Choosing between the Nestera House, Lodge and Raised (Penthouse) coop comes down to one question: which height suits your flock, your yard and your back? Every Nestera coop (except the Wagon) comes in three sizes — Small, Medium and Large — and three heights — the House that sits on the ground, the Lodge raised 8.9" off the ground, and the Raised/Penthouse that stands 17.7" off the ground with usable sheltered space beneath. This guide walks you through who each one suits so you can decide with confidence.
Short answer: Pick the House for ducks, silkies, chicks and the lowest price; the Lodge for the best all-round balance of easy access and predator protection; and the Raised (Penthouse) if you want the easiest cleaning on your back, the most ground-pest and flood protection, and the option to attach a run.
A quick reminder: the coop is a bedroom, not a house
Before you compare heights, it helps to know what a coop is actually for. A chicken coop is your flock's overnight sleeping and egg-laying quarters — not where hens spend their day. Chickens spend daylight hours outside in a run or free-ranging: foraging, dust-bathing, stretching and scratching. They only head into the coop to roost at night and to lay.
That changes how you judge size. Don't measure a coop by floor square footage. Judge it by whether every bird can roost comfortably (allow 8–12 inches of perch per bird) and nest (one nest box per 3–4 hens), with good ventilation, dryness and predator security. The common “3–4 square feet per hen” figure is aimed mainly at birds confined indoors with little outdoor access; the national Cooperative Extension service notes that indoor space needs depend on outdoor access, and that a coop should be “small enough to keep from being too cold and drafty in winter.” A snug coop is a warmer coop — hens huddle on the perch to share body heat, while an oversized coop is colder, harder to clean and harder to move.
So put your space budget into the run or yard, not the coop — aim for 8–10+ square feet per bird out there, more if you can. Nestera coops have kept flocks healthy across the UK and Europe for nearly 20 years on exactly this principle. With that settled, the choice between House, Lodge and Raised is really about height, access and your setting. For sizing help, see what size chicken coop do I need and how big should a chicken coop be.
A few quick notes that apply to all three heights. Given that Nestera coops are built from 70% recycled plastic, are UV-protected, red-mite resistant and backed by a 25-year guarantee, your own comfort when cleaning out is well worth weighing — you'll be living with this choice for a long time. Whether you keep chickens at home, on an allotment, or at a school or community project, think about every keeper: younger keepers often find a lower coop easier, while those with reduced mobility may prefer a higher one. The Nestera Automatic Door Opener and the droppings trays are compatible with every model, and all coops open up for easy cleaning by removing the entire rear panel.
The House: ground-level, budget-friendly, best for ducks and chicks
The House coop sits flat on the ground and is the most affordable height in each size, because it uses the least material. If you're budget-conscious, it's the best starting point. It technically has the greatest wind stability thanks to its low center of gravity, though in practice every Nestera coop performs well here.
Because it sits low with a short, low-pitched ramp, the House is the easiest coop to enter and exit — making it the first choice if you keep silkies, are raising chicks, or want a hen to hatch eggs. That same easy access suits ducks, who aren't as agile as chickens; if that's you, take a look at the Nestera Duck House.
The main trade-off: sitting flat on the ground, the House gives vermin a spot to nest underneath, and you'll bend a little more to clean it out — though adding the droppings trays makes that easier. There is no run designed to fit this height.
The Lodge: raised 8.9", our most popular all-rounder
The Lodge is our most popular height, and it's easy to see why. Its floor sits 8.9" off the ground — high enough to stop wildlife setting up home underneath, while giving your birds a useful spot to shelter from the elements.
Many keepers add dry material under the Lodge to give the flock somewhere to dust-bathe. The shallow ramp lets almost every breed, species and age of bird get in and out with ease, and collecting eggs or cleaning out takes less bending than with the House. The four legs give all-around access underneath — the flip side being that it offers little shelter from wind compared with the Raised coop.
No run is offered for this height. And because the floor is raised, ducks, silkies and very young chicks find the Lodge harder to access than the House, so it isn't the right pick for them. For a robust, compact option in this range, the Atlas — with its extra-strong 8mm walls — is worth a look in predator and durability-focused setups.
The Raised (Penthouse): elevated 17.7", easiest on your back
If you have a bad back or reduced mobility, the Raised — or Penthouse — coop is likely the best fit. It stands an impressive 17.7" off the ground, high enough for even your largest birds to shelter underneath, and that height gives the flock the most protection from ground-based pests and flooding of any coop in the range.
Many keepers tuck their food and water containers under the Penthouse during the day, keeping feed dry in the rain and the water clean from wild birds. Two of the sides are solid at ground level, adding useful shelter from wind and rain.
One thing to note: every Penthouse uses a ladder rather than a ramp, which isn't suitable for some bantams (especially silkies), most ducks or young chicks — for those, choose the House.
The Large Penthouse is the only coop in the range you can attach a run to. The 6.5ft run projects out from the front of the coop and can be extended with extension panels; it includes two mesh panels for the rear base to stop any escapees, plus a weld-mesh “skirt” around the perimeter to deter digging predators. There are no runs for the Small and Medium Penthouse coops. Remember the bedroom principle here: a run is where your flock actually lives by day, so pairing the Large Penthouse with a run gives them genuine activity space.
Every Penthouse can be fitted with an optional wheel set, making the coop easy for one person to move. The extra material does make the Raised the most expensive option — but if it fits your budget, it puts the least strain on your back when cleaning. And when cleaning is easier, it gets done more often, which is best for your birds too.
Nestera House vs Lodge vs Raised: which coop should I choose?
- Choose the House if you keep ducks, silkies or chicks, want a hen to hatch eggs, or want the lowest price.
- Choose the Lodge if you want the best all-round balance — easy access for most breeds, raised off the ground away from vermin, and less bending than the House.
- Choose the Raised (Penthouse) if you want the easiest cleaning on your back, the most protection from ground pests and flooding, sheltered space underneath, or the option to add a run.
And whichever height you pick, size it by the flock it roosts — then give that flock a generous run or free-range area to spend their days.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between the Nestera House, Lodge and Penthouse?
They're the same coops at three heights. The House sits on the ground (cheapest, easiest access for ducks and chicks), the Lodge sits 8.9" off the ground (most popular all-rounder), and the Raised/Penthouse stands 17.7" off the ground (easiest on your back, most ground-pest protection, run-compatible in Large).
Is a raised chicken coop better than a ground-level one?
It depends on your flock and your needs. A raised coop (Lodge or Penthouse) keeps vermin from nesting underneath, offers more protection from flooding and ground pests, and reduces bending when you clean. A ground-level House is cheaper and far easier for ducks, silkies and chicks to enter via its short, low ramp.
Which Nestera coop is easiest on my back?
The Raised (Penthouse), at 17.7" off the ground, puts the least strain on your back for egg collection and cleaning. The Lodge is a good middle ground at 8.9". The ground-level House requires the most bending.
How big a coop do I actually need?
Size it by roosting and nesting space, not floor area: allow 8–12 inches of perch per bird and one nest box per 3–4 hens, with good ventilation and predator security. Your hens spend the day outside, so put the real space budget into a generous run or free-range area. See what size chicken coop do I need for the full breakdown.
Ready to choose your coop?
Explore the full range of Nestera House, Lodge and Penthouse coops — built from 70% recycled plastic, red-mite resistant and backed by a 25-year guarantee — and pick the height that fits your flock, your yard and you. For maximum strength in a compact footprint, take a closer look at the Atlas.
