7 Best Metal Chicken Coops For Predator Protection That Old Farmers Swear By

There’s no worse feeling than walking out to the coop at dawn and finding a scene of destruction. A determined raccoon, a clever fox, or even a neighbor’s dog can undo months of work in a single night. After you’ve lost birds, you learn a hard lesson: a chicken coop isn’t just a house, it’s a fortress. That’s why folks who have been doing this for a long time eventually turn to metal.

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Rugged Ranch Universal Pen: Maximum Versatility

This isn’t a traditional coop, and that’s its greatest strength. The Rugged Ranch pen is essentially a heavy-duty, powder-coated steel chain-link kennel. You can use it as a massive, secure run attached to an existing wooden coop, or you can drop a smaller hutch inside to create a complete, albeit basic, system. Its primary job is to provide a large, safe space for your flock to roam without constant supervision.

The key here is the all-steel construction. Unlike wood, a predator can’t chew or claw through the frame. The chain-link is a decent deterrent, but for smaller, more dexterous predators like weasels or raccoons, you’ll want to line the bottom few feet with hardware cloth. Think of it as a foundational security perimeter you can customize. It’s perfect for those who already have a solid hen house but need a truly secure, expandable daytime area.

Advantek ‘The Loft’ Coop: Elevated Metal Frame

The Advantek ‘The Loft’ takes a smart hybrid approach. It uses a powder-coated steel frame for the structural integrity and elevates the wooden nesting box and roosting area off the ground. This elevation is a simple but incredibly effective defense. Most ground-based predators, from skunks to opossums, are opportunists, and making them work to get inside is often enough to send them looking for an easier meal.

The run below is enclosed with wire, but the real security comes from that metal skeleton. It prevents the whole structure from being pushed over or broken into by a larger predator like a coyote. The tradeoff is that the wood panels are still wood—they can degrade over time and aren’t chew-proof on their own. However, for providing a solid, elevated base with a built-in run, this design offers a great balance of security and traditional coop features.

Producers Pride Defender Coop for Total Security

When you see a name like "Defender," you know what it’s selling. This coop is designed from the ground up with one thing in mind: stopping predators cold. It features a full metal frame, a solid metal roof that can’t be peeled back, and—most importantly—is typically enclosed with 1/2-inch hardware cloth right out of the box. This is the gold standard for predator-proofing.

This is the kind of coop you get when you live in an area with heavy predator pressure. The latches are usually more robust, and the overall construction leaves few weak points for a raccoon to exploit. While it might lack the rustic charm of an all-wood coop, it offers peace of mind that’s hard to put a price on. It’s a turnkey solution for someone who doesn’t want to spend their weekends retrofitting a weaker design.

OverEZ Large Coop: A Wood Body with Metal Armor

OverEZ coops are known for their durable wood construction, but their predator resistance comes from smart metal integration. They feature a metal roof with a drip edge that makes it nearly impossible for a predator to get a grip and peel it back. The vents are covered with heavy-duty wire, and the doors are solid, leaving no easy entry points. This is less of a "metal coop" and more of a wooden stronghold armored with metal.

This approach gives you the best of both worlds. The wood provides better insulation against heat and cold than a pure metal structure. The metal provides the critical security at the most common failure points: the roof and access points. It’s a prime example of using the right material for the right job. You get the thermal benefits of wood without sacrificing the security that only metal can provide.

Eglu Cube Mk2: Modern Design, Steel Run Safety

The Eglu might look like something from the future, but its security principles are timeless. The coop itself is made of heavy-duty, twin-walled plastic, which is ridiculously easy to clean and offers no splinters for mites to hide in. But its real defensive power comes from the attached run. The run is made from heavy-gauge steel weld-mesh, a significant step up from flimsy chicken wire.

The Eglu’s run also includes an anti-dig skirt that lays flat on the ground around the perimeter. This simple feature is brilliant; it stops anything from digging its way in. For urban or suburban keepers who face threats from raccoons, foxes, and dogs, the Eglu system is a complete, well-thought-out fortress. It proves that good security doesn’t have to look rustic.

SmithBuilt Heavy-Duty Crate: Impenetrable Fort

Here’s an old-school trick that works like a charm. A heavy-duty steel dog crate, the kind made from thick, welded steel bars, makes for an absolutely bomb-proof chicken tractor or small coop for a few birds. Nothing short of a bear is getting through those bars. You can outfit it with a tarp for a roof, add a roosting bar, and place a nesting box inside.

This isn’t a fancy solution, but it is 100% effective and often more affordable than a purpose-built coop of similar strength. It’s perfect for integrating a new flock, housing a broody hen and her chicks, or for anyone who values pure, brute-force security over aesthetics. It’s the definition of function over form, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

TRIXIE Natura Coop with Galvanized Metal Run

Many starter coops follow the TRIXIE Natura model: a wooden hutch connected to a run with a wire enclosure. The key detail to look for here is the metal itself. A good one will use a galvanized, rust-resistant metal frame for the run and a thicker gauge wire. The galvanization process protects the steel from rust, ensuring it doesn’t weaken over time.

However, be honest about what you’re getting. Most coops in this style use wire that can be bent by a determined raccoon or broken by a large dog. They are a good starting point, but they almost always benefit from being reinforced. Think of the included run as a framework to build upon, immediately adding hardware cloth over the existing wire for true security.

Yardgard Hardware Cloth: The Essential Upgrade

This isn’t a coop, but it’s the most important item on this list. No matter what coop you buy, 1/2-inch galvanized hardware cloth is your best friend. Chicken wire is designed to keep chickens in, not to keep predators out. A raccoon can reach right through it and pull a bird apart.

Use hardware cloth to cover every single opening: windows, vents, and any gaps. Most importantly, use it to create an anti-dig skirt around the entire perimeter of your coop and run, extending it at least 12 inches outward underground or flat on the surface. Staple it over any weak wire that came with your coop kit. Buying a great coop is step one; making it impenetrable with hardware cloth is step two. It is the single most effective security upgrade you can make.

Ultimately, protecting your flock isn’t about buying the most expensive coop—it’s about identifying and eliminating weak points. Metal, whether it’s a steel frame, a solid roof, or a roll of hardware cloth, is the best tool for the job. By thinking like a predator, you can use the strength of metal to ensure your chickens are safe and sound, night after night.