Chicken Coop: Safe wooden and plastic coops for your laying hens

Chicken Coop: A safe home for your hens

A well-designed chicken coop makes keeping hens in the garden much easier. Your birds sleep protected inside, lay their eggs in the nest and stay dry when it rains. With us you will find coops in wood and plastic, a heated model, two-storey hen houses and mobile coops on wheels. Matching accessories such as lighting, ventilation and a feed and water station round off the coop.

Wood or plastic?

A wooden chicken coop looks natural, blends well into the garden and buffers changes in temperature. Regular checks matter, though, because poultry red mites like to hide in cracks and joints. A plastic coop such as the Barney ECO or Bonny gives parasites hardly any hiding places, is light and can be cleaned with a garden hose. If your winters get very cold, the Thermo NoFrost with its built-in heating keeps the coop free of frost. Whatever the material, a solid floor and secure latches keep foxes and martens out.

Mobile around the garden

A mobile chicken coop such as the MobileCoop, the Egg Palace, the Chalet or the Loft moves across the grass with your hens. That way they always have fresh greens and the ground gets a chance to recover. You can make an existing coop mobile with a wheel retrofit kit. With LED lighting, ventilation, a signal light and an adapter socket from the SmartCoop system, your coop becomes more comfortable bit by bit.

Frequently asked questions

How big does a chicken coop for 5 hens need to be?
For five hens, plan on at least 1.5 to 2 square metres of floor space plus a good metre of perch. More room never hurts, especially when the birds spend longer indoors in winter.

How often should I clean out the chicken coop?
It is best to empty the droppings board or tray every few days. Depending on the number of birds and how damp it gets, replace the bedding completely about every one to two weeks.

Does a chicken coop need heating in winter?
Healthy chickens cope well with cold as long as the coop is dry and free of draughts. Frost-free water and good ventilation against damp matter far more than warmth.