How to Start a Chicken Coop in Your Backyard

Aug 14, 2025

How to Start a Chicken Coop in Your Backyard

🐔 How to Start a Chicken Coop in Your Backyard (No Farm Required)

Chickens aren’t just for the countryside anymore. In Lane County, your neighbor with the neatly trimmed hedges might also be the proud owner of a flock of Buff Orpingtons clucking away behind the fence. Backyard chickens give you fresh eggs, garden pest control, and a daily dose of barnyard charm—all without the 40-acre farm.

If you’ve ever dreamed of collecting still-warm eggs on a Saturday morning, here’s your complete, step-by-step guide to starting a mini chicken coop right here in Western Oregon.

🧰 Tools & Materials

Gear:

  • Chicken coop or build-it-yourself kit (small-scale, predator-proof)

  • Chicken run fencing (hardware cloth, not flimsy chicken wire)

  • Feeder & waterer

  • Nesting box bedding (pine shavings or straw)

  • Secure latches (raccoons in Oregon know how to open cheap ones)

  • Heat lamp or brooder plate (for chicks only)

  • Egg basket (optional, but stylish)

Chickens:

  • 3–6 hens (Lane County ordinances typically limit the number—check your city’s rules)

  • Popular beginner breeds: Buff Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Australorp

⚠️ Before You Begin: Rules & Prep

  • Check Local Laws – Eugene and Springfield allow backyard chickens, but no roosters in city limits. Rural areas have more flexibility, but HOA rules may differ.

  • Predator Awareness – In Lane County, you’re not just protecting against raccoons; hawks, coyotes, and neighborhood cats all make the list.

  • Neighbors – Fresh eggs make great peace offerings.

🔢 Step-by-Step Guide

1) Choose Your Coop

Decide between:

  • Buy a pre-made coop – Fast, easy, and available at Jerry’s Home Improvement, Coastal Farm & Ranch, or Wilco.

  • Build your own – Allows customization for size, style, and Western Oregon weather. Plans available through OSU Extension’s Poultry Resources.

For 3–6 hens, aim for 3–4 sq ft per chicken inside the coop and 8–10 sq ft per chicken in the run.

2) Pick the Right Spot

  • Well-drained area (Oregon rain + mud = chicken swamp)

  • Morning sun, afternoon shade

  • Close to water source

  • Far enough from your bedroom window (trust me)

3) Build or Install the Run

  • Use hardware cloth (¼” mesh) to cover all sides, including underground skirts to stop diggers. Chicken wire is fine for keeping chickens in—but terrible at keeping predators out.

  • Add a covered section so they can still strut during rain.

4) Set Up Inside the Coop

  • Nesting boxes: 1 box for every 3–4 hens, filled with pine shavings or straw

  • Roosts: Allow 8–10″ of space per hen

  • Ventilation: Essential for fresh air and moisture control—just keep openings predator-proof

5) Stock Up on Supplies

Local sources:

  • Wilco (Springfield) – feed, bedding, equipment

  • Coastal Farm & Ranch (Eugene) – coop kits, starter feed, poultry care products

  • Down To Earth (Eugene) – organic feed supplements

6) Choose Your Chickens

  • Buy chicks in early spring from local feed stores, or adopt laying hens from local poultry swaps.

  • Beginner-friendly breeds: Buff Orpington (gentle, good layers), Australorp (great in wet climates), Plymouth Rock (hardy, friendly).

7) Feed & Water

  • Provide fresh water daily—yes, even when it’s freezing.

  • Layer feed for adult hens, chick starter for chicks.

  • Occasional treats (veggies, scratch grains) keep them happy.

8) Daily & Weekly Care

Daily:

  • Feed & water

  • Check for eggs

  • Quick health check

Weekly:

  • Top up bedding

  • Clean feeders & waterers

  • Inspect for predator damage

9) Egg Collection

Most hens start laying around 5–6 months old. Collect eggs daily to keep them clean and discourage egg eating.

🧼 Seasonal Maintenance

Spring/Summer:

  • Shade, cool water, dust baths for parasite control

Fall/Winter:

  • Extra bedding for warmth

  • Keep water from freezing (heated bases available at farm stores)

  • Seal drafts but maintain ventilation

🐓 Why It’s Worth It

  • Fresh Eggs: Nothing like a yolk the color of an autumn sunset

  • Garden Help: Chickens eat bugs, till soil, and produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer

  • Entertainment: They have more personality than some people

💡 Troubleshooting

  • No eggs? Could be age, stress, molt, or daylight hours—try supplemental light in winter.

  • Pecking problems? Give them more space or distraction toys.

  • Predators? Reinforce your coop and check for weak spots weekly.

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