Size: True to its name, the Minimal is small — just a 4-x-4-x-4-foot cube. Capacity: With 16 square feet of floorspace, the Minimal can accommodate a medium-sized flock of four or five birds. Access: One entire exterior wall of the coop is hinged to serve as your access door. To maintain the minimal theme, the coop was designed without a dedicated chicken door. Nest boxes: A triple nest box is located inside the shelter and is made entirely from the main build’s scrap lumber. Run: The Minimal does not have an incorporated run. Cost: Base price $699, and includes primer coat.
The Alpine A-Frame Coop
Size: At roughly 4 feet wide and 10 feet long, it occupies just a small footprint in your yard and can easily be tucked into an out-of-the-way corner if needed. At its peak, it stands 46 inches high. Capacity: The shelter measures 16 square feet, and the run takes up 24 square feet, making this coop just right for two to four birds. Access: One entire side of the A-frame roof acts as a door that can be lifted open for easy cleaning and access, and then latched closed. Chickens have their own door to the run which can also be left open or latched shut. Nest boxes: Two nest boxes built into the exterior wall of the shelter share a top-opening (and latchable!) lid for hassle-free egg-gathering. Run: A large door positioned in the center of the run allows you to reach in to catch a chicken without having to crawl all the way inside. Cost: Base price $799, and includes primer coat.
The Urban Tractor Coop
Size: The Urban Tractor sits on a footprint that’s just 3 x 6 feet, making it perfect for the small, in-town backyard. The peak of the roof is about 5 feet off the ground. Capacity: A small flock of two to three birds will feel right at home in this coop, with a shelter that provides just over 6 square feet of living space. Access: The shelter has a small hatch on one exterior wall that allows the caretaker to reach inside. A chicken door can be left open for free access to the run. The enclosed run also features a large door that allows entry. Nest boxes: An exterior-mounted nest box provides two stalls for the birds and has a latchable lid for easy egg collection. Run: The Urban Tractor’s run measures about 16 square feet, all covered by a roof. A portion of the run reaches underneath the shelter itself, giving your chickens a shady spot to chill out on hot summer days. Portability: The whole point of a tractor coop is being able to move it from spot to spot. Ours includes a sturdy lumber base and heavy tow chains that make relocation of the coop a snap. Cost: Base price $899, and includes primer coat.
The All In 1 Coop
Size: The All-in-One eats up a patch of ground that’s just 8 feet x 4 feet. Its highest point stands less than 7 feet off the ground. Capacity: With a shelter that’s just a hair under 12 square feet and a run that’s just over 26, the All-in-One accommodates four to six birds comfortably. Access: The caretaker can fully enter the shelter or the run via doors that are over 31⁄2-feet tall. Chickens have a dedicated door that allows them to come and go between the shelter and the run if left unlatched. Nest boxes: Three nest boxes are located inside the shelter. An exterior hatch allows eggs to be collected without physically entering the coop itself. Run: The All-in-One’s run is completely wrapped by wire mesh and protected by a roof overhead. The area under the shelter is accessible to chickens and provides a cool, shady spot on a hot summer day. Bonus: This coop combines the roominess of a walk-in with the portability of a tractor coop. (Remember, it is called the All-in-One.) Timber skids and heavy chains allow the entire coop to be pulled or towed from spot to spot in your yard.Cost: Base price $1,399, and includes primer coat.
The Walk In Coop
Size: Our largest coop, the Walk-In, has a footprint that measures 8 feet x 8 feet. At the peak of its gabled roof, it stands 9 feet tall. Capacity: Holy henhouse! The Walk-In’s 64 square feet easily accommodate up to 30 chickens, making it ideal for even the most ambitious backyard chicken-keeper. Access: Provided the caretaker isn’t also a member of the Boston Celtics, entry into the coop is pretty easy with a door that’s 6 feet tall. Chickens (of any size) have their own access door. Nest boxes: If you’re sheltering close to 30 birds, you’ll need a veritable chicken condo when it comes to nest boxes. The Walk-In’s design includes a bank of ten nest boxes, accessed by the caretaker through an exterior hatch. Run: The Walk-In is a freestanding structure that does not have an incorporated run. It’s meant for areas where the birds will be allowed to free range or where a separate run will be built.Cost: Base price $2,399, and includes primer coat.