’ cosy abode.

TARDIS Coop

Diana, a talented blogger from Forever My Little Moon, has truly elevated the world of hen houses with her extraordinary creation – a jaw-dropping TARDIS coop! This stunning masterpiece pays homage to the beloved Doctor Who series and is a dream come true for any fan. She documented the crafting process on her blog, which can be accessed here. 

Fairytale Carriage

Holly, the creative mind behind The Giles Frontier, turned her son’s old cedar playhouse into a chicken house that looks like a fairytale carriage. Holly and her husband put a lot of love and hard work into it, and it shows. You can read the lovely story behind the project here.

Fairytale Village

Wayne’s Custom Coops has built a little fairytale village. Set among green grass and colourful flowers, the cottage-style houses look like something out of a storybook, and the tiny bridge is the icing on the cake.

Hobbit House

Chickencheeper, a member of the Backyard Chickens community, shows off their brilliant creation. It’s inspired by Lord of the Rings and shaped like a hobbit house, with round doors and windows, rustic details and earthy colours. We half expect a hen in a waistcoat to pop out.

The Chicken Coupe

Shared by Backyard Chickens user @chickencoupe, this one is pure imagination. It’s modelled on a car, painted bright yellow and full of little details, so it really does look like a mini motor. A home for hens who fancy a road trip!

Cordwood Creation

Embrace the rustic beauty of a circular cordwood project by @cementitiousman, built using an old Swedish technique where slices of log are set in mortar. It looks fantastic and it’s solid as a rock. Building it row by row with plenty of mortar takes patience, but the result is a charming, hard-wearing home for the flock.

Cirque du Poulet

Vervain proudly shares her mum’s amazing project, aptly named “Cirque du Poulet.” It’s based on a circus wagon, and it’s playful, colourful and full of character. A real showstopper for any back garden.

Village Life

Wayne’s Custom Coops has built a whole chicken village: three connected buildings and a smaller one alongside, all linked by stone paths. It’s practical too, and it gives the hens plenty of room, but mostly we just love how it looks.

Cowboy Coop

The Dixie Chicken house, showcased on Aggie Network, captures the essence of a Western saloon with its charming design. Complete with a quaint porch and a distinctive Western-style sign proudly displaying the name “Dixie Chicken,” this project brings a touch of frontier nostalgia to the poultry-keeping experience. 

COSY AND CHARMING COOPS

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Sweet Home

Tony and Laura‘s lovely little hen house looks just like a tiny home. It has two windows with flower boxes, a calm white and wood colour scheme and a small run attached. You can tell how much they care about their flock.

White Sophistication

Alyssa from Cottonwood Shanty shares their white coop, which mixes a smart look with rustic doors and sits really nicely in its natural surroundings. It’s a lovely spot for any hen. You can see more photos on their blog here. 

Playhouse Perfection

Jaime J Scott turned a second-hand playhouse into a gorgeous chicken coop. A fresh coat of white paint and a few clever changes later, it makes a perfect hen house. A great bit of upcycling! She lists the tools and materials she used and shows the whole process here. 

Pretty in Blue

Painted baby blue with white trim, this coop even has a little tower on top, which we love. It’s full of fun touches, and Chick Inn Coops has made a cracking home for their hens.

Delightful Haven

Discover Nikki’s adorable farmhouse-style creation at Evergreen Ravine. With its white exterior, grey windows, and a charming wooden run, this project is the epitome of country charm. The cute decor adds a delightful touch, making it a perfect home for your feathered friends. If you’re curious about how she decorated the indoor area, visit her blog here.

DIY Farmhouse Coop

Sarah, the talented blogger behind Home on Magnolia Hill, has crafted a remarkable DIY Farmhouse Coop that exudes rustic charm and provides a cosy sanctuary for her hens. With its crisp white colour and charming details, this farmhouse-inspired project is truly a stunning little home for the feathered residents.

Warm Welcome

Chelsea Skidmore on Ana White shared their inviting and cosy creation, designed with a warm colour palette of beige and darker wood tones. The thoughtful attention to detail is evident in the charming decor, featuring the names of the resident hens proudly displayed on the side.

Whitewood Wonder

Introducing another remarkable creation by Chick Inn Coops—a beautifully designed hutch exuding an elegant white charm complemented by tasteful wooden highlights. It creates a welcoming ambience for its lucky residents, while adding a delightful touch, a flower pot adorns the exterior, infusing natural beauty into the design.

Feels Like Home

This charming henhouse by Cutest Coops looks like a miniature house, with a yellow wooden door and white walls. It’s beautifully made and looks so cosy you could almost move in yourself, but it’s practical for the hens as well.

Charming White

Woodshop Mike has built a smart white coop that looks warm and welcoming. The plants around it really finish it off. It looks good and works well for the hens. You’ll find the tutorial and plans on his website. 

Home Sweet Coop

Allow us to introduce another delightful creation by Chick Inn Coops—a charming white creation with a touch of light wood colour. This project exudes a distinctly homely feel, reminiscent of a cosy human house. Adding to its appeal, a lovely hanging flower basket adorns the entrance, making it even more inviting. 

Greenhouse Coop

Brooke Giannetti‘s design cleverly combines a  henhouse and a greenhouse in one. It’s built with cedar cladding and a corrugated metal roof, so it’s rustic and practical, and it keeps the hens close to nature. You can see more photos on her blog here. 

Autumn Harvest

Here’s another beauty from Chick Inn Coops—a copper-coloured hen house with a lovely autumn feel. It’s dressed up with an autumn wreath and a few well-chosen decorations, and it looks really warm and welcoming.

Serendipity

Wayne’s Custom Coops has a garden coop that fits right into the landscape and has become the star of the garden. A stone path leads up to it, inviting you to come and have a look.

Comforting Chapel

Cutest Coops a charming chapel-style henhouse with a cosy brown and white colour scheme. This tastefully decorated building exudes a warm and inviting ambience, creating a delightful home for your feathered companions. Its unique design and attention to detail make it a standout addition to any back garden or farmstead.

Sunny Side

This large creation by Chick Inn Coops gives the hens plenty of room to roam and roost. The white, mint and sunny yellow colours look fresh and cheerful.

Stylish Haven

Penny and Brittany share their gorgeous white coop, surrounded by bright flowers. It sits in a lovely garden and it’s clearly the centre of attention, with some very happy hens enjoying the view. The inside is just as nice as the outside, as you can see from the photos on their blog here.

Spacious Symphony

Wayne’s Custom Coops has built a coop with its own run, so it’s practical as well as pretty. It’s painted a lovely shade of blue that really stands out, and the flowers in the window are a sweet finishing touch.

Cluckingham Palace

Jennifer, a member of the Backyard Chickens community, proudly shared her beautiful coop. It’s painted a rich red with a green tin roof, and it’s full of rustic character. Her husband built it to her design, and it makes a lovely retreat for their hens.

Curtains and Creativity

LZ from The Summery Umbrella proudly presents her charming white chicken house, radiating cosiness and cuteness. The standout light red doorframe adds a touch of uniqueness, while the delightful curtains add a warm and inviting feel, making it an absolute delight for both chickens and onlookers alike. More photos and a video tour can be found on her blog here. 

The Daisy

Clean Coops presents “The Daisy,” their first design. With a focus on practicality and the well-being of its residents, this structure was specially designed for easy management without bending over. The owner, Mona, ensured that it provides a healthy environment, offering the best of both worlds for both her and her beloved flock. She offers chicken coop plans for sale on her website here. 

Historic Cottage Coop

Tom’s breathtaking project, featured on Backyard Chickens, fits right in with the historic houses around it. With its detailed design, beige and green paintwork and cottage look, it’s a real piece of craftsmanship. Tom wanted something to match his converted barn garage and his 130-year-old house, and he’s absolutely nailed it.

Sleek and Black

Chick Inn Coops presents a compact and stylish all-black project, accentuated by subtle wooden highlights. This smaller-sized coop exudes a sleek and contemporary aesthetic, perfect for those with limited space. The bold black colour brings a touch of sophistication, while the wooden accents provide a warm and natural element to the design.

All-White Wonder

Kingdom Coops‘ all-white coop shows real care and attention to detail. It’s welcoming, cosy and practical, just what a flock needs.

Peaceful Porch

Cutest Coops shares their smart white coop, complete with its own working porch. There’s even a rocking chair, so you can sit back and watch the hens with a cuppa. Practical, pretty and great fun, for the hens and their owners.

Cottage Chic

With its quaint cottage-style design, complete with teal windows and a delightful flower bed in the window, this adorable henhouse is a true country retreat for our feathered friends. Hats off to Chick Inn Coops for building such a stylish home for some very lucky cluckers!

Aesthetic Whites

Step into the serene world of Scarlett‘s pretty white coop. With a sign on the wall and a wreath on the door, it looks warm and welcoming, and the hens inside look very happy indeed.

Double Haven

4 Sisters Ranch has built two matching white hutches joined by a white run. It looks neat and tidy, and it gives the hens plenty of space to live in.

Copper Charm

Wayne’s Custom Coops has gone for a cottage look, with white walls and copper details. The white looks classic and welcoming, and the copper adds a bit of warmth. It’s a great example of Wayne’s woodworking skills.

Deck the Halls

Deb and Danelle present their stunning creation that embraces the festive spirit of Christmas. Adorned with a lush green wreath, this charming project exudes a rustic charm that adds a touch of warmth and joy to the holiday season. With their creative flair and attention to detail, Deb and Danelle have created a cosy and inviting space for their feathered companion – visit their blog for more photos. 

Winter Coop

Crafted by Amy and Justin and shared by Ana White, this white coop looks lovely against the snow. With its light wooden door and simple design, it fits right in with its surroundings. Amy and Justin built it carefully from the chicken coop plans by Ana White.

MOBILE COOPS

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The Chicken Sled

Constance, the blogger behind Cosmopolitan Cornbread, shares her A-frame DIY chicken coop. It’s designed to be moved around easily, so you can shift it whenever you need to. It’s a clever, practical design for poultry keepers who like a bit of flexibility. She has free plans and step-by-step instructions on her blog here. 

ChickShaw

Justin from Abundant Permaculture has built a custom DIY chicken coop called the ChickShaw, based on a traditional rickshaw. It’s easy to move, so the flock always has fresh ground to forage on. The photo shows the ChickShaw in action. For building instructions, visit his blog here!

A-Line Mobile Coop

Kelsey, from Green Willow Homestead, has designed and shared her plans for a brilliant A-frame chicken tractor. It looks good and it’s well built. The roosting area is secure and draught-proof, and there’s a clever pulley system for raising and lowering the ramp.

Modern Farmhouse Mobile Coop

In this video, Ryan & Cara from BlueBird Homestead show off their compact, mobile chicken house in a modern farmhouse style. It has a run attached and wheels underneath, so it’s easy to move around the garden or field and give your flock fresh ground

Yellow Delight

Diana, a member of the Backyard Chickens community, proudly shared her amazing mobile coop. It’s beautifully made and packed with detail. Painted a happy yellow, it looks bright and welcoming. 

The Wagon

Nestera is proud to present the almighty Wagon, made from 100% recycled plastic and sitting sturdily on four wheels. The Wagon is easily manoeuvrable by one person, and its secure full-height front door offers easy access for cleaning and extra security for your hens. With its tier-perched system, it can house 8 large chickens or 15 bantams. Check it out here.

Beige Charm

Kingdom Coops presents a charming mobile creation that combines functionality with a touch of elegance. The lovely beige colour adds a soft and inviting touch to its exterior. Designed to be small and lightweight, this structure is easy to relocate, allowing you to provide your hens with a change of scenery while maintaining a stylish and practical solution.

Urban Mobile Coop

Explore the versatility of Chicken Condos’ practical creation – a mobile pre-built chicken coop and run combo for sale. This innovative design allows for easy relocation, providing some much-needed freedom. With its functional and mobile features, this combo provides a convenient and comfortable space for your feathered companions.

Chick-Chic Wheels

Urban Chicken Coops makes mobile coops, and their signature design, shown in the photo, is great fun. They come in lots of colours, each with a bird-shaped entrance that brings a smile to any back garden or town yard.

White Wanderer

Presenting a spacious and mobile project by MW Hunter, boasting an expansive design and a crisp white exterior. This large and versatile structure offers ample space for your flock to roam around and thrive. Its mobility allows for easy relocation, ensuring your feathered friends have access to varying locations and a safe environment wherever they go.

Sleek Mobility

Anne of All Trades shows off her mobile henhouse, painted a smart black. It’s easy to move, so her hens always have fresh ground to forage and a safe place to sleep. You can tell Anne put a lot of thought and skill into it. 

COLOURFUL COOPS

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Cheerful Cluckers

MW Hunter shares this medium-sized coop in sunny yellow with white trim. It looks cheerful and welcoming, and it would brighten up any back garden or farm. It’s well thought out and roomy, so the hens have a comfy home.

Minty Madness

MW Hunter has built a tiny mint-green henhouse with a run attached. It’s small but cosy and secure, with room for the hens to potter about. That mint colour really brightens up a back garden

Colour Pop

MW Hunter has gone bold with purple and bright yellow. It’s lively, cheerful and impossible to miss, and it really stands out in the garden. 

Purple Haze 

Here’s a bright and cheerful project by MW Hunter, in a bold purple with white trim. It’s a smaller coop, so it’s ideal if you’re short on space, and it still gives your hens a cosy, stylish home. It’ll certainly add some personality to your back garden.

MODERN COOPS

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Black and Teal

This beautiful modern creation was created by Tanya from Dans le Lakehouse. The whole building is painted black, which looks smart and modern. The star of the show is the teal door, which really pops. For details of how it was built, visit their blog. 

Back garden Farmhouse Coop

Sarah, the creative force behind Rocky Hedge Farm, has shared her back garden project, and it suits her garden perfectly. The farmhouse colours and design fit right in with the rustic feel of Sarah’s farm. 

Sleek Black

Woodshop Mike shows off his DIY skills with this smart black lean-to coop, which is great inspiration if you’re planning your own. He also sells his building plans on his site, so you can build one just like it.

Chapel Style

Cutest Coops has built a coop shaped like a little chapel. With white walls, black trim and a bright yellow door, it’s modern and full of character. It would look great in any back garden or farmyard.

Modern Woodwork

This modern, beautifully built wooden coop, shared on Ana White, shows off some serious woodworking skills. With clean lines, a smooth finish and lots of careful detail, it’s a really impressive piece of work.

Hillside Haven

Brandtly‘s innovative creation takes advantage of the natural landscape with its clever hillside design. This small yet charming chicken house is perched on a hill, creating a visually striking and functional setup. The attached run follows the slope, making efficient use of space and providing an exciting and dynamic environment.

Nighttime Sophistication

Wayne’s Custom Coops is big, modern and painted black, and it looks very smart. The lighting is a lovely touch, making it look warm and welcoming even after dark.

Sophisticated in Blue

Kingdom Coops is a raised coop in a deep midnight blue, paired with dark modern wood. It looks smart and stylish, gives your hens a lovely home and adds a bit of class to your garden.

Cara’s Coop

Explore the creativity of Cara from The Inspired Workshop with her charming white design. This thoughtfully crafted structure features a large attached run, providing ample space for the flock to roam and explore. The addition of wooden accents adds a rustic touch, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Visit her blog to read more about the creation process and materials used. 

Outdoor Elegance

Cutest Coops presents a spacious and elegant white creation with black accents. This large project offers ample room for your feathered friends, while its sophisticated design adds a touch of class to your outdoor space. Adding a delightful touch, two comfortable armchairs are placed outside, inviting you to relax and enjoy the surrounding nature.

Sustainable Sophistication

Kingdom Coops presents a stunningly elegant take, featuring a timeless white and wood colour combination. With its elevated design, it not only adds a touch of sophistication to any back garden but also incorporates a practical solar panel on the side, embracing sustainable energy solutions for your poultry-keeping needs.

Shed Coop

Posted on Ana White, this coop is built like a shed, with black doors and clean white walls. Small stones around the base give it a neat, natural finish. It’s cosy and welcoming for the hens, and it fits nicely into its surroundings.

Suburban Harmony

Wayne’s Custom Coops has built a little village of three almost identical coops joined by a white picket fence. It looks like a quiet countryside hamlet. The coops are slightly different sizes, which makes it even more fun to look at.

Modern Symmetry

Farmhouse Builds shares a modern black and white coop with a neat, symmetrical design. The black and white contrast looks really sharp, and with a run on each side, the hens have plenty of space to roam.

Sleek and Navy

Cutest Coops presents a sleek and stylish white design with a navy blue door, exuding a modern and sophisticated look. The addition of an autumn-inspired wreath adds a touch of seasonal charm, creating a welcoming atmosphere for your feathered friends. This beautiful project is sure to be a standout feature in any back garden or homestead.

Timeless Elegance

Continuing with Kingdom Coops‘ exceptional craftsmanship, their larger white and wood structure exudes sophistication and elegance. This project, reminiscent of their previous design, offers ample space for your feathered friends while maintaining the same level of refined aesthetics that Kingdom Coops is known for.

Red Coop Wonder

Blue Ridge Coops shows off a bright red coop with white trim. It’s raised off the ground, which looks great and also helps keep the hens safe. The bold red really stands out, and it’s a stylish, secure home for the flock.

Back to Black

Wayne’s Custom Coops presents a sleek and elegant design in a striking combination of black and dark grey. This large and impressive creation stands out with its modern aesthetics and clean lines. The dark colour palette adds a touch of sophistication, while the carefully crafted details showcase the attention to quality and design.

CUTE DECOR COOPS

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Whimsical Retreat

Here’s a lovely coop by Salisbury Designs—a striking black and white creation adorned with hand-painted decorative elements. The addition of a string of lights adds a magical touch, creating a cosy ambience during twilight hours. Delightful wooden signs hang from the side of the run, proudly displaying the names of the hens that call this haven their home. 

Farmhouse Christmas

Rusty Moose Farm‘s stunning creation captures the essence of a farmhouse Christmas with its charming barn doors adorned with green wreaths, twinkling Christmas lights, and a whimsical North Pole sign. This festive and inviting design creates a magical atmosphere for their hens, bringing the joy and spirit of the holiday season to their cosy home.

Cornflower Bliss

Butch from Oklahoma History has crafted a stunning cornflower blue project that exudes charm and personality. This eye-catching structure is raised from the ground, offering an extra layer of protection against potential predators. Adorned with the delightful sign “Hen Hotel” at the entrance, it adds a touch of whimsy and character to the overall design.

Adorable Illustrations

Liz, the creative blogger behind The Cape Coop, who has designed a light blue henhouse with a good-sized run attached, so the hens have plenty of outdoor space. The cute illustrations painted on it add loads of personality.

Sunflower Dream

Colin Purrington has taken his design skills up a notch with this one. The light blue coop is covered in hand-painted sunflowers, and it’s bright and cheerful. Visit his blog for the whole photo tour. 

Flower Power

Wayne’s Custom Coops has a coop and run decorated with colourful flowers and flower-themed bits and pieces. It’s beautifully made, with a comfy home for the hens and a roomy run for them to explore.

RUSTIC COOPS

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Cosy Cottage

Leeny‘s coop shows how resourceful and creative she is. She took ideas from a few designs online and built something that suits her exactly. It’s cosy and welcoming, with her own personal touches, and her flock clearly loves it.

Ain’t nobody here but us chickens…

This large, well-built, predator-proof chicken enclosure created by John Creviston from Catscape sits in a wooded area, made with sturdy wooden beams and 1×1 inch PVC-coated welded wire to keep threats out. You can almost picture the chickens inside saying, “We’ve got eggs to lay, ground to dig, and worms to scratch. It takes a lot of sittin’ to get chicks to hatch!”

Rustic Wooden Wonder

Take a look at this one from Miller Hollow Farm. With its beautiful wooden design and a bold red window frame, this creation exudes rustic charm. Flower pots grace the windows, adding a touch of natural beauty while topping it off with a striking sign. 

Reclaimed Wood Project

Cathy and Garrett’s stunning creation on The Grit and Polish, built from reclaimed wood, which gives it a lovely rustic, garden feel. It sits really naturally in its surroundings and gives the hens a cosy, welcoming home. Using reclaimed wood is kinder to the planet too, and it adds loads of character. Visit their blog for a detailed tour of the coop. 

Rustic and Colourful

Sasha, the talented blogger behind The Mushy Mom’s Fiat, shares their delightful creation that embraces a charming rustic aesthetic. Crafted from recycled materials, this eco-friendly chicken coop not only reduces waste but also adds a unique and characteristic touch to the design. The colourful wood used in its construction further enhances the rustic charm, creating a visually appealing home for her feathered companions. 

Cabin in the Woods

Cutest Coops has built a henhouse that looks like a little cabin in the woods. The natural wood with black doors and windows looks rustic and calm, and you could almost mistake it for a holiday cabin. A lovely, peaceful home for the hens.

Simply Perfect

Eryn Whalen has lovingly crafted a simple yet charming rustic creation that beautifully captures the essence of the countryside. With its unassuming design and natural materials, it exudes a sense of tranquillity and rustic charm.

Urban Creation

USA Gardening has built a town-garden henhouse to match the shed next to it. The cladding and roof shingles match the existing buildings, so it all looks like it belongs together. A good reminder to think about how a coop will fit in with the rest of your garden. 

Rustic Barn

Kingdom Coops presents a large rustic design that exudes the charm of a barn with its brown-painted exterior. The structure’s weathered appearance adds a touch of timeless appeal, evoking a sense of history and authenticity. With its rustic aesthetics and ample space, this creation provides a cosy and nostalgic home for your feathered friends.

Wooden Wonder

Jen, a talented contributor on Ana White proudly shares their lovely DIY coop and run, which shows off their woodworking skills. It’s all wood, with a rustic feel, and it gives the hens a safe, comfortable home. With the house and run together, there’s plenty of space for the hens to roam about happily.

Rustic Nature

The Pioneer Chicks proudly share their big rustic coop, tucked away in the middle of nature. It’s a peaceful spot, and the building and run make a perfect home for their hens. The homemade benches are a lovely touch, somewhere to sit and relax with the flock.

Farmhouse Serenity 

Stacey, the creative mind behind The Soccer Mom Blog, presents her farmhouse-inspired project that exudes timeless elegance. The combination of soft blue tones and rich, darker wood accents creates a modern and stylish finish. This stunning creation perfectly blends rustic charm with contemporary design, offering a comfortable and visually appealing home for feathered residents.

DIY COOPS

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Under the Porch

This unique project, created by Gretchen from Boxy Colonial, shows off her DIY skills with a chicken pen under the decking. It’s a clever use of the space under the deck, giving her hens a safe, comfy home. She added a hutch bought from Amazon to make the setup easy and practical.

Pallet Paradise

Bobbie from A Vision To Remember shows how clever she is with this chicken coop made from pallets. It’s raised off the ground, which has lots of benefits for the flock. It’s a great example of a coop that gives shade, keeps rodents out and puts the hens’ safety and wellbeing first.

Converted Shed

Tracy, the talented blogger behind Simple Living Country Gal, has turned an ordinary shed into a brilliant chicken coop, and it shows how well she planned it. It’s cosy and practical, a great home for her hens.

The Urban House

Lyanda, from The Tangled Nest, has created an impressive creation that focuses on the safety and well-being of her flock. With her experience in predator prevention, she shares valuable insights on how to build a chicken coop that is predator-proof and ensures the protection of your feathered friends.

Stunning Blue Creation

Kelsey from Green Willow Homestead proudly presents her beautiful hen house featuring a lovely combination of light and dark blue hues. The charming rooster decor on the door adds a creative touch to this inviting space. It’s a delightful addition to her homestead, reflecting Kelsey’s creativity and passion. 

Pallet Paradise

An anonymous contributor to Ana White has made this pale yellow pallet coop using recycled materials and the plans from Ana White. It’s a resourceful build and a great example of making something new from old materials.

Transformed Chicken House

Ashley, the creative mind behind Lil Blue Boo, has turned an old depot into a lovely henhouse. Painted white with green trim, it looks fresh and welcoming, and the fun signs on the side give it loads of character. 

Pallet Project

The Shed and Beyond, a creative DIY blog, has a great pallet chicken coop project. It’s built entirely from recycled pallets, so it’s cheap to make and good for the planet. The step-by-step instructions make it easy to follow if you fancy building your own.

Budget Coop DIY

Krista Howard shares her budget DIY chicken coop, where creativity and resourcefulness really shine. Using recycled wood and second-hand bits, she has made a practical, charming home for her hens.

DIY Elevated Retreat

Paula from Creative Housewives, together with her husband Josh, proudly built this stunning project from scratch, featuring an elevated design to provide a safe and cosy home for their flock of 12 hens. The beautiful blue colour adds a touch of charm to their back garden, making it a delightful sight for both the residents and their owners.

Repurposed Playhouse

Jen Marzen‘s creative ingenuity shines in this charming and stylish henhouse, shared on Ana White. Taking a kids’ playhouse and transforming it into a functional henhouse, Jen has created a whimsical and inviting space for her feathered friends. The cosy interior and thoughtful modifications make it a delightful and unique home for the hens.

COMPACT COOPS

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Cedar Serenity

Gina from Lady Goats shows off her DIY skills with this lovely cedar coop. It’s painted a pretty blue and raised off the ground to help keep predators out. The best bit? It has its own mini garden alongside. 

Small and Cosy

Alexa’s lovely coop, tucked away in The Duvall Homestead, emanates an undeniable warmth and cosiness. Adorned with a delightful sign hanging by the entrance, it adds a touch of whimsy and character to its aesthetic. A sweet yellow curtain graces the entrance, further enhancing the cosy ambience.

Rustic-Modern Fusion

Carla, the blogger behind Small + Friendly, presents a rustic-modern henhouse built from scratch with her husband. This predator-proof sanctuary features skylights, vinyl flooring, nesting boxes, roosting bars, and ample ventilation, reflecting Carla’s eclectic and eco-friendly style.

Burgundy Charm

Cutest Coops has built a small wine-red coop with white trim that looks really smart. The simple wreath on the door is a nice touch, and the rich colours make it a warm, inviting home for the hens.

Green Roof Style

Andy, the creative mind behind The Chicken Street, has crafted a small coop with a unique twist – a “Green Roof” design. This innovative design features a special rooftop garden, adding an extra touch of sustainability and natural beauty. The planter on top not only enhances the aesthetics of the composition but also contributes to a healthier environment for the feathered residents.

Compact Creation

April from Wilkerdos has built a small, bright red, predator-proof chicken house. April raised it off the ground to keep snakes away from her hens. It’s clever, colourful and keeps her flock safe and sound.

Wildflower Wonder

Cutest Coops has a small white coop with a wildflower wreath on the door, surrounded by colourful wildflowers. It’s a really pretty scene, and you can tell it was made with love. A lovely little spot for any hen.

Tiny Blue Haven

MW Hunter shares a small, bright blue coop, which is great inspiration if you’re after chicken coop ideas. It adds a cheerful splash of colour to any garden and gives the hens a cosy, safe home. It’s compact too, so it’s ideal if you’re short on space.

EXPERT ADVICE

We’ve gathered valuable insights from experienced poultry enthusiasts and professionals, covering essential aspects of planning, building, and ensuring the safety of your flock.

On planning a coop

“You should allow for a minimum of 3-5 square feet of floor space for each hen inside your coop. If you raise larger breeds or they spend lots of time indoors in the winter, then you’ll want to plan on closer to 5 square feet per hen, if you raise bantam or smallish breeds who spend the majority of their time outdoors except for when they’re sleeping or laying their eggs, you might be able to get away with closer to 3 square feet per hen.” – Farmers Almanac

“The more room you can offer your chickens to spread their wings, graze, and forage, the better. Within the coop, chickens do best with at least 4 sq. ft. each in the run and 2 sq. ft. each in the henhouse. Outside the coop, offer whatever you can.” – The Garden Coop

“When designing a chicken coop, we suggest making the coop tall and large enough for any member of your household to enter the coop. All too often coops are small, bird-sized structures. We recommend a full-size doorway and enough height to enter the coop to access your flock and clean it regularly. Space per bird: While you may only have a few chickens to start, chicken maths is a real thing. When designing your coop, always plan for a larger structure than you initially think you need. – McMurray Hatchery

“Location: you want it somewhere with the appropriate space for your flock. With natural shelter from sun/ wind/ rain.
Base: consider what will be on the floor.. grass? woodchip? And the longevity. For example if you put 6 cream Legbars on a patch of lawn.. after a few months the lawn will have been scratched up.”  – Nestera

“My advice would be to join your local smallholding association. Go on any training courses they offer and attend meetings. There is no substitute for meeting like-minded people and talking to them face to face.” – Mark Hajdukiewicz, Devon Smallholders

“When planning to keep chickens, establish where you intend to make their home and how much space you can dedicate to them. The more outside space you can give them, the happier and healthier they will be and they will lay the most delicious eggs as a result. If you can let them safely free range around the garden then this is ideal, but if not get a coop with a run made with weldmesh that can be moved onto fresh grass often so that they have pasture to eat.” – Smiths Sectional

On building a coop

“When designing a coop, proper ventilation is critical in both warm and cold climates. Proper airflow helps to reduce ammonia in a coop, as well as moisture build up. Place vents high above your roosts for year-round ventilation, and windows in your coop for added air flow in warmer weather.” – McMurray Hatchery

“Encourage egg-laying with one nest box for every four or five chickens. Nest boxes should be raised at least a few inches off the ground but lower than the lowest roosting pole. They should also be dark and “out of the way” to cater to the hen’s instinct to lay her eggs in a safe place.” – My Pet Chicken

“Plan on allowing 8″ of roost per hen. Chickens do tend to snuggle together in the cold weather to keep warm and also for balance, but a minimum of 8″ per chicken is the rule of thumb. Roosts should be positioned higher than your nesting boxes since chickens seek high ground to sleep and you don’t want them sleeping in (and pooping in) their boxes.” – Farmers Almanac

“My top tip for chicken-coop construction is — think about the manure first! I’m a big fan of the deep bedding method, which becomes easier with extra roof height and wide doors.” – Anna Hess, author of free ebook Getting Started With Your Working Chicken

“Add a few boxes filled with soft bedding for the hens to lay their eggs in, and a ladder for the chickens to roost on at night, and you’re on your way to designing perfect chicken coop.” – Lisa Steele, Fresh Eggs Daily

On keeping your chickens safe

“While it’s fun to have a cute coop, one decked out with curtains, window boxes and maybe even a chandelier, the single most important thing is that your chicken coop will keep the chickens safe from predators at night while they’re sleeping. So a secure lock on the door and hardware cloth on the windows are two important features.” – Lisa Steele, Fresh Eggs Daily

“Pests and predators can ruin your day, each in their own way. Pests want to eat your chickens’ food. Predators want to eat your chickens. A well-designed coop will use welded-wire galvanised hardware cloth to secure any open-air areas, not chicken wire, which (despite its name) is too flimsy to protect chickens. Doors should be latched and lockable. These basic measures will help keep the bad guys out and the good gals in.” – The Garden Coop

All vents and windows should be covered in 1/2″ welded wire, and all latches fitted with predator-proof carabiners or eyehooks. Doing your research and choosing (or building) a well-designed, secure coop is worth it in the long run. Your flock’s safety and health depend on it. – Farmers Almanac