Handmade Wooden Chicken Coops & Runs
Hello! I’m Martin Elson. Driven by a passion for craftsmanship and beautiful design, I launched Arks, Runs and Coops with a clear mission: to create poultry houses that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also superbly functional and built to last.
Our Journey – From Classroom to Workshop
After years of teaching mathematics and collaborating with engineers, I left the classroom to prove that those who teach can build. In my canal-side workshop in Stone, Staffordshire, I blend precise engineering with traditional woodworking to craft handmade wooden chicken coops and wood poultry houses that stand out in both form and function.
A Vision of Beauty and Practicality
I’ve always believed that good design should be as practical as it is beautiful. That’s why I rethought every detail of coop construction. The result is coops that enhance any outdoor space while cleverly performing exactly as they should – easy to clean, durable, and safe for your flock.
I primarily use traditional materials, such as tanalised timber, for its natural strength and longevity, carefully complemented by recycled components where they add value and durability. This hybrid approach allows me to create wooden poultry houses and runs that combine classic style with modern practicality.
What Makes Our Chicken Coops Exceptional
How We Compare to Other Coops
Pressure-Treated Redwood
- Naturally resistant to damp, rot and wood-boring insects
- Ages to a warm, honeyed patina that complements garden surroundings
Recycled Agricultural-Grade Plastic Flooring
- Completely impermeable to moisture and droppings
- Non-slip surface that cleans in seconds with a hose
- Won’t warp, splinter or degrade over years of use
Effortless Cleaning & Maintenance
- Wide access doors provide excellent access.
- Lip-free Stokbord flooring allows for an easy sweep out.
- Removable perches for a more thorough cleaning.
Optimised Airflow
- High ventilation allows warm, stale air to escape, and lower vents allow fresh air.
Ergonomic Comfort
- Rounded edge perches sized
- Spacious nesting boxes with access on the side, allowing a fixed roof, as hinged roofs tend to leak.
Versus Standard Wooden Coops
Standard wooden designs often utilise untreated softwood, which absorbs moisture and attracts pests. Our pressure-treated redwood frame remains solid and beautiful for a decade or more.
- Superior Longevity: Redwood resists rot and insect damage, unlike untreated wood, which fails after just a few seasons.
- Enhanced Cleanliness: Plastic agricultural flooring won’t splinter or warp like wooden slats.
- Built-In Comfort: Thoughtful vent placement and eased edge perches.
Versus All-Plastic Coops
All-plastic coops can be very expensive due to their marketing costs! They lack stability in the heat. Ventilation is a big issue with condensation during the cold seasons and over heating in the summer. Many of them are simply ugly. Our hybrid builds combine premium timber with the smart use of recycled plastic, offering the best of both worlds.
- Robust Construction: Quality, treated timber, exterior screws, galvanised strong hinges, 6mm stokbord.
- Optimal Airflow: Wood is a natural product that breaths to create a more natural environment for your flock.
- Timeless Appearance: Natural materials and customisable finishes integrate seamlessly into any garden or smallholding.
Expert Collaboration
We partner with a number of local, well-established chicken farmers who have all offered great insight based on their vast experience. We have listened gratefully and incorporated the guidance into our designs. This hands-on farming experience ensures every coop feature prioritises comfort, safety and productivity.
Stress-Reducing Environment
By combining natural materials, adequate airflow and secure enclosures, our coops minimise boredom and pecking, reduce heat stress and promote calmer, healthier flocks with more consistent egg production.
Crafted in Staffordshire – A Workshop with Character
Overlooking a tranquil canal, our Stone workshop is where craftsmanship flourishes. Each coop is designed and hand-assembled by Martin, with meticulous attention to joinery and smart use of materials.
Visits by Appointment
Curious to see the process? Book a workshop visit to watch your coop come to life, ask questions and experience first-hand the care poured into every build.
How to purchase a coop
Select your accessories
Complete checkout
Receive confirmation by email
Await delivery - 5-7 days
Position in your garden 🐔
Our Chicken Coops:
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Pip Chicken House with side-mounted nesting box
Price range: £550.00 through £645.00This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageOur most popular Chicken House design is our Classic range, characterised by its traditional and elegantly shaped coop featuring an apex timber roof, external nest boxes and our unique recycled plastic flooring design. Available in 2 sizes, the medium 6 bird coop or a larger version for upto 12 birds is available. Please enquire about the pricing of the larger house.
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Magwich Ark
£335.00Magwich Ark. Suitable for 3 chickens, more if bantams. Very popular and beautifully made with high quality materials. Our trademark Stokbord lip free flooring design. Carrying handles make this house easy for two people to move around. The pop hole door is operated by a pull cord. Length including handles is 240 cm. 95cm wide and 90cm high.
Local deliveries £20 within 20 miles of ST15 8LQ. Please contact us for a delivery quote outside this area.
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Fezziwig 8-bird coop
Price range: £375.00 through £595.00This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageGood quality housing is an absolute must for the safety and wellbeing of your flock. That’s why we use the same high quality materials and fixings for all our coops across the range. The Fezziwig is a coop of simple design, easy to clean and built to last.
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Bumble Chicken Run
Price range: £275.00 through £375.00This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageA lovely addition to your eight-bird house. Giving your flock a safe and secure space to enjoy what ever the weather!
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4 metre wide Chicken Run
Price range: £510.00 through £840.00This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageOur larger 4 metre wide high quality chicken run gives between and 260 square feet of space depending on the option you choose. Designed with a mesh ground skirt all around the base to deter tunnelling intruders and help keep your animals safe from predators.
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3 metre wide Chicken Run
Price range: £430.00 through £740.00This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page3 metre wide high quality chicken run that gives between 130 and 260 square feet of space depending on the option you choose. Designed with a mesh ground skirt all around the base to deter tunnelling intruders and help keep your animals safe from predators.
Features of our Pip house
- Click/tap the hotspots for more details.
Any time of year it is essential
that your chicken house is
well ventilated.
Heavy galvanized hinges. The most
likely parts to fail first on a coop
are hinges and legs. Our hinges
are high quality and our legs
are perhaps "over engineered!"
The underside of our feet have
Stokbord protection for
extended life.
Tanalised Redwood offers
long-lasting protection.
Large rear door allows owner
access to the coop.
Coated exterior screws and stainless
steel nails chosen to offer
long-lasting service.
Lift the secure lid and
collect the eggs.
Lip free stokbord flooring. Our
unique design allows easy cleaning.
Stokbord is a recycled plastic used
extensively in agricultural. It is
not going to rot and is wipe clean.
Any time of year
it is essential
that your chicken
house is well
ventilated.
Heavy galvanized hinges. The most
likely parts to fail first on a coop
are hinges and legs. Our hinges
are high quality and our legs
are perhaps "over engineered!"
The underside of our feet have
Stokbord protection for
extended life.
Tanalised Redwood offers
long-lasting protection.
Large rear door allows owner
access to the coop.
Coated exterior screws and stainless
steel nails chosen to offer
long-lasting service.
Lift the secure lid and
collect the eggs.
Lip-free stokbord flooring. Our
unique design allows easy cleaning.
Stokbord is a recycled plastic used
extensively in agricultural. It is
not going to rot and is wipe clean.
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