Chickens
No Need to Wing It: A Guide to Walk-In Chicken Coops
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If you’ve ever had to crawl on your hands and knees to collect eggs or clean out your coop, you’ll know exactly why walk-in chicken coops have become such a popular choice. However, the benefits of a larger-size coop go far beyond simply being able to stand up straight. In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know: what a walk-in coop is, how it benefits you and your chickens, which features to look out for, and Somerzby’s top picks on the market right now.
Sounds egg-citing? Let’s take a closer look and help you find a roomier home for your feathered friends to stretch their wings in!
Key Takeaways
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Walk-in chicken coops are tall enough for owners to enter, making it easier to care for chickens without crouching or crawling.
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They offer several benefits, including easier cleaning, more space for chickens to move naturally, better protection from weather and predators, and improved airflow.
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You may not always need a walk-in coop, as many modern coops allow egg collection and cleaning from outside access points.
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Important features to look for include adequate height, roomy floor space, nesting boxes, a secure roost area, predator protection and easy-clean components.
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We recommend the Somerzby Homestead and Castle walk-in chicken coops, which provide plenty of space and practical features that make chicken keeping easier.
What is a Walk-In Chicken Coop?
If you’re new to keeping chickens, a chicken coop is simply a safe and comfortable outdoor enclosure for your flock. They come in all shapes and sizes, so there’s something to suit every backyard and every budget.
A walk-in chicken coop is tall enough for you to stand up inside, which is exactly as handy as it sounds. That said, height can be relative, so it’s always worth checking the exact dimensions before buying if you’re on the taller side.
Most walk-in coops will still have you ducking through the doorway to get in, and you may need to watch out for the occasional support beam once you’re inside. But once you’re in, you’ll have all the room you need to tend to your flock with ease.
What are the Benefits of a Walk-In Chicken Coop?
Walk-in chicken coops aren’t just about easy access. They offer a range of advantages that can make a noticeable difference to both your daily routine and your chickens’ health. From easier cleaning to happier hens, here’s why so many Aussie chook keepers are choosing to go walk-in.
Easier to Clean & Maintain
It will come as no surprise that a walk-in chicken coop or run is easy to clean. They have large opening doors allowing you to step inside without hassle, unlike smaller coops or runs that require you to contort your body like an acrobat simply to gain entry. Once inside, ample space allows you to clean the area without crawling on all fours. It is also important to keep in mind that a clean coop = healthy hens = more eggs
The Tasmanian Government states that “the most important feature of a coop is that it should be easy to clean out… So, ideally, there should be a human-sized door.”
The RSPCA of Australia similarly recommends that chicken coops have doors that are big enough for owners to access and maintain the internal conditions.
More Space & Vertical Room
One of the biggest perks of a walk-in coop is the sheer amount of space it gives your flock. Compared to a traditional chicken coop, walk-in designs are not only wider and longer but significantly taller.
This extra vertical space means your hens can truly behave like, well, chickens: walking, flying, hiding, stretching, and perching to their hearts’ content. Happy hens need enough room to perform their natural behaviours. A walk-in coop delivers just that.
Protection from Weather & Predators
When positioned thoughtfully, a walk-in coop can also do a great job of sheltering your flock from the wind, rain, and other elements. Because of their size, you can set them up so that different sections catch the sun or shade at different times of the day. This lets your chickens wander over to whichever spot suits them best. Clever chooks!
It’s also worth remembering that a chicken’s predators don’t just come from the sides and ground. Birds of prey and other climbing animals can attack from above, too. The extra height of a walk-in coop gives your flock more room to move away from the edges and feel safe, while the sturdy structure keeps threats like foxes, cats and dogs firmly on the outside where they belong.
A walk-in coop keeps your chickens safe from external risks while they sleep, play, and nest.
Health Benefits
It’s no secret that happy chickens are healthy chickens, and space plays a big role in that. The RSPCA Australia recommends that chickens should never be kept in confined or cramped conditions, and that they should be able to move in and out of their enclosure without crouching. A walk-in coop ticks both boxes with ease, giving your flock the freedom to move around naturally and comfortably every single day.
For those of us in Australia, there’s another important health factor to consider: our summers can be scorching! Extreme heat and humidity put chickens at real risk of heatstroke, so good coop ventilation and keeping your chickens cool are a must.
The large screened walls of a walk-in coop allow for excellent airflow, helping to keep temperatures down when the mercury rises. Because of their generous size, you can also position sections of the coop under trees or shade structures to give your flock a cool spot to retreat from the harsh sun on those really hot days.
Do I Need a Walk-In Chicken Coop?
It’s worth knowing that you don’t always need to be able to walk inside your coop to keep it clean and well-maintained. Many modern chicken coops, including all Somerzby models, are cleverly designed so that everything can be managed from the outside.
Large doors on perching areas, slide-out metal trays, and opening nesting box lids mean that collecting eggs, cleaning, and refilling food and water can all be done quickly and easily without ever needing to set foot inside.
That said, if you have a large and lively flock, love pottering around with your chickens, or enjoy being able to walk straight in, a walk-in coop might be right for you. It all depends on how many chickens you have and the level of convenience you’re after.
What Features Should a Walk-In Coop Have?
Once you’ve decided a walk-in coop is right for you, the next step is knowing exactly what to look for before you buy.
- Height and Door Size: The first thing you’ll want to check is the roof and doorway height. After all, the whole point of a walk-in coop is being able to, well, walk in. Our Homestead and Castle Coops each have a doorway height of around 134cm and a roof peak of around 180cm, which is a great benchmark to keep in mind when comparing options.
- Room to Roam: Height isn’t the only space factor worth your consideration. The length and width of the coop matter just as much. Your chickens need room to run, stretch their wings, and go about their day without feeling cramped. If your flock will spend lots of time in the coop, opt for something larger. If they’ll be out free-ranging every day, you can get away with something more compact. Either way, don’t forget to leave room for feeders, drinkers and any other fun extras you’d like to include.
- Nesting Boxes: Every coop needs nesting boxes for your hens to lay eggs in. The good news is you don’t need one per hen. As a good rule of thumb, providing one box for every 2 or 3 hens is plenty, as they’re quite happy to take turns.
- House/Roost Area: A good coop will have an enclosed house area fitted with perches for your chickens to roost on at night. Our Homestead and Castle Coops have this area raised off the ground to keep things dry and help the structure last longer.
- Weather & Predator Protection: Look for a fully covered, waterproof roof to keep your flock dry when the weather turns, and galvanised wire mesh to keep predators like snakes, foxes and cats out.
- Easy-Clean Features: Trust us, you’ll be glad you prioritised this one! A pull-out metal tray makes the less glamorous side of chicken keeping much quicker and easier. Both the Somerzby Homestead and Castle Coops have rust-resistant, stainless steel trays so they are long-lasting .
Best Walk-In Coops to Buy in 2026
Ready to find the perfect home for your flock? Here are our top picks for walk-in chicken coops currently on the market.
Homestead Chicken Coop
If you’re looking for something spacious, the Homestead Chicken Coop by Somerzby is our tallest coop ever and an absolute dream for a large backyard flock. With perching space for up to 12 standard-sized hens and 3 nesting spaces, your chickens will have plenty of room to spread their wings. Getting in and out is a breeze, too, thanks to a large walk-in door, an opening nesting box lid, and 2 wide doors that open directly into the roost area.
Key specs:
- Height to the peak of the roof: 180cm
- Height of the doorway: 134cm
- Suitable for up to 12 chickens (if let out daily for free ranging)
- Fully covered, waterproof asphalt roof
- Pull-out metal tray for easy cleaning
- Galvanised wire mesh for predator protection
Also available as the Homestead Chicken Coop & Run
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Castle Chicken Coop
The Castle Chicken Coop by Somerzby is a seriously impressive setup. It’s both tall and generously long, giving your flock loads of room to roam. The pitched roof in the run section is a standout feature you don’t often see, making it noticeably easier and more comfortable to walk inside. It also comes with a stainless steel pull-out tray for extra durability, and the entire coop is covered in coated wire mesh that’s built to outlast standard wire. A beautiful white or grey stain finish tops it all off nicely.
Key specs:
- Height to the peak of the roof: 180cm
- Height of the doorway: 134cm
- Suitable for up to 12 chickens (if let out daily to free range)
- Pitched roof on the run section
- Rust-resistant, stainless steel pull-out tray
- Black coated wire mesh for extended durability and predator protection
Also available as the Castle Chicken Coop & Run
It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time chicken owner or a seasoned keeper looking to upgrade your setup; a walk-in chicken coop is one of the best investments you can make for you and your flock.
If you want to give your feathered friends the spacious home they deserve, explore Somerzby’s full range of large coops. With better ventilation, more space, easier cleaning, and stronger predator protection, what’s not to love? Your chickens will be healthier, happier, and more comfortable, and you’ll wonder how you ever managed without a bigger coop.
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FAQ
Do I need council approval for a walk-in chicken coop in Australia?
Although in many suburban areas you do not need specific council approval for a walk-in chicken coop, it generally depends on your local council and where you live in Australia. For this reason, we highly recommend that you check your local council’s guidelines and go from there.
How do you predator proof a walk-in chicken coop?
To predator proof a walk-in coop, install a 50 cm mesh skirt around the base to protect chickens from diggers like foxes and dogs. Instead of chicken wire, use 13 mm galvanised hardware cloth, as it is much stronger and prevents predators from tearing through. Secure all doors and entry points with two point locking latches, and ensure the roof is fully enclosed to block attacks from birds of prey or climbing animals such as possums.
Read more about how you can protect your chooks from predators here.
Can I Make an Existing Chicken Coop Taller?
Got an existing chicken coop that feels a little cramped? Don’t write it off just yet. With some basic DIY skills and a few tools, you can convert it into a walk-in coop by building a raised timber frame on level ground and securing the coop on top. It’s a simple way to add height and improve access. Just remember you’ll need to step over the frame when entering.
Do I need a floor for a walk-in coop?
No, you do not necessarily need a floor in your walk-in chicken coop. Many backyard coops use natural ground, as this allows chickens to scratch and dust bathe as well as allowing natural drainage. If you do want flooring, we recommend a concrete slab as this not only offers the highest level of predator protection, but is also easiest to maintain and clean.
Toni’s Wrap
A walk-in chicken coop can truly make life easier for anyone caring for hens. It gives you room to move freely, makes cleaning and egg collection less of a chore, and provides your chickens with the space they need to stay happy and healthy. With more height, better airflow, and strong protection from predators, a walk-in coop helps both you and your flock feel comfortable, safe and stress-free every day.
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How much is your chicken coop and would you deliver to Albury NSW?
Hi Rachel,
We have lots of different coops available! They start at $200.
Yes, we can deliver to Albury using a freight company.
Very good advice.