Why you should NEVER buy a coop from Amazon or Walmart — The Featherbrain

For more information on pop hole doors, see my article, Chicken coop pop doors: size, height off the ground, and design ideas.

For more information on ramps, see my article, Chicken coop ramps: Your ultimate guide.

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Reason #9: No protection from the heat

These coops have no insulation. Your chickens will roast in one of these in the summer, particularly if you live in an area where you don’t have shade for your coop.

The combination of no insulation and terrible ventilation means you may lose chickens to heat stroke if you are in a place where temperatures soar (80s and above). Certainly, your chickens will live a low quality of life.

Reason #10: No protection from the cold

Similarly, the lack of insulation will cause your chickens to freeze in the winter. This, combined with the poor ventilation and badly-designed roosting bars, may result in chickens with frostbite. Again, at the very least, their quality of life will be reduced.

Reason #11: No protection from predators

Finally, if it’s not obvious already, these coops provide no protection from predators. Any small predator (e.g., raccoons, skunks, weasels) could get through the roof, or break through the cheap wire on the window, or push through the pop door.

Large predators would need to put in very little effort to rip off the nesting box, lift the roof (seriously, it doesn’t even latch), or just crush the body of the coop.

Even the wire on the run provides no protection. My husband demonstrates just how easy it is to break through it in the video below.

If you have any predator at all in your area, even if you just have the chance that a loose neighborhood dog could get into your yard, you will likely lose your chickens.

What kind of chicken coop is safe and comfortable for your chickens?

There are many qualities you’ll need for a great chicken coop. Check out my free training, Chicken coops 101: Design your chickens’ dream home, for all the specifics on exactly what your chicken coop needs, including detailed measurements.

In a nutshell, you’ll want an insulated, well-ventilated coop that gives your chickens plenty of space. You’ll want multiple nesting boxes and ample space on roosting bars that are made from 2x4s or large branches. Of course, you’ll want your coop to be built with high-quality materials to keep your chickens safe from both predators and the elements.

Where can you get a safe and comfortable chicken coop?

You have three options. I, myself, have done all three of these with good results.

Buy a new coop from a high-quality company
Buy a used coop from Craigslist
Build your own coop

If you’re interested in purchasing a high-quality prebuilt coop, I highly recommend Rita Marie’s Chicken Coops. I purchased my most recent chicken coop from Rita Marie’s, and my chickens love it!

Check out my review of this coop—and see plenty of photos!—in this article, The BEST luxury coop you’ll ever buy: Spoil your chickens with Rita Marie’s.

After buying and testing out my own Rita Marie’s coop, I became an affiliate for this company. So, if you use this link and you end up buying a coop, I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you—a great way to support my site if you’ve found it useful.

Finding coops on Craigslist is totally hit or miss. I have bought a couple of excellent coops at very low prices off of Craigslist that the previous owners had built themselves. If you want to go this route, constantly keep your eye out. When a good deal comes up, the coops will go fast. You’ve got to jump right on ‘em.

Also, if you buy a used coop, you will need to take precautions. You will want to very thoroughly clean and disinfect the coop. If the coop has old bedding left in it, burn it. Used coops can carry many disease-causing pathogens, and can also harbor mites and lice that will feast on your chickens.

These parasites can be a challenge to get rid of. Remember those two roosters I picked up off the highway—the whole reason I bought the cheap coop to begin with? Yeah, those two were covered in both mice and lice. (In case you’re wondering, both roosters are currently parasite-free, well-fed, and living joyful, free-range lives. They roost in safe and comfortable coops at night.)

The third option, building your own coop, can be daunting, but it’s an excellent option. My husband and I actually made beginner plans and a step-by-step video course for building a simple chicken coop that can house up to 6 chickens—see the photo above under Reason #1 to see the coop.

We designed the plans and video course for the total beginner in mind, so even if you have never even touched a drill before, you will be able to build this coop. You can build this coop with very few tools over the course of a weekend.