Wood vs metal vs plastic chicken coops: which material to pick

By the Fluff & Feed team · Updated October 13, 2026

Wall material changes how easy a coop is to clean, how much upkeep it needs and how heavy it is. It does much less for predator safety, which comes down to wire and locks.

What we list

Of the 29 coops we compare, 20 are wood, 4 are plastic and 5 are a mix of materials (usually a wood or steel frame with lots of wire). We don't list any all-metal coops right now. Wood coops run from $372.99 to $4,999.99. The mixed coops run from $199.99 to $1,299.99. Only one plastic coop has a listed price, the Formex Snap Lock Large at $811. You can browse just the wooden coops or all coops.

Mites and cleaning

Red mites hide during the day in cracks and crevices, on roosts and in nest boxes, says the Merck Veterinary Manual, and a house can stay infested for up to 9 months after the birds are gone. The University of Kentucky aims control at those cracks and crevices.

Iowa State's poultry biosecurity guide says wood is very porous and hard to disinfect, especially when cracked. It treats plastic as a hard, nonporous surface and calls metal generally easiest to disinfect. Oregon State Extension says pressure-treated wood or wood coated in latex paint is easy to clean. No material is mite-proof.

Cold, condensation and ventilation

Metal walls sweat. University of Illinois Extension explains that water condenses when the metal is colder than the dew point of the air inside, and animals add a lot of moisture. Ventilation is the main fix. Insulating the inside of the metal also helps.

Every coop needs that airflow. Ohio State Extension says to control winter ventilation, not shut it off, so humidity and ammonia don't build up. University of Arkansas extension staff add that roosts should be wood, not metal or plastic, which hold the cold and can cause frostbite.

Sources differ on insulation. Oregon State says coops don't need to be insulated as long as there are no drafts. Ohio State says insulation can keep a coop warmer without electricity.

Weathering and upkeep

Wood needs the most care. An LSU AgCenter bulletin says most wood decay can be prevented by keeping the wood dry, and that wood which is wet and dried over and over roughens, checks and splits. It recommends repainting often enough to keep a protective coat on the wood. For plastic, Iowa State notes excess heat melts most plastics, so skip very hot cleaning methods.

Weight and moving

Among coops that list a weight, the plastic Omlet Eglu Go is 45 lb. The wood PawHut coop with run is 103 lb, and the Carolina Coops American 6x12 is 1,200 lb. University of Minnesota Extension says moving a mobile hut takes a lot of labor. University of Maryland Extension says a movable coop's edges should touch the ground so predators can't get under.

Predators: wire and locks, not walls

The extension sources we read focus on openings, wire and locks, not wall material. Maryland warns that raccoons open simple latches. UNH says openings should be smaller than 1 inch and that solid-sided coops are best because predators can't reach in. Minnesota says chicken wire keeps out flying predators, but ground predators can reach through it, so hardware cloth works better low down. So compare the wire and latches. The Carolina Coops model lists 1/2 inch, 19-gauge PVC-coated hardware cloth. The plastic Omlet Eglu Cube lists steel weld mesh and two-step locks. More in our predator guide.

Check the space claim

Every wood coop we list that gives both a claimed flock size and floor dimensions fits fewer hens than the box says, at 4 square feet per hen. The cheap ones miss by the most. The PawHut claims 6 and fits 1. The Producer's Pride Villa ($699.99) claims 12 and fits 1. Plastic isn't immune: the Eglu Cube claims 10 and fits 1. See how much space chickens need.

Which to pick

• Cold climate: wood, with wood roosts and good ventilation. If you choose metal, plan on venting it well, and insulation helps.
• Hot climate: any material, as long as it moves plenty of air. Maryland suggests a fan in warm weather.
• Small budget: the cheapest coops we list are wood and mixed, but check the hens-it-fits number before you buy.
• Moving the coop: plastic is lightest among those that list a weight. Make sure the edges sit flat on the ground.

Sources

• Merck Veterinary Manual: mites of poultry (where red mites hide, 9-month infestation)
• University of Kentucky Entomology: mites of poultry (EF516) (crack and crevice control, survival without feeding)
• Iowa State University poultry biosecurity: cleaning and disinfection (wood, plastic and metal surfaces)
• Oregon State University Extension: backyard chicken coop design (EC 1644) (painted or treated wood, insulation)
• University of Illinois Extension: metal-walled building condensation
• Ohio State University Extension: winter and your backyard chickens (ventilation, insulation)
• University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension: cold-weather coops still need ventilation (air exchange, wood roosts)
• LSU AgCenter: causes and control of wood decay, degradation and stain
• University of Minnesota Extension: DIY mobile poultry hut (moving, chicken wire vs hardware cloth)
• University of Maryland Extension: identifying and preventing poultry predators (latches, movable coops)
• University of Maryland Extension: coop construction general requirements (fans in warm weather)
• UNH Extension: protecting chickens from predators (openings, solid sides)