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Whether you’re interested in building your own chicken coop or purchasing a pre-made one, there are a few things you’ll need to bear in mind for the sake of your chickens’ health and safety.

Every good chicken coop has adequate ventilation. Despite their size, chickens produce an impressive amount of waste. Many chicken owners do not have the time to be constantly cleaning the coop, so a good ventilation system is important to keep a healthy, fresh air supply for your chickens.

A good chicken coop provides plenty of space for each chicken. A good rule of thumb is that each chicken needs 4-5 square feet of space. However, they need about twice this much if they don’t have access to a run. Dominant chickens can be pretty cruel to passive ones. For this reason, the passive ones need a lot of space to flee when necessary.

Build your chicken coop on higher ground so chicks are not exposed to standing water during rainstorms. Healthy, happy chickens produce more eggs and chickens who have to stand around in mud all day will not be happy.

Since chickens must lift their heads to swallow, an ideal water supply will be located at eye-level. Protect your chickens from predators by creating the floor of your coop from concrete. Not only is this easier to clean, but it prevents rodents from tunneling their way into the coop. A good chicken coop is impenetrable by predators like dogs, cats or raccoons.

By insulating the walls of your chicken coop, you can keep your chickens warm during cold months. Provide your chickens with a source of light so that they may see at night. The doors to your chicken coop should open inward, not outward. Finally, by installing sliding windows, you can control the ventilation of your chicken coop during any weather.