Backyard Chicken Coops

Southern Living Editors

Tue, May 10, 2016 at 5:46 PM UTC

2 min read

Find inspiration for your own backyard chicken coop.For while dogs may fetch and cats may hunt, chickens boast a talent neither can match: It lays delicious eggs. For those who want to raise chickens in their own backyard, use these inspiring chicken coop ideas to create an environment that is enjoyable and safe for both your family and your chickens. A backyard chicken coop will make the perfect addition to any garden. Adapt the coop to fit your style, whether you want it to stand out or blend in, we have the perfect ideas for any chicken owner. Just because it's meant to house chickens, there's no reason a coop can't be as charming as it is utilitarian.

Personalized Post

The Scott family from Atlanta, Georgia loves their chickens so much that they even made a sign to introduce each of them on the front of their stylish backyard coop.

Colonial Style

Various Colonial Williamsburg outbuildings inspired this all-white coop. The 12- by 12-foot structure in Dallas, Texas protects chickens from a local great horned owl.

Full of Amenities

Carolyn Llorens, an architect, designed this 8- by 6-foot coop and the 8- by 12-foot run. The coop door is 18 inches off the floor so the chickens don’t all run out when the door opens. An egg door allows easy access to nest boxes. Heating pads keep the girls warm in winter, and hardware cloth sunk into concrete keeps out predators.

In the Garden

This red and white chicken coop is settled in the middle of the vegetable garden, cutting down on trips from the house. The red trim adds a nice pop of year-round color to the garden.