When recently asked for their best tips in a survey on Purina Poultry Facebook, experienced chicken raisers agreed that having a plan, and keeping focused on it, is paramount to building a quality backyard chicken coop, and advised backyard chicken newbies to think long-term for location, space and design.

“When we think about chicken coops, we need to think of them as homes,” says Patrick Biggs, Ph.D., a flock nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition. “These structures make great backyard centerpieces and, when planned for properly, also provide shelter, protection and comfort to our birds.”

In the social media survey, the first audience trend was on location. Picking spots with big window views are encouraged, and several important factors should be considered while choosing a coop location, including local regulations, the grade/flatness of the landscape, drainage, sun and shade availability, and the location of utilities relative to the coop.

From a design standpoint, a fundamental decision is the coop structure. There are three primary types of chicken coops: chicken tractors, chicken wagons and stationery coops.

Chicken tractors are built similarly to a wheelbarrow, with two wheels and handles for mobility, and are best suited for small flocks that live in big yards. Chicken wagons are four wheeled structured with a ramp for birds to enter, and work well for those wanting a large, movable coop, such as those using rotational pastures. Chicken sheds, or stationery coops with runs, are the most common form of chicken coops. Easily maintained and regulated, hey require minimal space and provide both outdoor and indoor access. They are also the easiest to predator proof.

“Each of these coop options can be adjusted, updated or merged to create the coop that is best for your backyard,” Biggs says. “Similar to our houses, the aesthetic comes down to goals, location and personal preference.”

Planning for more space than necessary is recommended to keep the ability to expand the coop available to you, and use the number of birds you plan on housing as the key factor for coop space. Provide at least 2 feet of roosting space per bird for sleeping, and build 1-foot square nesting boxes, one for every four or five hens, with easy access for egg removal.

“We recommend providing at least four square feet of indoor space and 5-10 square feet of outdoor space per bird,” Biggs says. “Birds will lay eggs and sleep inside but often spend most of their time outside in the run. The run is their playground.”

For more coop building tips, including ventilation and predator-proofing, visit the Purina website