I could smell the smoke in the air before I saw it. My husband, dogs, and I could huddle safely inside the house — air filters going full blast — but I worried about the chickens. I’m not the only chicken owner who has been surprised by the need to develop emergency accommodations in a pinch.

Setting up the best chicken coop means building a solid predator-proof structure, appropriate-sized run, and a good internal setup. The following tips for inside a chicken coop and how to efficiently set it up will benefit not only the chickens but also the keeper.