Find the Best Coop & Gear for Your Flock
We compare chicken coops, automatic doors, feeders, and waterers using maker specs, extension guidance, and owner reviews so you can buy with confidence — predator-proofing, size, and ease of cleaning.
Latest Reviews & Guides
Chicken Coop Door Guide 2026: Pop-Door Sizes, Manual vs Automatic, and Predator-Proof Designs
What size a chicken coop door should be for bantams, standard hens and giant breeds, the five door types compared on predator risk, manual door kits from Brinsea and G.Q.F. priced, and when an automatic door is worth it.
Buying GuidesFermented Chicken Feed 2026: How to Make It, What the Research Shows, and the Best Feeds to Ferment
How to ferment chicken feed step by step (ratio, days, temperature, pH), what peer-reviewed studies and a SARE farm trial actually found, why the 30% feed-savings claim doesn't hold up, and 5 layer feeds compared for fermenting.
Best PicksBest Chick Feeder 2026: Reel, Mason Jar & Port Feeders Compared (Plus Feeder-and-Waterer Sets)
The best chick feeders for 2026: reel-top troughs, mason-jar bases and no-waste port feeders compared on holes, capacity and price, plus chick feeder-and-waterer sets and how much feeder space chicks need by age.
Buying GuidesChicken Scratch 2026: What It Is, How Much to Feed, and 6 Scratch Grains Compared
What chicken scratch is, how much to feed per hen (the 10% cap in tablespoons), what too much does to protein and calcium, and 6 scratch grains from Purina, Manna Pro and Scratch and Peck compared on protein and price per pound.
Buying GuidesDIY Chicken Feeder 2026: 4 No-Waste Builds (Bucket, PVC & Port Kits) Compared
How to build a DIY chicken feeder in 2026: 5-gallon bucket port feeders, PVC elbow and PVC pipe builds compared on cost, capacity, and rat-proofing, plus the switch-over mistake a UC Davis trial caught.
Best PicksBest Chick Starter Feed 2026: Medicated vs Non-Medicated, Compared
The best chick starter feeds of 2026 compared on protein, calcium, medication and price per pound, plus the vaccine rule that decides medicated vs non-medicated starter for your chicks.
Why Trust Backyard Coop Lab?
Research-Based
Picks built on maker specs and manuals, university extension guidance, and owner reviews, with sources named in the text.
Source-Checked
Prices and specs are checked against the makers' own stores and labels, and dated on every guide.
Every Budget
From budget starter coops to walk-in runs and automatic gear — clearly labelled.
Updated for 2026
Prices, picks, and flock-size notes kept current.
Backyard Chicken Questions, Answered
How big should a chicken coop be per hen?
Plan for 3–4 sq ft of coop floor space per standard-size hen plus 8–10 sq ft per bird in the attached run (Penn State Extension). Bantams need slightly less; heavy breeds and confined flocks need more. Overcrowding is the most common cause of feather-picking, disease, and dirty eggs — and it is why "houses 10 chickens" on a flat-pack listing is almost always arithmetic no hen agrees with.
What is the best chicken coop in 2026?
For most backyard keepers the OverEZ Small Chicken Coop (~$900, up to 5 hens) is the best balance of solid-wood durability, predator resistance, and easy egg access. The Omlet Eglu Cube (~$1,000, up to 10 hens) is the premium plastic pick for cold climates and easiest cleaning, and the PawHut works for 2–4 hens on a budget once you reinforce the latches.
Does chicken wire keep predators out?
No — and this is the single most expensive mistake new keepers make. Chicken wire's 1-inch hexagonal holes let weasels through and let raccoons reach in. Half-inch hardware cloth is the actual predator barrier, and replacing factory chicken wire with it is the most common upgrade keepers make to a store-bought coop.
How much feed does a chicken eat?
About a quarter pound a day — roughly 1.5–2 lb per hen per week, per Oregon State and Penn State Extension figures. A flock of five hens goes through a 50 lb bag roughly every six weeks. Layer feed should be 16% protein and 3–4% calcium, and you switch to it at 18–20 weeks of age or at the first egg, whichever comes first.
When do backyard chickens start laying eggs?
Most pullets lay their first egg at roughly 18–22 weeks of age. Chicks also need about six weeks in a brooder before they can move outside. No amount of shipping speed or gear shortens either clock — a flock runs on its own schedule.
Is Amazon Prime worth it for chicken keepers?
Usually not. Prime costs $139/year and breaks even at roughly 18–23 orders under $35 a year; a flock realistically generates 5–10. Feed is heavy and cheap, so it clears Amazon's $35 free-shipping threshold on its own (and Subscribe & Save ships it free with 5–15% off, no membership), while coops and automatic doors cost 5–34× that threshold. A free 30-day trial timed to October's deal days is the version that pays.