I would personally always opt to build a coop myself, but I know that not everyone has the time to do this, so out of respect for those who enjoy fresh eggs and the satisfaction of raising their own chicken, read on.

A coop for chickens is pretty much a box in one form or another, simple enough, but finding the time to build one can be a challenge many have a hard time getting past. Prefabricated chicken coop kits are the answer to this problem.

If you choose to buy a kit you’ll find that it has the instructions and all the wood, wire, screws or nails etc you need to completely construct your coop.  

If carpentry isn’t a part of your skill set then a kit is probably what you’d want because it is really more of a puzzle rather than a construction job.

There is quite a variety of kits you can find either online or locally and they come in an assortment of sizes and styles giving you the option to pick the one you need. A lot of kit plans are for mobile type coops but it seems most are for stationary type coops.

Chicken coop kits are popular with those who live in the city and have been for a long time. Simplistic set up and tear down is most likely the reason it is a favorite.   

Mobile or portable kits are the smallest style you can get. They’re light weight so they are easily carried from one place to another. The bigger and heavier kits are intended to be put in just one location and left there.

The size of your coop is directly related to the number of chickens that you plan on keeping.  Each chicken has to have 3 -5 square feet.  The small portable kit coops will only keep about two or three chickens.

Keeping chickens really is a long term proposition so you want to plan out into the future if you can.  If you think you’ll be adding more chickens to your flock, to start a business for example, then you will need to build a coop big enough for that amount of chickens now to ensure you’ll have the room when the time arrives.

Even though many of the kits available are priced about the same that doesn’t mean they are created equally. The best approach is to compare kits side by side and do your homework on chicken coops so you know what features a good coop should have and which ones meet your particular requirements.

If it is possible validate that your coop was designed by someone who understands raising and keeping chickens.

Important features are adequate ventilation, should be easy to clean, lighting and the security and safety of your chickens.

If Budget is a Concern

The one down side to buying a chicken coop kit is comparing the price per square foot, a kit is about 2 to 3 times more than putting up a coop on your own. For example a coop with 21 square feet of room, currently listed on Amazon is $463 dollars.  You can build a 64 square foot coop for about the same or less.

If you just don’t have the time to put up a chicken coop then using a kit is an easy and fun option. Even if you are all thumbs when it comes to building projects, you’ll be putting together a coop fairly easily.