5 Chicken Coop + Run, Recommended Dimensions?

[twinsprouts]

Hey y'all!

Quick question: What are the standards (per chicken) for an appropriately sized run and coop?

TIA for any advice you have for me. More details below:

I'm looking to build my own coop in the coming years. That said, I'm putting together a sort of "5 year plan" map of my new (currently empty) back yard.

My prior experience with chickens was my mother's flock. A very VERY large flock in a converted shed with an attached run that they hardly used because they were allowed to free range on our acreage as far as their little hearts commanded them to wander.

So, let's say in our new city, I'm allowed to keep a maximum of 5 chickens. They are not allowed to free range. I think I'll build to the specs of a 5-chicken coop and only keep 3-4 to leave a buffer in case something comes up and I wind up with extra(s).

What are the standards (per chicken) for an appropriately sized run and coop? In a perfect world, I would give them unlimited room, but unfortunately I have to work within the bounds of my yard and my budget.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The recommended minimums on here are 4 sq ft coop, 10 sq ft run, per chicken. If you can go larger, especially with the run, that would be preferable. Even for just 3 birds I'd recommend at least 10x10 run if you have space for that, to allow for room to place clutter and enrichment items, and to give you and your tools space to maneuver in.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

Larger is better but you have budget constraints. My preference is for a walk-in coop but for only 5 chickens you don't need that. In North Mississippi your weather should allow chickens to be outside all day practically all day so you have some freedom there.

By Rosemary's numbers (pretty common on here) the coop could be 4' x 5'. But building materials often come in 4' and 8' dimensions in the least expensive versions. 8 feet long lumber, 4' x 8' sheets of plywood for example. You can generally get a larger coop for the same money by using these basic dimensions. For a small coop like yours, a 6' dimension isn't bad. You can split a piece of plywood or your cut-offs can be used to build nests and such. A 6x4 coop probably would not cost much if any more than a 5x4 and could require less cutting. You have to plan carefully so the 4' and 6' dimensions are out-to-out and not inside-to-inside.

You will want your roof sloped so rainwater runs off. A sloped roof will take more material than the 6x4 dimension. I like an overhang so I can have ventilation up high and still keep rainwater out. You can probably do that with a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Slope the roof so rainwater does not go into the run and does not fall on doors/gates.

I'm using 6' and 4' as an example to show the principles. Nothing wrong with a 4x8, just pay attention to the roof. And remember cut-offs can be used for nests and such.

What will your run look like? How will you build it? Are you just going to put in some posts and stretch wire fencing? If so, you are not that limited in size. Your posts can go at different dimensions, 8 feet apart is pretty common. How long a roll of wire will you get? You can get a fairly large run for not a lot of money. Don't forget to figure in run gates or doors.

If you are going to frame out a run using lumber like 2x4's, the 8' dimension could become important. Don't forget to figure out your length of a roll of wire and how many rolls you will need and the gate/door.

Are you going to cover your run? Don't forget to include materials for that in figuring how to be efficient.

 

[twinsprouts]

The recommended minimums on here are 4 sq ft coop, 10 sq ft run, per chicken. If you can go larger, especially with the run, that would be preferable. Even for just 3 birds I'd recommend at least 10x10 run if you have space for that, to allow for room to place clutter and enrichment items, and to give you and your tools space to maneuver in.

That's what I'd heard as to recommended minimums. It just seemed small so I thought I'd double check. Looking at my back yard schematics I planned for an 8x16 spot. I'm redesigning it a little bit now, but good to know that'll be a good amount of space I can't wait to read about chicken enrichment items now actually LOL. I used to keep hamsters and my favorite thing was setting up their tanks with enrichment forage and toys.

 

[thecatumbrella]

This is 100% personal opinion, but I like my run to be at least 10x20 for ANY number of chickens (even 2 or 3). Now, I'm a huge hypocrite, because my run is currently 9x18 (close enough?), but here's an example of what you can fit in that space.

 

[twinsprouts]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

Thanks!! Happy to be here <3

But building materials often come in 4' and 8' dimensions in the least expensive versions. 8 feet long lumber, 4' x 8' sheets of plywood for example. You can generally get a larger coop for the same money by using these basic dimensions.

This is so smart!! Thank you for the pointer. I've built things with my dad before but I'm not super well versed in actually *buying* the materials. He usually handles the design aspect.

You will want your roof sloped so rainwater runs off. A sloped roof will take more material than the 6x4 dimension. I like an overhang so I can have ventilation up high and still keep rainwater out. You can probably do that with a 4x8 sheet of plywood. Slope the roof so rainwater does not go into the run and does not fall on doors/gates.

Could I use corrugated metal? Also, I wound up with a free rain barrel, but I have no gutters on my house. Would it be silly to roof over the run as well (maximizing square footage) and add gutters to collect rain to water my plants with from the coop? I know the collection would be minimal compared to a whole house, but better than not using the rain barrel at all, right?

What will your run look like? How will you build it? Are you just going to put in some posts and stretch wire fencing? If so, you are not that limited in size. Your posts can go at different dimensions, 8 feet apart is pretty common.

I was originally thinking to make it a few feet tall with simple netting over the top that I can pull back for cleaning and refasten easily. But looking at others' coops, I think something tall enough to comfortably walk in will be more fun. Eventually I want my boys to be able to check out the chickens. Thank you for the 8ft metric. That makes it easy to design a space. I was sketching out space in my yard and I was gonna originally do 8'x16'. I think I'll adjust it a little bit, but still, good.

I'm hoping to get them set up next season, or 2028 if I need to push them back a bit further, so I'll start setting aside some extra money now and tossing some ideas out.

Thanks so much for your input!!

 

[Ridgerunner]

To me the greatest enrichment item you can give them is room. What you usually see on this forum is the minimum room where they usually don't try to kill each other. They can usually survive with that but more is better.

I like to give them multiple food and water stations so they can all eat without worrying about being bullied. Things to hide under or behind can be helpful. Perches are especially appreciated. One time I saw a few playing on a 3/8" wide piece of plywood sticking up. It was a door on a small shelter. They'd try walking out on it and staying there but would soon fall off as it was so thin. Then they'd fly back up and try it again.

But most of all give them room.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Could I use corrugated metal?

I do

Also, I wound up with a free rain barrel, but I have no gutters on my house. Would it be silly to roof over the run as well (maximizing square footage) and add gutters to collect rain to water my plants with from the coop? I know the collection would be minimal compared to a whole house, but better than not using the rain barrel at all, right?

I've done that on a shed to water my garden. I put a screen over it to keep the trash out and used "dunks" to stop mosquito larva from multiplying.

I was originally thinking to make it a few feet tall with simple netting over the top that I can pull back for cleaning and refasten easily. But looking at others' coops, I think something tall enough to comfortably walk in will be more fun.

A walk in is a lot easier to work with.

 

[twinsprouts]

This is 100% personal opinion, but I like my run to be at least 10x20 for ANY number of chickens (even 2 or 3). Now, I'm a huge hypocrite, because my run is currently 9x18 (close enough?), but here's an example of what you can fit in that space.

I love this, thank you. Visuals are very helpful. I think I could probably fit 10x20. I need to double check. I'm using a vector program to place items in my back yard. We're blessed with a pretty big yard, but we need them to be 15ft away from the property line, plus all the other stuff I'm trying to fit back there, plus keeping them in a partially shady spot so they don't roast in the summer.

What kind of camera do you have for your coop/run? I love the idea of adding something like that if I'm able to, plus thermometer and humidity gauges.

I also really love the idea of using those raised bed blocks to make toy boxes and dust baths. So smart!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I love this, thank you. Visuals are very helpful. I think I could probably fit 10x20. I need to double check. I'm using a vector program to place items in my back yard. We're blessed with a pretty big yard, but we need them to be 15ft away from the property line, plus all the other stuff I'm trying to fit back there, plus keeping them in a partially shady spot so they don't roast in the summer.

What kind of camera do you have for your coop/run? I love the idea of adding something like that if I'm able to, plus thermometer and humidity gauges.

I also really love the idea of using those raised bed blocks to make toy boxes and dust baths. So smart!

I use a Ring camera that's outdoor rated and battery powered (specifically the Spotlight Cam Plus). Govee makes a decent $15 Bluetooth temperature/humidity sensor. It's a bit fickle if you're far away from it, but I haven't found a better alternative yet.

The raised beds are awesome. I elaborate more in my dig box article, but they let us rotate the contents to keep things fresh and exciting. One is always a dust bath, but the other is usually more of a forage box where they have to dig through something to find treats (like leaves, shavings, weeds, etc.).

It's good you're thinking about all this stuff now! I went from "I want chickens!" to having chickens a bit too fast, so even though I'm a pretty researched person, I ended up having to redo a lot of stuff. Like expanding our run... over, and over, and over.