🐔 Chicken Coop Retrospective
Welcome to the Chicken Coop! Let’s flock together to peck at our project’s highlights, scratch at our missteps, and hatch new ideas for a better sprint ahead. Time to rule the roost with agile wisdom!
Template Columns
🥚 Golden Eggs
Share the golden moments and wins we’ve laid in this sprint.
Base column: What Went Well🐓 Ruffled Feathers
Reveal the troubles that ruffled our feathers or caused a bit of a flap.
Base column: What Went Wrong🐣 Eggs to Hatch
Suggest ideas we can incubate to improve and grow stronger next time.
Base column: What We Want to ImproveAbout this template
The Chicken Coop Retrospective uses lighthearted poultry-themed columns to encourage open discussion of wins, challenges, and ideas for improvement in a supportive team atmosphere.
When to use this template
This format is great after a sprint with mixed results or when the team could benefit from a playful approach to reflection. Ideal for breaking the ice and boosting engagement.
How to facilitate
Welcome everyone and explain the Chicken Coop theme, highlighting the creative twist to standard columns to set an open, friendly tone.
Set expectations for psychological safety and encourage honest sharing, explaining each column: Golden Eggs for wins, Ruffled Feathers for challenges, and Eggs to Hatch for improvement ideas.
Invite everyone to add their thoughts to each column silently for several minutes, focusing first on Golden Eggs to start positively.
Once contributions slow down, guide the team in reading and grouping similar notes, asking clarifying questions if needed.
Facilitate discussion around Ruffled Feathers, helping the team explore root causes without assigning blame, and keeping the tone constructive.
Shift attention to Eggs to Hatch, collaboratively brainstorming concrete improvement opportunities based on earlier insights.
Prioritize action items together and assign ownership, ensuring clarity on next steps for the top improvements.
Close by celebrating the team’s Golden Eggs and checking out with a light, reflective question (e.g., what new egg would you like the team to lay next?)
Pro Tips
Kick off with a playful poultry-themed icebreaker to set a relaxed mood.
Mix in visuals or themed backgrounds to enhance the Chicken Coop vibe and prompt creativity.
Be intentional about balancing the time spent in each section to avoid rushing improvements.
Remind everyone that Ruffled Feathers are about learning and not blame—model vulnerability if needed.
Rotate the facilitator role to keep the format fresh and empower the whole team.
FAQ
What if the team finds the theme distracting or too silly?
Adjust your intro and tone to align with your team's culture. Use the theme to break tension but remember the focus is on honest, constructive reflection.
How do we avoid blaming individuals during the Ruffled Feathers discussion?
Frame the conversation around processes or team dynamics rather than people. The facilitator should gently redirect if blame emerges.
What if there are too many ideas in Eggs to Hatch?
Use dot voting or a quick poll to prioritize the most impactful or feasible ideas, then focus on a manageable number for the next sprint.
At a glance
- Duration
45–60 min
- Team Size
4-10 people
- Columns
3 columns
- Base Format
What Went Well, What Went Wrong, What We Want to Improve
Tags
Ready to get started?
Use this template to run your next retrospective