Are you a beginner scouring the internet for chicken coop supplies? We’ve got you covered.
When my husband and I purchased our land, the vision was to transform 10.5 acres of brush pine into wide-open pastureland that’s ready to support a living, breathing farm. Twelve months later, in June 2025, we finally left our small (but still too big for us) city and started building the dream. It was a hard time to start, as Mother Nature was being a little unreasonable, dishing out daily heat indexes of 108°F, but determination always wins. After a lot of earth-moving, seed spreading, and seemingly endless revisions to the objective, our farm is taking shape, and beautifully so.
While plans for the livestock are still in the research and development phase, we decided early on that chickens would be the first animal inhabitants on the farm. For months, I spent countless hours hanging out on Facebook chicken groups, scrolling through Instagram, and watching videos on YouTube to find the best chicken coop supplies. These ladies (and gentleman) were to provide food for our family, so it was important to give them the best start possible.Â
My early takeaway: From choosing a coop to providing toys, raising chickens requires a lot of forethought and preparation.
Now, purists may tell you that chickens only need the basics — food, water, and shelter. And if we’re being honest, they’re not wrong. That said, I think there are plenty of ways to make chicken keeping easier, more enjoyable, and far more rewarding. Here’s a quick roundup of chicken coop supplies for first timers.
Ample Space
Chicken math is real, and it kicks in fast. I started with 11 hens and a rooster, and within days, I was already plotting my next additions. After a few hiccups early on (i.e., delivery of a small coop with a nesting box that wouldn’t open from the outside), we upgraded to a larger one that could comfortably house about 24 birds.
Beyond the freedom of having a large chicken coop that allows you to add more chickens to your flock whenever possible, keep in mind that overcrowding can lead to stress, pecking, and disease. So, if you’re getting into the hobby, realistic chicken math should be a factor when building or buying your coop.
Your best bet is to determine how many chickens you want and then reverse engineer (so to speak). Inside the coop, aim for 3 to 4 square feet per chicken for standard breeds and 2 to 3 square feet for bantams. In the outside run, you’ll need about 8 to 10 square feet per chicken for exercise and foraging.
Protection From Predators
Chickens are incredibly vulnerable to predators such as raccoons, foxes, coyotes, hawks, and snakes. So, after nailing down what type of coop you want or need, the next and equally important consideration should be protection from predators.
And while chicken wire certainly has its place in Hobby Lobby decor, it has no place in or around your chicken coop and run. Chicken wire is designed to keep chickens in, not keep predators out.
In this case, hardware cloth is your best bet to keep your flock safe. Not only should the “walls” of your run be made of hardware cloth, but your build plans should also include burying the hardware cloth 6 to 12 inches underground to prevent predators from digging in.
Other safety features to include are secure latches to outsmart clever raccoons and a covered run or overhead netting to protect against aerial threats.
Bedding
Every chicken coop needs a layer of fresh bedding on the floor. When done right, it keeps the coop clean, controls odor, and adds insulation to keep your flock comfortable.
The most popular mediums for coop bedding are pine shavings and hemp bedding. Pine shavings are favored for their absorbency and fresh scent, while hemp is recognized for its insulating properties, absorbency, and ability to control odors. Of the two, pine shavings are the more budget-friendly option.
Ultimately, I chose spent coffee grounds for my coop bedding. Across the internet, you’ll find that using coffee grounds for this purpose is a polarizing topic. Some folks (like myself) love it, while others have heated opinions on the matter. At the end of the day, spent coffee grounds keep my coop smelling, well, like coffee, and the grounds act like cat litter for easy cleaning, which I do pretty frequently. The biggest downsides to spent coffee bedding are that it can be pricey, and stock levels are often hit or miss.
Nesting Boxes And Accessories
Typically, commercially available coops will come outfitted with nesting boxes. If you’re DIYing your coop, however, nesting boxes are a must. This is where your chickens will be laying those $6,000 eggs, so they should be cozy, clean, and inviting enough to encourage consistent laying.
A good rule of thumb is to have one nesting box for every 3 to 4 hens. Boxes should be lined with a nesting pad or some type of soft bedding, and dried herbs sprinkled throughout should encourage laying.
Automatic Coop Door
If you’re like me, the idea of keeping chickens sounds fantastic—keeping farm hours and getting up at sunrise to let those chickens out of their coop, however, not so much. In this case, automatic doors can be a lifesaver.
After a bit of research and weighing the options, we opted for the Run Chicken Door.
Running on 2 AA batteries (which should last up to a year), there’s no complex wiring, programming the door is super easy, and it works with an app. While the Run Chicken Door features a light sensor, allowing it to be programmed to open and close at sunrise and sunset, you can program it to open and close at specified times, or skip the automation altogether and do it manually (from the app). Other standout features include a weather-resistant design, an all-aluminum construction for added predator protection, and a built-in safety feature (pinch protection) that reverses the closing door, preventing stragglers from getting hurt.
Feeders and Waterers
In terms of providing fresh food and water for your chickens, two bowls (or some type of feeder) can easily suffice. However, that requires daily maintenance, and if you don’t have that kind of time, it’s one of those jobs that just makes chicken keeping that much harder. Moreover, traditional bowls are prone to spills, and if you know anything about chickens, their poop will find a way into said bowls. Additionally, open feed bowls are notorious for attracting unwanted visitors.
To minimize waste, keep their water clean, deter rodents and pests, and make our job easier, we opted for the CoopWorx Feed and Water Silos. We chose the 40lb feeder and the 8-gallon water silo, both of which have been pretty fantastic. The silos feature six ports, lockable hinged lids, and a clever lid design that discourages roosting.
Dust Bath
Despite what you’ve heard, chickens like to indulge in a bit of self-care. However, instead of water, chickens use dust baths to clean themselves, deter parasites such as mites and lice, exfoliate their skin, and help them shed old, loose feathers.
For you, that means providing a shallow container filled with a dust bath mix. Understandably, this can get pricey over time, so if you’re watching your budget, you can make your own dust bath. Typical ingredients are sand, wood ash (if available), peat moss, diatomaceous earth, dried herbs, and a small amount of lime.
A word to the wise: dust baths should always be placed in the run, not the coop, because the dust kicked up from their daily ablutions can cause respiratory issues if they breathe it in.
Toys
Chickens are naturally curious and intelligent, so leaving them to their own devices is never a good idea. Without mental stimulation, boredom can escalate quickly to bickering, feather pecking, and other unwanted behaviors.
Ultimately, opportunities for enrichment are essential to their well-being and key to a happier flock. So, don’t forget to add perches, ramps, and climbing structures to encourage movement. Also, include hanging cabbages and treat bars, pecking balls, or xylophone-style toys for some engaging diversions.
Keeping chickens isn’t hard, but with a few strategic purchases, it can be even easier. Just remember to prioritize space, safety, and convenience—and don’t forget enrichment toys to keep your chickens happy and productive.
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