Today it is very easy to buy ready-made coops for small backyard flocks. These are fine as long as they are in fact made for chickens and that they are big enough for the number of chickens you decide to keep. Many of these coops also come with runs but you will find that most of these runs are too small to keep chickens in full time. It would be a good idea to build a large walk-in run which the coop can sit in, and/or let the girls out every day into the yard.

The internet is a great resource to get coop ideas and designs so start googling and you’re bound to find a mountain of great info.

In brief, whether you are building your own coop or buying one, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Make sure both the coop and the run are predator proof. Foxes can dig and climb so make sure you build / buy something that is sturdy and fully enclosed, including the bottom of the run & coop. If enclosing the bottom of the run/coop is not possible, make sure you dig the wire deep into the ground- at least a good couple feet.
2. Make sure you have enough perches. Each chicken will need approx 30cm of perch space to roost on. Perches should be relatively thick, approx 5cm in diameter and placed approx 10cm from the ground. It’s a good idea to have a “poop-catcher” under the perches to make your life easier as poop does need to be cleaned out on a daily basis. If your chickens don’t perch don’t fret- remember they have only been exposed to a wire floor and don’t know what perches are. You can try sitting them on top of the perches in the hope they’ll “get it” but I am yet to succeed in getting any of my 6 girls to perch. Getting your girls to perch is ideal as they are less exposed to mites.
3. They need to have nest boxes to lay their eggs. These can be as simple as small wooden crates, old drawers or a space in the coop with dividers. My general thought is to have one nest box per 3 chickens, although I have read elsewhere that 1:5 will work fine too.
4. Coops need to be predator-proof. Ideally you want to lock your girls inside and keep them safe from cats, foxes, etc.
5. Proper ventilation and light is important. Make sure any windows you have are predator proof.
6. Shade & cover. Ensure there is enough shade so the birds can get out of the heat. They will also need a protected area to hide from wind and rain. You will need to put their food somewhere where it will not get wet as damp food can cause health problems.

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