Find the Best Coop & Gear for Your Flock
We test, compare, and rank chicken coops, automatic doors, feeders, and waterers so you can buy with confidence — predator-proofing, size, and ease of cleaning, no spec-sheet fluff.
Latest Reviews & Guides
Can Chickens Eat Peanuts? The Real Risk Isn't the Peanut (2026)
Plain, unsalted peanuts are safe for chickens in small amounts. The actual danger is aflatoxin, a mold toxin that can grow on poorly stored peanuts — here's the research behind it.
Buying GuidesHow Many Roosters Per Hen? The Real Ratio (and When You Need Zero) (2026)
The backyard-keeper rule of thumb is about 1 rooster per 8-12 hens, but the question hides a bigger one: hens lay eggs with zero roosters at all. Here's the real ratio, what happens if it's too tight, and when more than one rooster actually works.
Buying GuidesCan Chickens Eat Cheese? Lactose, Sodium, and the Real Risk (2026)
Lactose isn't the real problem with feeding chickens cheese — aged cheeses are nearly lactose-free. Sodium is the actual variable, and it swings wildly between a mild cheddar and a hard aged parmesan.
Buying GuidesCan Chickens Eat Carrots? Root, Greens, and the Wild Look-Alike to Avoid (2026)
Carrots — root and greens — are a safe, popular chicken treat that really does deepen egg yolk color. The one thing to watch for isn't the carrot itself, it's a toxic look-alike weed free-ranging flocks can mistake for it.
Buying GuidesCan Chickens Eat Mango? The Peel's Hidden Catch (2026)
Mango flesh is a safe, nutritious treat for chickens, but the fruit belongs to the same plant family as poison ivy and cashews — here's what that means for the peel, the pit, and how to feed it safely.
Buying GuidesCan Chickens Eat Broccoli? Goitrogens, Explained (2026)
Broccoli is safe for chickens in normal treat amounts, but it belongs to a real goitrogenic plant family. Here's what avian goiter actually requires to develop — and why a feeding trial that used far more broccoli than any flock gets found no harm at all.
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Hands-On Testing
Picks grounded in real coop builds and flock keeping — predator-proofing, cleaning, and weatherproofing — not spec sheets.
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Every guide is written and checked by people who actually raise backyard chickens.
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.