Welcome to our gallery focusing on the colorful world of backyard chicken coop ideas.
Residential chicken farming has really exploded in recent years, as people want to be both more frugal and self-sufficient.
Adding to the allure is the fact that you can get into the chicken game rather easily.
With a low hurdle for entry, we’re seeing an explosion in chicken coop ideas across the web, from DIY projects to store-bought items. The sizes, styles, and configurations of these setups vary wildly, but they all allow you to comfortably raise birds in your own backyard.
For example, see our top featured chicken coop pictured above. This two-part structure features a rustic style shed with a full-size door and windows, paired with a wire fenced area for the chickens to enjoy the outdoors.
We know that raising chickens isn’t the right hobby for everyone, but if you’re ready to take the plunge, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. But first, let’s look at some pros and cons.
Related: Backyard Chicken Farm Craze | Pet Friendly Backyard | Cat Litter Alternatives | Types of Birdhouses
Chicken Coop Pros and Cons
Pros
1. Endless eggs – This benefit cannot be emphasized enough; it’s the main reason to raise chickens in the first place! You’ll never spend time on one of the staples of any kitchen.
2. Meat – Depending on how many you raise, you may have enough to provide meat, so long as you’re not too squeamish for the act of procuring it.
3. Experience – As we know from friends and family, the experience of raising chickens is unmatched. The feeding, care, and presence of the birds are truly fulfilling.
4. Pets – Kind of the opposite of our second listed benefit, chickens can truly be considered pets, especially if you have children. They love interacting with the birds and helping out with their care.
Cons
1. Messy – Make no mistake; chickens can be a messy animal to have around. Their coop will require constant cleaning and your yard will certainly face some upkeep.
2. Noise – Everyone knows that if you have any male chickens, you’re bound to hear the telltale rooster call every morning! Even females can become noisy when they’re having a scuffle or just playing around.
3. Cost – While you may be able to acquire the birds cheap or free, there is a cost associated with their feeding and upkeep. Aside from the price of the coop itself, you’ll want to be sure you can afford enough food for your birds.
We think the decision to raise chickens is a personal one and that, if you’ve made up your mind, we’d love to help with the search for a perfect chicken coop. To that end, we’ve gathered a broad selection of these unique structures to show off the possibilities.
If you’re looking to buy a ready-made coop online or build your own from scratch, this gallery is just for you!
Find more backyard ideas in our definitive guide to backyards!
Related: Backyard Zen Garden Ideas | Backyard Pergola Ideas
5 Main Types of Chicken Coops
The next 5 chicken coops are examples of coops you can build with this guide.
The Chicken Hut
The Cluck Carrier
Poultry Farmer
Poultry Shack
Wheeler
Source for above illustrations: Chicken Coop Guides
Backyard Chicken Coop Photo Ideas
Large barn-style coop with fenced in a roaming area. This particular coop is verging on becoming a small chicken farm.
Tiny red and white doghouse style chicken coop that would fit in any backyard.
Small chicken coop with lower open area and upper egg-laying house. 
Mid-sized red and white coop house with windows and chicken access doors.
Rustic shed-style chicken coop in spacious backyard.
Custom yellow and red chicken coop by Ryan Lambert.
When you’ve got a dynamic backyard full of activities, you might want a chicken coop that’s rather portable. This unique is lightweight due to its metal framing, and features built-in wheels for easy movement.
Not everyone has the space or desire to raise multiple chickens, which is why we love this ready-made coop for one or two birds. It’s compact, portable, and perfectly shaped to house your bird! Learn more here.
We cannot resist an adorably constructed chicken coop with quaint rustic styling. This large structure features a handsome black metal sconce and is even flanked by miniature hedge rows. Source: Zillow Digs™
Here’s a relatively simple design, with an elongated box structure and broad, convenient openings. This is perfect for yards with limited space. Learn more here.
One of the most innovative chicken coop designs we’ve seen, this elevated unit features a spiral staircase for entry and plenty of large openings for the birds to enter and exit. Here’s a lovely Source: Zillow Digs™
If you’ve got ample space and live in a temperate climate, a large chicken coop like this might be the best possibility. Using a large hand-built frame of natural wood, the entire structure is wrapped in wire for a transparent, breezy space for the birds.
Speaking of innovation, behold this rocket-shaped chicken coop, towering over a yard. It’s certainly not a design for everyone, but if you’re looking for something fanciful and unique, this is it. Source: Zillow Digs™
This is one of the most useful chicken coop designs we’ve ever seen. The project combines a small closed house structure with a large wired box for the chickens to graze in, making for an extremely convenient and efficient design.
If you’re looking for a dose of whimsy with your chicken coop, this model might be right up your alley. Shaped like a camper, it boasts a metal roof and brightly colored stripes, plus a variety of small access windows. Source: Zillow Digs™
This large chicken coop design is full of whimsy and rustic charm in equal measure. It’s got a high roof with secondary opening up top, as well as easy full size access for humans when it comes to feeding time.
The angular profile of this handsome coop resembles a modern full-size home design, so much that it’s one of our favorite structures. The ample mesh covering and secluded roosting compartments make it a very useful coop as well. Learn more here.
This large and handsomely decorated chicken coop features bold black metal latches and a white paint job that makes it truly pop in a lush backyard. The large roof overhang ensures that the outdoor component is sheltered from rain. Learn more here.
Here’s another sharply angled, crisply constructed chicken coop. This ready-made model features a large wire mesh outdoor area for grazing, as well as an elevated roosting space. Learn more here.
The rustic look of the wood here belies this chicken coop’s modern construction and store-bought source. It’s a ready-made set that will grant you an elevated roost space and plentiful exercise area in no time. Learn more here.
Here’s a great example of a larger, more sturdy style of chicken coop, combining both a wood structure and a large exterior pen for exercise and grazing. The sloped roof and large doorway provide protection from the elements and easy feeding, respectively.
Perfect for a fenced in yard, this geometric chicken coop features a brightly colored pain scheme and a raised design for keeping your chickens safe and comfortable.
This is one of the most unique coops we’ve seen, with a modular design that opens up on the sides for full access and fresh air. The V-shaped roof channels water away from the birds.
Here’s a view inside a really large chicken coop with a vaulted roof design. The rich natural wood is supplemented with tree branches for the birds to roost on.
This DIY chicken coop is the perfect combination of vintage design pieces and functionality. The full size doorway and ample windows provide ease of access, while the multicolored facades stands out in any yard.
With a professional quality roof and attractive two-tone paint job, this barn styled chicken coop features ample space and an elevated roosting space. We love the amount of access doors for convenient feeding. Shop the look.
We love the deluxe nature of this chicken coop duplex. With a pair of robust shelters joined by an extended exercise space and plenty of wire fencing, it’s a great solution for multiple chickens in a relatively small yard. Shop the look.
Here’s a large, luxurious DIY chicken coop designed to house a lot of birds. The pair of full height doors offer easy access and the solid wood construction means it’ll last for years. Source: Redeem Your Ground
Here’s another beautiful DIY chicken coop design, sporting a multicolored paint job and a rather large outdoor exercise area. The white picket fence is the adorable detail that ties it all together. Source: Trevormade Photography: One Tree Photography / Jessica Peterson
This is one of the most useful chicken coop designs we’ve ever seen. The project combines a small closed house structure with a large wired box for the chickens to graze in, making for an extremely convenient and efficient design.
The bright colors and careful paint scheme really set this house-like chicken coop off. The structure is shed-sized, which makes for easy access as long as you’ve got a large enough yard to support it.
With a more traditional, rustic look, this extra large chicken coop features its own windows and people-sized doorway. This is a great setup if you have a large number of chickens and want a reliable space to hold them for years.
Here’s a truly innovative solution: a chicken coop on wheels. Built over a tractor trailer frame, it’s easily moved around the yard. This can help with wear and tear, and keep the chickens on their toes, so to speak.
We love the clean lines and sharp details on this octagonal chicken coop. Perfect if you’ve only got a couple birds, it can stand as a handsome appearance in almost any sized yard.
A big, bright, and most importantly, open design chicken coop is perfect for letting your little ones help out. The mesh screens mean that you can easily see inside, and the birds get a great view when they’re roosting.
Here’s a standard professional-sized chicken coop, standing about human height, and painted with a bright green and white striped coat. If you’re experienced and looking to grow, this is an ideal solution.
Top 10 Chicken Breeds for Chicken Coops
Here’s a great chart setting out and explaining the top 10 chicken breeds.
Source: Chicken Coop Guides
Photo examples of the 10 most popular chicken breeds
Plymouth Rock Chicken
Rhode Island
Leghorn
Wyandotte
Sussex Chicken
Australorp
Chantecler
Minorca
Delaware
Chicken breed chart
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