Little Cottage Co.'s Coops and Greenhouses: Specialty Buildings Beyond the Shed

When people think of Little Cottage Co., they usually picture sheds and barns — and for good reason, that's where the brand built its name. But tucked into their lineup is a smaller, more specialized category that solves problems a standard shed never will: raising chickens, starting seedlings early, or just giving a hobby its own dedicated building. It's worth a closer look if your backyard plans go beyond simple storage.

What "Specialty Buildings" Actually Means

Little Cottage Co.'s specialty buildings line covers two main categories: chicken coops and greenhouses. Both are built the same way as the rest of their catalog — panelized kits with pre-cut, pre-primed wall sections that bolt together without a lot of specialty tools — but the layouts are purpose-built rather than general-purpose, with features a plain shed design wouldn't include.

Coops Built for Actual Chickens, Not Just Storage

The Colonial Gable Coop, Gambrel Barn Coop, and Star Barn models are all sized and ventilated for keeping birds, not just storing feed. That means screened vents for airflow, nesting box access from the outside so you're not climbing in to collect eggs, and a run attached or adjacent depending on the model. If you've been eyeing backyard chickens but didn't want to improvise housing out of scrap lumber, this is the more durable, better-ventilated starting point.

The three coop styles differ mostly in roofline and footprint rather than function — the Gambrel Barn Coop and Star Barn both give you a bit more headroom and interior storage for feed and tools, while the Colonial Gable Coop has a simpler, more compact profile that fits tighter yards. None of them require a large flock to make sense; they're sized for a handful of hens just as comfortably as a bigger group.

Greenhouses That Extend Your Growing Season

On the greenhouse side, the Colonial Gable Greenhouse, Garden Shed Greenhouse, and Octagon Greenhouse models give you a dedicated space to start seedlings weeks before it's safe to plant outside, or to keep tender plants going well past the first frost. The Garden Shed Greenhouse in particular splits the difference nicely — one half functions as actual tool and equipment storage, the other as growing space, so you're not sacrificing a shed to get a greenhouse. The Octagon Greenhouse, by contrast, is built as a standalone garden feature, with glazing on every side for even light exposure.

Still the Same Panelized Build Little Cottage Co. Is Known For

If you've looked at their standard sheds and barns before, the assembly process here will feel familiar. Wall panels arrive pre-cut and pre-primed, window and door openings are already framed, and the whole structure goes together with common hand tools over a weekend or two rather than requiring a contractor. The specialty buildings just have different internal layouts to match what they're actually used for — more venting in a coop, more glazing in a greenhouse.

Worth Checking Your Local Codes First

One thing worth doing before you order either style: check your town or HOA's rules on backyard coops and freestanding greenhouses. Some municipalities cap the number of hens you can keep or require a minimum distance from property lines, and greenhouse structures can sometimes fall under the same permitting rules as sheds depending on square footage. It's a quick call to your local building department, and it saves you from assembling something you'd need to move later.

A Building for a Specific Job

Not every backyard needs a coop or a greenhouse, but if yours is heading in that direction, it's worth starting from a structure designed for the job rather than retrofitting a general-purpose shed. Browse the full Little Cottage Co. lineup or take a look at the broader sheds and buildings collection to compare specialty options against standard storage sheds side by side.