Best Chicken Coop for 4 Chickens (Buying Guide)
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Our top picks
- Best overall for 4 hensOmlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken CoopCheck price on Amazon â
- Best raised plastic coop for a small yardOmlet Eglu Go Up with Run and WheelsCheck price on Amazon â
- Best fixed wooden coop and run for 4PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop with Run for 4 to 6 ChickensCheck price on Amazon â
Four hens is the sweet spot for a lot of families. That is enough eggs for breakfast most days and few enough birds that the yard still looks like a yard.
The trouble is the box. Plenty of kits say â4 to 6 hensâ on the front. Then you read the floor size and it would be snug for two. So this guide starts with the space four birds need and works back to the coops that can give it.
All our picks
Plastic coops
- Best overall for 4 hensOmlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken CoopOmlet rates the Cube for up to 6 large hens.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
- Best raised plastic coop for a small yardOmlet Eglu Go Up with Run and WheelsOmlet says the Eglu Go range houses three large hens or up to four medium ones.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
Wooden coops
- Best fixed wooden coop and run for 4PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop with Run for 4 to 6 ChickensA wooden house and run in one kit with two nest boxes, two roost bars and a pull out tray.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
- Best wooden kit you can move to fresh grassAivituvin Mobile Chicken Coop with Wheels for 4 to 6 ChickensA wooden house and run on wheels with two nest boxes and a pull out tray.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
- Best long run on a budgetPawHut 96.5 inch Wooden Chicken Coop with WheelsA long wooden coop and run on wheels with a nesting box.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
Run space
- Best way to give any coop a big runPawHut Galvanized Walk-in Chicken Run with CoverThis is a run and not a coop.Check price on Amazon âDetails â
In this guide
How much room do 4 hens need
Extension advice for standard size hens is about 3 to 4 square feet of floor inside the coop for each bird. For four hens that means 12 to 16 square feet inside. Add 8 to 10 square feet each in the run. That puts the run at 32 to 40 square feet.
Bantams need about half that. Big breeds like Brahmas need a little more.
You also want about 8 to 10 inches of roost for each hen. One nest box for every 4 or 5 birds is plenty. Four hens will happily share one or two boxes.
Our guide to how much space chickens need has the full numbers. Or put your own flock into the coop size calculator.
Think four hens might turn into eight? Then skip the small kits and look at a walk in coop sold for 8. Our guide to the best coop for 6 hens with a run covers those.
Plastic or wood
Plastic coops cost more. They are easy to hose out and mites have very few cracks to hide in. Wooden kits are cheaper and look nice in a garden. They need a coat of paint or stain and a bit more cleaning.
For four hens a good plastic coop or a roomy wooden one will both work. The size matters more than the material.
Free coop setup checklist
A one page list to work through before your hens move in. Print it and tick things off as you go. Leave your email and we will write when a new guide goes up. Open the checklist.
Our picks
Omlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken Coop
Omlet rates the Cube for up to 6 large hens. So four get real room to move inside. Twin wall plastic panels help in summer heat and winter cold. Most days you slide out the tray and you are done.
What to like
- Plenty of room for 4 hens
- Hose clean with few mite hiding spots
- Run and wheels in the set
Watch out for
- Costs a lot more than a wooden kit
- Run is small for 4 birds full time
Omlet Eglu Go Up with Run and Wheels
Omlet says the Eglu Go range houses three large hens or up to four medium ones. The house sits up off the ground so hens get shade and shelter underneath.
What to like
- Easy to move on its wheels
- Raised house keeps bedding dry
- Wipes clean in minutes
Watch out for
- Right at its limit with 4 large hens
- Add more run space for full time use
PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop with Run for 4 to 6 Chickens
A wooden house and run in one kit with two nest boxes, two roost bars and a pull out tray. It is sold for 4 to 6 hens so four sits at the roomy end of that range. Check the house floor in the listing against the 12 to 16 square feet four hens need.
What to like
- Sold for 4 to 6 so 4 is the comfortable end
- Two nest boxes and two roosts
- Pull out tray for cleaning
Watch out for
- Run is small for full time use
- Swap the mesh for hardware cloth in raccoon areas
Aivituvin Mobile Chicken Coop with Wheels for 4 to 6 Chickens
A wooden house and run on wheels with two nest boxes and a pull out tray. Moving it every few days keeps the grass from turning to mud.
What to like
- Wheels make it easy to move
- Two nest boxes
- Pull out tray for cleaning
Watch out for
- Measure the floor before trusting the hen count
- Thin wood needs paint each year
PawHut 96.5 inch Wooden Chicken Coop with Wheels
A long wooden coop and run on wheels with a nesting box. The extra length gives four hens more ground to scratch than most budget kits.
What to like
- Long run for the size
- Wheels for moving
- Low cost to start
Watch out for
- Light wood needs care in wet weather
- Swap the chicken wire for hardware cloth
PawHut Galvanized Walk-in Chicken Run with Cover
This is a run and not a coop. Set it around a small coop and four hens get far more than the 40 square feet they need. The steel frame won't rot.
What to like
- Lots of run space
- Tall enough to walk in
- Steel frame lasts
Watch out for
- Not a coop on its own
- Needs a skirt of wire against diggers
| Pick | Best for | Main plus | Main catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omlet Eglu Cube Large Chicken Coop | Best overall for 4 hens | Plenty of room for 4 hens | Costs a lot more than a wooden kit |
| Omlet Eglu Go Up with Run and Wheels | Best raised plastic coop for a small yard | Easy to move on its wheels | Right at its limit with 4 large hens |
| PawHut Wooden Chicken Coop with Run for 4 to 6 Chickens | Best fixed wooden coop and run for 4 | Sold for 4 to 6 so 4 is the comfortable end | Run is small for full time use |
| Aivituvin Mobile Chicken Coop with Wheels for 4 to 6 Chickens | Best wooden kit you can move to fresh grass | Wheels make it easy to move | Measure the floor before trusting the hen count |
| PawHut 96.5 inch Wooden Chicken Coop with Wheels | Best long run on a budget | Long run for the size | Light wood needs care in wet weather |
| PawHut Galvanized Walk-in Chicken Run with Cover | Best way to give any coop a big run | Lots of run space | Not a coop on its own |
What to check before you buy
Floor size. Look for the inside floor size of the house. Leave the run out of that sum. Divide by four. If you get less than 3 square feet per hen then the kit is too small for four large birds.
Wire. Chicken wire keeps hens in. It does not keep a raccoon out. Plan to add half inch hardware cloth to the run and any vents. Our guide to predator proofing a chicken coop shows how.
Cleaning. A pull out tray or a big door saves you time every week. You will clean this coop many times so make it easy on yourself.
Airflow. Four hens breathe out a lot of moisture overnight. Vents up high keep the air dry without a draft on the roost. See chicken coop ventilation.
How we chose
We started with extension space advice for a flock of four. Then we read maker listings for floor size and hen count. We also read owner feedback for leaks and weak latches and hard cleaning. We left out kits whose hen count did not match their floor. We havenât tested these coops in our own yard. Our page on how we choose products explains the full process.
FAQ
Is a coop sold for 4 to 6 chickens big enough for 4?
Sometimes. Measure the house floor and divide by four. If each hen gets 3 to 4 square feet then you are fine. If not then size up or plan on lots of time out in the run.
Can 4 hens live in the coop all the time?
Not well. Hens need a run for daytime. Give them about 8 to 10 square feet each outside. That is 32 to 40 square feet for four.
How many nest boxes do 4 hens need?
One is enough and two is nice. Hens like to share a favorite box anyway. See our nesting boxes guide.
Should I buy a plastic or wooden coop for 4 hens?
Plastic is easier to clean and lasts. Wood costs less up front. Both work if the floor is big enough and the run is safe.
For more help picking a kit see our best chicken coop kits guide and DIY vs prefab chicken coop.
Keep reading
Planning a bigger flock? See the best coop for 6 hens with a run. Or browse every coop and run in the shop.
Sources
- Space Allowances in Housing for Small and Backyard Poultry Flocks, Poultry Extension
- Housing Backyard Chickens fact sheet, Utah State University Extension
- How many chickens fit in the Eglu Cube, Omlet help center
- How many chickens can the Omlet Eglu Go accommodate, Omlet help center
- Maker listings on Amazon for floor sizes and hen counts.
