How to Set Up a Backyard Chicken Coop | Beginner’s Guide

When you first bring home your baby chicks, they really don’t need much space at all. In fact, we started ours in a large dog crate and it worked perfectly. But once they’re full grown, chickens need much more space to live happy, healthy lives — and that’s where a good coop setup comes in.

Depending on where you live, your coop and run might need to follow specific rules or ordinances, so it’s important to check your local guidelines before you start building or buying. In this post, I’m sharing my best tips for setting up a backyard chicken coop, including what every coop needs and a free printable checklist to make sure you don’t forget a thing.

If you’re new to raising chickens, my Raising Backyard Chickens for Beginners Guide covers everything from choosing the right breed to building a predator-proof coop. Be sure to check it out!

What Every Backyard Chicken Coop Needs

Whether you’re buying a pre-made coop or building your own, there are a few absolute must-haves for any healthy, happy flock.

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1. Enough Space for Your Flock

Once they’re grown, chickens need room to roost, lay eggs, and just roam around and be chickens. For most backyard breeds, plan on at least:

• 2-4 square feet per chicken inside the coop
• 8-10 square feet per chicken in the run (in my opinion, this is the bare minimum)

👉 More space is always better — overcrowded chickens are stressed chickens, and that can lead to health issues and pecking problems.

2. Roosting Bars for Sleeping

Chickens naturally sleep off the ground, so adding roosting bars (basically, sturdy perches) gives them a comfy place to rest. Our store-bought coop has three roosting bars: 1 in the main part of the coop and 2 in the closed nesting area.

3. Nesting Boxes for Eggs

If you want eggs (and who doesn’t?), you’ll need nesting boxes. A good rule of thumb is one nesting box for every 3-4 hens. We have 3 nesting boxes for 3-4 hens, and they all want to lay in the same one! I like to add soft bedding (also called horse bedding) or straw to make it more comfortable for them!

4. Good Ventilation (Without Drafts)

Fresh air is super important for coop health, but drafts can be a problem in winter. We added ventilation up high near the roofline, so air can circulate without blowing directly on our girls.

5. Predator Protection

Even in the city, predators are a real concern. We fenced in a large portion of our yard to protect our hens and to let them have free-range when they are out of the coop.

6. Easy-Clean Design

One thing I knew right away was that a coop that’s easy to clean makes life so much easier — for me and for my chickens. When designing or choosing a coop, I always look for:

• Big doors or panels for easy access
• Removable roosting bars and trays to make cleaning faster
• Plenty of space to easily swap out bedding without hassle

A clean coop means healthier, happier chickens — and it makes my daily and weekly chores quick and manageable.

Get My Free Chicken Coop Setup Checklist

There’s a lot to think about when you’re getting your coop ready, but don’t worry — I’ve got you covered! I put together a free printable checklist with all the essentials so you can stay organized and make sure your coop is safe, comfortable, and ready for your new flock.

👉 Download the Backyard Chicken Coop Setup Checklist here!