How to Design a Chicken Coop

How to Design a Chicken Coop
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | July 18, 2023
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When building a homestead chicken coop, there are guidelines to keep in mind and there are also essentials that must be included. If the right design elements aren’t included in your coop, you may find yourself with a fancy but non-functional chicken coop. Learning how to design a chicken coop is essential for building a homestead chicken coop that is easy to clean but meets both you and your flock’s needs! Ask me how I know… I’ve built two chicken coops and have identified both the quirks and the helpful hacks in each design! I want to help you consider some design elements of a functional chicken coop before you create your building plans!

For tips on how to build a chicken coop and some of the essentials that must be included, check out Chicken Coop Building Essentials.

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Designing the Amenities: Roosts & Nests

Let’s start with going over some design guidelines for the amenities in the chicken coop. When I say amenities I am referring mostly to nesting boxes and roosting bars. However, amenities can also include fancy additions, like curtains or drapes!

Roost Guidelines

Above the Nests– In general, the roosts in the coop should be higher than the nesting boxes. This discourages hens from wanting to sleep in the nesting boxes because chickens like to roost in the highest place they can access.
Height– The roosts should also be at an appropriate height for the breeds of chickens you are raising. Heavier chicken breeds need lower roosts to help prevent injury while lighter chicken breeds will seek out the highest roost they can find. A general guideline to follow is to place the roosts about 18″ off the floor of the coop. Heavy chicken breeds benefit from roosts no higher than 12″ off the ground, versus light chicken breeds who like roosts as high as possible!
Ladder Roosts– To accommodate both heavy and light breeds, a ladder roost would be helpful because it would provide both high and low roosts.
Location– Roosts can be placed along a northern or southern side of the chicken coop. Ideally they should not be facing or level with windows, which can cause drafts to blow on the roosting chickens.

Nesting Boxes

Lower than Roosts– Nesting boxes should be placed lower than the roosts. This may mean the nesting boxes have to be placed at ground level. However, when given the choice, I notice that chickens do prefer their nesting location slightly elevated.
Location– The nesting boxes can be placed along any of the chicken coop walls because they are generally lower than any windows in the coop. They can easily be darkened with nesting curtains or drapes.
Easy to Access- For nesting boxes that are elevated, make sure you include a railing along the boxes so that the hens can easily get in and out of the boxes.
Ramp– A ramp leading up to elevated nesting boxes can help heavy chicken breeds access the nest boxes easier.
Egg Collecting Ease– If you have a storage section in your coop, you may consider placing your nesting boxes along the dividing wall. Then put a hinging back on the boxes so that you can collect eggs without entering the chicken area.

Droppings Boards

Width– Droppings boards or slings should extend about 4-5″ beyond the roosts on either side so that they can affectively catch the droppings.
Position– For bar roosts, the droppings board should be about 3-4″ lower than the roosting bar so that you can easily scrape off the board.

Curtains & Drapes

Nests– Hens love curtains over their nesting boxes! They like the dark privacy that curtains provide. Curtains can be either pulled back and tied on either side or be allowed to hang down and pushed aside when a hen enters.
Windows & Doors- Drapes are helpful for controlling ventilation and coop temperatures. They can be placed over windows and door openings.
Function– Make sure the drapes can be pulled back or removed, that way you can allow proper ventilation or create insulation in the coop as needed.
Installing– Curtains and drapes should be securely fastened so that they can’t be pulled down. I use a hand-held construction stapler with heavy-duty staples for fastening up curtains in my coop. You can also put curtains on a curtain rod and fasten the curtain rod securely in the coop.
Safety– They should also not be made out of any material that can be pulled apart. Strings can cause entanglement and strangulation in chickens.

Designing the Essentials: Feeder & Water

There are two essentials in chicken coop design: the feeder and the water fount. Where and how these two essentials are placed in the coop should be given some consideration. I have seen three different styles for placing feeders and water founts in the coop.

Hanging Feeders & Water

Hanging feeders and water founts in the coop is a great way to save space and prevent spillage and waste. Feeders and water founts that can be hung include bell feeders, bell founts, and bucket water nipples. Here are a few design elements to consider if you use the hanging system:

Access– Hang the feeder and water fount in the open, away from any walls or nesting boxes.
Height– You should hang them at the height of your smallest bird’s back to ensure that everyone can reach the food and water.
Location– Have several stations where you can hang the feeder and water. I find it helpful to have an outdoor feed and water station during the summer months, but during the winter I can move the feeder and water inside.

Wall Mounted Feeders & Water

Another method for placing food and water in the coop is having a wall mounted feeder or water fount. Wall mounted systems include PVC pipe systems and feed trays. I find that these designs aren’t as space conservative and can’t accommodate as many chickens. However, if you do use these systems, here are a few design tips for installing them:

Raised– Make sure the feeder and water is still raised up off the floor to help limit feed wastage.
Height– Ensure that your shortest bird can still reach food and water.
Function– Create a system that can be moved outside during the summer months.
Location– The feeder and water can be mounted on any wall that is not occupied by the nest boxes or roosts.

Free-Standing Feeders & Water

The last method for providing food and water in the coop is by using a free-standing feeder and water fount. These systems can range from elevated bell founts to homemade plastic tub feeders to automatic feeders. Here are a few guidelines if you decide to use a free-standing system:

Access– Free-standing feeders and water founts should be placed in an open area of the coop so that they can be accessed from all sides.
Raised– They can still be elevated if they are raised up on blocks.
Prevent Tipping– Free-standing systems should be secure and sturdy to prevent being tipped over and spilled.
Location– Don’t place a free-standing system under a roosting place or in the way of birds jumping down from roosts or nest boxes.
Function– If possible, make the system moveable so that you can move it outside during the summer months.

When choosing a feeder and water fount design, keep in mind how many chickens you need to accommodate as well as how easy it is to clean and move. Also consider how much floor space the feeder and water system will occupy.

shelf with galvanized tin and plastic buckets for cleaning

3 Helpful Chicken Coop Design Additions

Aside from the amenities and the essentials in the chicken coop, I have also found a few other design hacks that make life out at the chicken coop more hassle free. Some of these design additions are only available if you have the means to install them. However, other additions can easily be planned into your coop design!

#1. Electricity

While electricity may not have been included in the pioneers’ chicken coops, it can definitely be helpful in a modern pioneer’s chicken coop! Bringing electricity to your chicken coop means you will have to run electrical cords out to your coop. This should only be done if you know how to properly install electrical cords.

However, once you have electricity at your chicken coop, there are many other helpful design elements you can incorporate into your coop plan. Here are just a few that I use:

LED Rope Lights- These are helpful for providing light during the winter, even if it’s just to help you see when you clean up the coop! Make sure you install them near the roof of your coop. Fasten them securely to prevent any chicken from getting caught in the rope.
Automatic Chicken Door- These are such a life saver on my homestead! I have one at both of my coops along with a light sensor that tells them when to open and close. Automatic chicken coop doors can also be battery powered or solar powered.
Heated Water Base or Bowl- These are extremely helpful for keeping water unfrozen during the winter! Creating a platform to place the base or bowl on is helpful for keeping the water clean.

Another option instead of electricity at the coop is to install solar panels out at your coop! Both automatic coop doors and lights can be powdered by solar.

chicken coop enclosure with a rooster jail

#2. Separation Pen

Another helpful design element that I have discovered over the years is a separation pen, aka a rooster jail, integration pen, or broody breaker. Of course, you should still have a quarantine pen set up away from your coop for sick birds, but a separation pen comes in handy for unruly roosters, bullies, or broody hens!

There are two places I like to add separation pens into my chicken coop design. One is inside the coop and the other is in the enclosure. Here are some tips for designing a separation pen within your coop or enclosure:

Size– The pen needs to be big enough to accommodate at least one bird. I recommend no smaller than 2 ft. high by 3 ft. wide by 2 ft. deep for an inside pen. For outside I recommend at least 3 ft. by 3 ft. and as tall as your enclosure.
Food & Water– There should be a way to provide both food and water to the bird in the pen. I like to use plastic bird cage cups.
Position– Pens inside can be elevated or fenced off on the floor.
Covered– It’s a good idea to cover inside pens too to keep other chickens from hanging out on top of the pen.
Access– The separation pen should be easy to get birds in and out of.

#3. Cleaning & Organizing

Aside from electricity at the coop and the handy feature of a separation pen, there are a few other design elements that I have found helpful for cleaning and organizing the chicken coop.

Tool Storage- Have a place were you can store your everyday cleaning supplies right in the coop. Whether it be a little shelf for poop buckets or a few hooks for shovels and scoops, having your cleaning supplies right at hand is helpful for cleaning up the coop every day.
Treat Storage– A cabinet located in the coop may also be helpful for storing small quantities of feed or treats.
Removable Decor– Having removable curtains and drapes makes cleaning those objects much easier!
Poop Management– Have a compost bucket located near the coop so that you can easily take care of droppings every day. You can dump the bucket into a larger compost pile once or twice a week as needed.

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hardwire cloth covering a chicken coop window

Functional Chicken Coop Design Components

Just like a house, a chicken coop has a few essential components to it… like doors, windows, and a roof. How you design each of these components can play a role in how functional your chicken coop is.

These are some guidelines and tips that I have learned from my coop designs:

Window Location– Windows are best placed on east and west facing sides. This allows air exchange and optimizes the sunlight that can shine into the coop. It also prevents drafts from blowing on the roosts.
Window Size– Windows should be big enough to allow for air exchange within the coop and there should be enough windows to light the coop during the day.
Predator Proof– Predator proof your windows from the inside, not the outside. Which means fasten hardwire cloth on the inside of the windows rather than outside the coop.
Ventilation– If you use window panes in your coop, make sure you can still open the windows. Or, create ventilation windows near the top of your coop that allow air flow all the time.
Door Size- Having full-sized doors installed in your coop goes a long way for making it easier for you to use and clean!
Automatic Doors– When making a chicken door, make the opening the appropriate size to install an automatic door, just in case down the road you want to have that option!
Roof Style– As for the roof, you can choose to do a peaked roof or a flat roof. I have found no advantage of one over the other.

Storage Area

Another functional design element you may consider adding to your coop plan is a storage area. I have a storage area in one of my coops and have found it to be very useful, but it also presents some issues.

A storage area is helpful for storing feed, cleaning supplies, supplements, and extra litter right out at the coop. Whenever you need to fill feeders, the food is right at hand. Need to add a little more litter to nesting boxes? Extra litter is stored just a few steps away! I can do all my chicken chores right within the coop with the exception of cleaning and refilling water founts.

A functional storage area should be big enough to accommodate all the supplies you need for caring for your chickens. I have found that having enough space for two galvanized tins, a bucket of litter, and a shelf for cleaning buckets, a treat tin, and a supplement bin is adequate for my coop’s needs.

Over the years I have come to realize that there are a few compromises I have to make with my storage area. One is that it does attract the mice. They can’t get to the feed and I pick up any feed spills, but they still manage to find extra feed particles or nesting material to make their home in the coop. So, I have to deal with mice droppings. The other compromise is that the storage area does need a little maintenance and cleaning. I sweep my storage area every day and every year the cobwebs and dust have to be removed.

In general, I find having a storage area at one of my coops is functional, but not a necessity.

External Chicken Coop Design Considerations

Lastly, there are a few external design elements of a chicken coop that must be considered. Placement and size are two important aspects of designing a chicken coop. You can make your chicken coop as pretty as you want, both on the inside and the outside.

But make sure you include these external design elements:

External Coop Design Tips

Enclosure Position– The enclosure side of the chicken coop should be facing the east or the south. This will optimize how much natural light can enter the enclosure, which is beneficial during the winter months. In some regions, these directions are also the least windy, so another plus for minimizing winter time exposure.
Coop Size– A chicken coop should be big enough to accommodate your flock and still have space for you to move around inside as well. I have found that narrow chicken coops don’t work well for cleaning purposes! Square or wide rectangle designs work best.
Coop Height– Make sure the chicken coop is tall enough for you stand up straight in. Trust me, you will appreciate it!
Rain Control– Having a slight overhang over the main entrance to the coop is helpful for shedding precipitation away from the door. It also makes dashing to shelter when doing chores in the rain much easier!

chickens using an automatic chicken coop door

Ready to Build?

Whether you get fancy or just keep it simple, your chicken coop should be functional and simple for you to use. A homestead flock is really quite easy to care for, especially when you have a properly designed homestead chicken coop. From the guidelines for designing chicken coop amenities to the essential design elements of the coop’s interior… a properly designed chicken coop will meet the needs of both you and your flock!

For tips on building the chicken coop, make sure you check out Chicken Coop Building Essentials!

Do have a unique chicken coop design? We’d love to see it! Join our modern pioneer community and send us a pic of your coop! Or maybe you’re having trouble with a design element of your coop? Let us know and we will try our best to help!

Either way, when you become a modern pioneer with us, you can learn essential life skills and have a community of modern pioneers to help you along the way!