Chicken math coop and run question

[BenStrick]

Hello all,

First post! I’m looking to build a coop and run that will comfortably fit six hens—the maximum allowable in Portland, Maine. I’ve read the guidance of 4 sq/ft of coop, 10 sq/ft of run, 1 sq/ft of roost and ventilation per chicken. For 6 birds I can meet that with a 4’x6’ coop and 6’x10’ run. I’m interested in deep bedding and I’d build external nesting boxes.

My two questions are:
1) Is this really big enough for six birds, considering they will be confined to the run most of the time, especially during our long winters?

2) Is it possible to have a low maintenance, truly stink free coop and run using the deep bedding/deep litter method with 6 birds in a coop/run this size? Stink free is absolutely key for marital harmony.

I’m imagining something like the attached drawing.

Thank you!
—-Ben

 

[Wubba]

I went back and forth for a while as well. My location, the ground is slightly sloped... back of the coop is downhill. If I were to allow the water to run off the front, it would likely move downhill, into the run. (I already have the garden there, that's enough moisture to contend with.) Also, I read other ppl's experiences with regards to egg collection... in the rain, if the roof (or portion of) is slanted towards the nest box, you get drenched trying to get eggs. Plus, I was hoping to eventually install some kind of rain barrel system on the back side. It's also a rather sunny location, and the hot evening sun would be shaded more effectively (the coop will face east). Lean-to roofs are also easier and cheaper to build. I decided the lean-to best suited my needs.

 

[BenStrick]

You won't regret having extra room, especially if they are staying in the run and coop full time and needing to stay away from bad weather.

Can't help on your second question, I haven't tried deep litter yet but might this year.

I'm glad to see engineering paper put to good use!

So much easier to draw to scale!

 

[aart]

Is this really big enough for six birds, considering they will be confined to the run most of the time, especially during our long winters?

Double it.....and plan to add wind/snow blocks to the run walls in winter.
Employ large roof overhangs with open soffit ventilation.

So much easier to draw to scale!

Some don't find it easy at all, but it's definitely the way to go.

 

[BenStrick]

Double it.....and plan to add wind/snow blocks to the run walls in winter.
Employ large roof overhangs with open soffit ventilation.


Some don't find it easy at all, but it's definitely the way to go.

Definitely planning wind/snow blocks for winter. I was thinking of using greenhouse film

Double it.....and plan to add wind/snow blocks to the run walls in winter.
Employ large roof overhangs with open soffit ventilation.


Some don't find it easy at all, but it's definitely the way to go.

Definitely planning on wind/snow blocks, large overhangs, and soffit vents. I was using greenhouse film or vinyl over the run walls. Space is an issue, so I may need to reduce the number of chickens.

 

[BenStrick]

Ok, I’ve measured and redrawn. I can’t go wider, but can go longer. Here’s a 4x6 coop with 6x12 covered run. The coop is the same, but I’ve added an additional 2x6 of run space. Tending to the coop from inside the run during winter makes a lot of sense. I’ll add another access door from inside the coop.

This is about as big as I can go. Am I still pushing it with 6 birds?

 

[BenStrick]

If you can go bigger on any of the "minimums" I'd recommend it. They're referred to as general guidelines and minimums for a reason - not all flocks will do well in this amount of space so you may have some behavioral problems that folks with a bigger set up don't have, and the tighter you go towards minimum the more maintenance you're usually going to need to do to compensate for it. Deep litter and deep bedding both work by volume, so as you can imagine it's harder to increase volume of litter in a smaller footprint than a larger one, or to increase ventilation and air volume in a shorter coop.

Personally speaking I'd advocate for a minimum run size of 10x10 even with a small flock, as that gives you room for some clutter, isolation cages if needed, and just extra space to move around in for maintenance.

Also not sure how accurate that rendering is to what you're considering, but if you normally get a good amount of snow you may need to pitch the roof more sharply to get the snow to slide off. I'm not an expert on roof pitches, but something to think about.

Thank you! That was my worry, even if I pick docile varieties.

I won’t be able to get to 10’x10’, but I may be able to get to 8’x10’. I can also decrease to 4 birds. 4 will likely provide enough for our family, 6 would allow us to share more. I’ve planned for 12” of litter in the coop. The ventilation will be trickier. I think I drew a 3/12 pitch on that drawing. I’ve upped it to 4/12 in a future iteration. 4/12 should be more than fine for our area, especially because my FIL has enough leftover metal standing seam panels for our coop roof.

I’ve got a new drawing in progress that includes some of the advice in the minimalist thread. I’ll post it when I’m done.

Thank you! I appreciate the advice!

 

[2ndTink]

You won't regret having extra room, especially if they are staying in the run and coop full time and needing to stay away from bad weather.

Can't help on your second question, I haven't tried deep litter yet but might this year.

I'm glad to see engineering paper put to good use!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Great advice already.

Adding to that....deep bedding is extremely difficult in short coops. A walk in would allow for better management of deep bedding.

Not sure if you can manage it with the roofing you have but a 4x8 is just as easy or even easier to build with minimal waste than a 4x6.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I’m going to measure for a 4x8 today. I think we have enough roofing. The difference in cost would be negligible. Would a 4x8 coop with 8x10 run make much a difference?

Having had a 4x6 raised coop and going to walk in style I can say it definitely helps to go a bit bigger.
Adding windows, vents, using deep litter, tending birds while not in the whipping wind or snow is far easier in a walk in style.

I do still have a small raised coop for isolation/hospital needs. It has a fully roofed run which helps. It was very difficult to set up a roost, nest box and ventilation in such a short structure.

In the walk in coop I can easily grab birds off the roost at night for health checks as well as spend a bit of time observing them no matter what the weather is doing outside.