Custom Chicken Coops, Built On-Site
Walk-in coops with real framing, true predator-proofing, and a run your hens actually use — designed for your yard and built in place by our own crews in Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania & North Carolina.
Walk-In Chicken Coops and Runs
A walk-in chicken coop changes how you keep chickens. You step inside to collect eggs, clean standing up, and check on your flock without crawling — which means you actually do those things, and your hens are healthier for it.
Every Monument coop-and-run is designed as one structure: a framed, weatherproof hen house with nesting boxes and roosts, connected to a fully covered chicken run with head-high clearance. Human-sized doors, tool-friendly layouts, and hardware that works with an armload of feed.
Because it's site-built, the design bends to your yard — tucked along a fence line, stepped down a slope, or matched to the lines and colors of your house. Prefab sheds can't do any of that; they arrive in the shape they left the factory.
What's In a Monument Coop
Nesting & roosting, sized right
A nesting box per 3–4 hens with exterior egg access, and roost bars set higher than the boxes so hens sleep where they should — not where they shouldn't.
Ventilation over the roosts
High vents move ammonia and moisture out above sleeping hens without drafting them — the detail that decides winter flock health more than any heater.
Built for the keeper
Walk-in height, wide clean-out doors, deep-litter-friendly floors, feed layouts that don't invite rodents, and automatic-door wiring roughed in if you want it.
Predator-Proofing Is the Whole Job
Ask anyone who's lost a flock: the coop that's "pretty secure" is not secure. Raccoons, foxes, hawks, owls and coyotes test backyard coops every single night, and each one breaks in differently. This is where building catios for years pays off — predator-proofing is the problem our company was founded on.
| Predator | How it gets in | The Monument spec that stops it |
|---|---|---|
| Raccoon | Tears chicken wire open with its hands, reaches through large mesh, opens simple latches | Galvanized steel mesh — heavier than typical hardware cloth, never chicken wire — tight apertures at reach points — plus two-point, self-latching door hardware |
| Fox & coyote | Digs under the run wall overnight; bites through light wire | Dig barrier on every run: mesh buried at the base or run outward as an anchored ground skirt; heavy-gauge predator-proof mesh on the walls |
| Hawk & owl | Strikes from above into any open-top run — daytime and dusk | 100% covered runs, mesh or solid roofing; no exceptions, because partial cover just teaches them patience |
| Rat & snake | Squeezes through gaps over half an inch to reach feed and eggs | Tight construction — half-inch mesh at vulnerable points, sealed corners, elevated floors and feed-smart layouts |
Regional pressure differs — coyotes and hawks dominate around Phoenix, while fox pressure on backyard flocks is relentless from Baltimore and Frederick out through the Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina countryside — but the spec that survives all of them is the same. We build that spec by default.
Want a coop your flock outlives the raccoons in?
Get my free coop designA Chicken Coop Builder, Not a Coop Shipper
Nearly every "custom coop" online is a prefab shed built in another state and delivered by trailer or crane. A true chicken coop builder works differently — and it shows in the details that decide whether the coop still works in year five.
Built in place, to fit
No crane access needed, no compromise on placement. We build around trees, on slopes, against fences — and match the finish to your home so the coop belongs in the yard.
A licensed coop builder
AZ ROC #364641, MD MHIC #167535-02, PA HIC #PA214722. Real licenses, real insurance, a real contract — and a builder who answers the phone after the build.
Repairable, expandable
Stick-built structures can be modified: add run footage when the flock grows, swap roofing, add an automatic door. Prefab panels mostly can't — you replace instead of adapt.
Backyard Chicken Rules Where You Live
Most cities in our markets allow backyard hens — with strings attached that surprise people after the coop is built. In Phoenix, backyard hens are allowed with neighbor-setback requirements that neighbors can waive in writing, and coops belong in the rear yard. In Montgomery County, Maryland, coops must sit in the rear yard with setbacks from property lines and neighboring homes. Rooster rules, flock limits and HOA covenants layer on top, and they differ block to block.
We check the actual current rules for your address — city code, county zoning, and HOA — as part of the design, and position the coop so you never have to move it. That's the boring, valuable part of hiring a licensed builder who does this every week.
What a Custom Coop Costs
We quote every coop from its design rather than a flat price sheet, because the honest answer depends on flock size, run footage, roofing, and how much predator-proofing your property needs. For orientation: pricing for premium site-built coops varies widely across the country — and the difference between the cheap end and the right end is exactly the mesh, dig barriers and framing described above.
What we promise on price: a fixed, itemized written quote after a free design consultation, no obligation, and no "predator-proofing upgrade" line items — the full spec is standard. Deposits and payment schedules follow your state's home improvement laws, spelled out in the contract before you sign.
From Flock Plans to First Egg
Tell us your flock size (current and dreamed-of), your yard, and your city. Photos are plenty to start.
We design the coop and run for your hens, your climate and your local rules — and give you one written price.
Setbacks, permits, HOA — handled by us before the build, so the coop never has to move.
Our crew site-builds the coop and run, walks you through every latch and vent, and leaves your yard clean.
Where We Build Chicken Coops
Our crews build custom chicken coops and runs across Arizona — Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tucson, Mesa and the Valley — and throughout Maryland from Baltimore to Frederick, Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley — and North Carolina, from Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham to Greensboro, Asheville and Wilmington.
Outside these states? We offer design-only services for other states — ask about a design package.
Free consultation, custom design, fixed written quote — zero pressure.
Get my free coop quoteWhat Monument Clients Say
Real five-star reviews from our Google Business Profile — from catio clients and the covered dog pen we built to keep little Yorkies safe in coyote country. Same crews, same predator-proof standard, brought to your build.
"We've actually had a coyote jump over our block wall into the backyard, and we've even had an owl sitting on our patio cover — so we knew we needed something more secure than a typical dog run. They designed a safe, secure, covered dog pen… built on-site by skilled carpenters using high-quality materials. It gives us peace of mind knowing our little Yorkies are protected."
Ruth M. — Google review
"If you want a catio built, hire this company. They did a fantastic job. The entire crew was professional, organized, and kept the workspace super clean. Their communication was next-level… The final result is amazing and my cat is already obsessed with it. Five stars!"
Jeff M. — Google review
"Monument Catios will get you right the first time, my fur babies have never been happier and it's SO nice only connecting with a single contact for a project."
Olivia C. — Google review
"We asked them to design a custom cat shelf system that would allow our cats to make their way around the living room without ever having to touch the floor, and they really took the time to get it right… Our cats absolutely love it. I would absolutely recommend Monument Catios."
Brian M. — Google review
"We hired Monument Catios to give our two kitties a forever playground from kitchen through dining and living room walls. We've had tons of compliments already… Thomas and Luz were wonderful, accessible, and very open to changes. Our kitties couldn't be happier!"
Elizabeth D. — Google review
"I have a smaller space in Scottsdale and honestly wasn't sure a cat wall would even be possible. Monument Catios proved me completely wrong… My cats are obsessed! If you're on the fence because of limited square footage, don't be — these guys will figure it out."
Elizabeth L. — Google review
"I had seen a bunch of cat walls on TikTok and wanted to add one for my cat Stormi, but just had no idea how and couldn't find anyone to help. I then found the team at Monument Catios and it's been such an amazing experience planning and designing a set up for my chonk!"
Jenny A. — Google review
"I got in touch with Monument Catios to design an enclosure for my parents' two cats at their house, and it's been a great experience. The team have been super responsive, transparent, and are clearly cat lovers."
Marc G. — Google review
"The team is extremely kind, caring and responsive. I've had a great experience speaking with them, I would highly recommend to my other friends."
Abigail M. — Google review
Verbatim excerpts from public reviews on our Google Business Profile.
Chicken Coop Questions, Answered
How much does a custom chicken coop cost?
Every Monument coop is quoted from your design, because footprint, run size, roofing, and predator-proofing depth change the number more than any flat price sheet can capture. For context, premium site-built coops commonly run well into four figures nationally. You get a fixed, itemized written price after a free design consultation — before any work starts, with no obligation.
Who builds custom chicken coops in Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina?
Monument Catios designs and site-builds custom chicken coops and runs across Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. We are a licensed builder — AZ ROC #364641, MD MHIC #167535-02, PA HIC #PA214722 — and our own crew constructs every coop on your property under one contract, matched to your home instead of shipped on a trailer.
How big should my chicken coop and run be?
The working rule: at least 3 to 4 square feet of interior coop space and 8 to 10 square feet of run space per standard hen — more is always better, and crowding is the root of most flock problems. A six-hen flock wants roughly a 4x6 coop with a 60+ square foot covered run. We size every design to your flock, your yard, and your city's rules.
What makes a chicken coop predator-proof?
Galvanized steel mesh instead of chicken wire — raccoons tear chicken wire open and reach through it; a dig barrier buried at the base or run outward as an anchored ground skirt against foxes and coyotes; a fully covered run against hawks and owls; self-latching two-point hardware, because raccoons open simple latches; and tight construction with no gaps over half an inch, which also keeps rats and snakes out of the feed.
Am I allowed to keep chickens where I live?
Usually yes, with rules. Phoenix allows backyard hens with neighbor-setback rules that can be waived in writing; Montgomery County, Maryland requires rear-yard coops set back from property lines; most cities limit or prohibit roosters. The rules are city-by-city and HOA-by-HOA — we check yours as part of the design process and build to them from day one.
How do you handle Arizona heat and East Coast winters?
Climate drives the design. In Arizona: deep shade, ventilation positioned for cross-breeze, light-colored roofing, and misting-ready layouts, because in Arizona summers, heat is often a bigger threat to backyard hens than any predator. In Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina: draft-free but ventilated winter housing, dry bedding zones, snow-shedding roofs, and mud management in the run. Same build system, different physics.
Will a chicken coop attract rats?
Feed attracts rats; good construction locks them out. We build with half-inch galvanized mesh at vulnerable points, sealed feed-storage design, elevated coop floors, and no construction gaps — the difference between a coop rats live under and one they give up on. Keeping feed in sealed containers overnight does the rest.
Do I need a permit or HOA approval for a chicken coop?
Sometimes — it depends on your city, county and HOA, and on the coop's size and placement. As the licensed builder, we handle the permit and setback questions as part of design, and we've navigated these rules across Arizona, Maryland, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. You get a coop that's built right and built legal.
Let's Design Your Coop
Tell us about your flock and your yard. You'll get a custom design and a fixed written price — no pressure, no obligation.
- Custom design for your flock and yard
- Fixed written price and timeline
- Setback, permit & HOA checks included
- Licensed & insured, one contract
AZ ROC #364641 · MD MHIC #167535-02 · PA HIC #PA214722