It starts with a few hens. Maybe one fluffy Silkie turns into three — then suddenly you’re Googling “big chicken coop ideas” at midnight and wondering where all your tools went. If you’re anything like me, your backyard setup needs to look good, function on a tight space, and keep both chickens and your sanity intact.
That’s where a coop with built-in storage comes in. Whether you’re repurposing an old shed, crafting something cute from scratch, or modifying a simple chicken coop plan you found online — a little storage strategy goes a long way. So let’s get into it: how to build a chicken coop that doesn’t just house your flock — it keeps your whole setup tidy, too.
1. Start with the Right Structure
If you’re building from the ground up, choose a layout that already allows for some vertical or side storage. A-frame and shed-style coops work great. For easy DIY chicken coop builds, I love designs with a walk-in area — it gives you room to install wall hooks, shelves, and small cabinets later on.
If you’re converting an old shed (lucky you), use one half for the roosts and nesting boxes and keep the other half for feed bins, brooms, and tools. You get an adorable shed chicken coop vibe with way less clutter.
2. Use the Roofline for Overhead Storage
Got a pitched roof or sloped frame? Don’t waste that glorious triangle of space. Add a simple open shelf above the nesting boxes — it’s perfect for light tools, extra bedding, or those awkward half-used bags of grit.
In small backyards especially, maximizing up-high space gives your coop that chicken house meets tiny barn feeling. Bonus points if you use cute wooden crates or baskets to keep it all aesthetic.
3. Add Built-In Feed Storage
Let’s be real — the number of half-torn feed bags floating around the yard is out of control. Install a sealed feed box with a lift-up lid along one side of the coop. Make it high enough to keep mice and moisture out, and strong enough to double as a bench.
If you’re tight on space, try a movable option with wheels. Movable chicken coops with feed storage underneath the roosting area are surprisingly doable with a little clever framing.
4. Install a Wall of Hanging Tools
I’m obsessed with pegboard walls — and yes, they belong in a chicken coop too. Screw one into any covered wall and hang your rake, egg basket, poop scraper (let’s not pretend), and spare feeders. It keeps everything clean, off the floor, and easy to grab during your morning coffee run.
For an easy DIY chicken coop, just mount a few heavy-duty hooks on one side or inside a small walk-in area. It instantly feels like a functional little farm station — even if it’s just your backyard.
5. Use the Nesting Box Lid for Dual Storage
This one’s sneaky but brilliant. Design your nesting boxes with a lift-up lid — and then make that lid extra thick, so you can use it like a mini work surface or store small items inside it like gloves, scissors, or zip ties.
You can even add dividers underneath the lid if you’re feeling fancy. On chicken coop interior ideas lists, this one’s always underrated.
6. Try Pull-Out Storage Beneath the Roosts
If you’re building raised roosts, use the under-space wisely. Add sliding bins, wooden drawers, or even recycled crates that you can pull out. It’s the perfect spot for bags of bedding, grit, or replacement bulbs for your coop light.
For small backyard chicken coop ideas, this lets you stay compact without giving up all your supply storage. Just don’t forget to add stoppers so your bins don’t get… chickened.
7. Create a Fold-Down Cleaning Station
Keep one wall section free and install a drop-down table with chain supports. This becomes your egg-sorting station, cleaning bench, or spot to refill feeders. Fold it up when not in use to save space.
It gives off big chicken house interior Pinterest vibes and is especially helpful if your coop doubles as your early-morning coffee sanctuary.
8. Add a Garden Tool Nook
You’d be shocked how many of my coop cleaning tools double as garden gear. Dedicate a corner to taller tools like rakes and brooms — use clips, loops, or an old pallet system to keep them tidy and upright.
In DIY chicken coop ideas that serve multiple backyard zones, this adds an earthy, integrated look. It also keeps your tools from mysteriously “walking away” into the kids’ treehouse.
9. Build a Roofed Exterior Storage Box
If you’re working with a smaller chicken coop and can’t spare inside space, build a storage box on the exterior wall. Use weather-resistant wood, slope the lid to shed rain, and bolt it securely so raccoons can’t crash the party.
For extra charm, stain it the same color as your coop or add a matching roof. You’ll have extra storage without overcrowding the hens — perfect for those homemade headboards of the chicken world (aka crafty-looking enclosures).
10. Paint, Label, and Make It Feel Lovely
Now that you’ve got your coop storage figured out, don’t stop at basic. Paint your bins. Label the shelves. Use a chalkboard sign for feed schedules. Add a magnetic board for tools or cute egg-collecting quotes. It’s a classy bedroom for chickens, after all.
Even the most rustic headboardless bed ideas have a clean aesthetic — your coop deserves the same. And when your tools and feed are all in the right spot, your mornings feel less chaotic and more like a calm little homestead ritual.
Final Thoughts
Creating a chicken coop with built-in storage doesn’t have to be fancy, but it can be beautiful and ridiculously helpful. Whether you’re starting with simple chicken coop plans or hacking together something from scrap wood and vision boards, you’ve got options.
Think ahead about how you want to interact with your space — what you need within arm’s reach, what drives you nuts, and where your chickens love to hang out. With a little planning and a few clever upgrades, your coop will become the kind of space that makes every backyard chicken-keeper’s life just a bit more peaceful. And tidy. And Pinterest-worthy.