- Urban chickens are enjoying an upsurge in attention and popularity at the moment.
- Not only do chickens make great pets, they also provide you with delicious and cruelty-free eggs and help dispose of food waste.
- It turns out I am far from alone in rediscovering the joys of poultry husbandry, and many companies have developed small coops which are perfect for backyard flocks of two to four birds.
- For first-time poultry parents, we think the easy to clean Eglu Cube is the best chicken coop for a backyard.
I grew up on a farm, but after moving to a city, I hadn't really entertained the idea of owning livestock. My family remained pretty intransigent in their agricultural perspective. But a few years ago, my father visited us at our new home, which was the first place we'd rented that had a garden. He mentioned that I had space for a small flock of chickens.
I looked into the city codes and found that, like many urban areas in the United States, I can legally own five chickens (no roosters) in urban San Diego. Since then Meryl Peep, Victoria Peckham, and Reese Featherspoon have not only provided many delicious breakfasts for my wife and me, they've also become pets.
It turns out I am far from alone in rediscovering the joys of poultry husbandry, and many companies have developed small coops which are perfect for backyard flocks of two to four birds. To get you started, we looked for coops with good weatherproofing, easy assembly, predator-proofing, and a contained run.
Here are the best chicken coops for a backyard:
- Best chicken coop overall: Omlet Eglu Cube Chicken Coop
- Best chicken coop for beginners: PawHut 63-Inch Wood Backyard Chicken Coop
- Best chicken coop for large flocks: Snaplock Formex Chicken Coop
- Best self-contained starter chicken coop: Rugged Ranch Santa Fe Mobile Chicken Coop
- Best chicken coop to add to a barn or shed and for ducks: Petsfit Weatherproof Outdoor Chicken Coop
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