8 x 10 Coop: How Many LF?

[cmitchell]

I have an 8 x 10 stall in my small barn that I'm making into a chicken coop. I live in Maine where winters can be pretty brutal so the chickens would be inside for the winter months. I know the rule is 4sf/per LF however my math skills are not the greatest (except for chicken math!). That being said...how many LF brahmas could I put into the 8 x 10 coop & have them happy/healthy? There will be an outdoor run for when the weather permits.

 

[catchthewind]

Technically at 4sq ft per bird you could have 20, but if it's cold for a significant time you might want to go with 10 sq ft like is recommended in runs, which would be 8. Our coop is the same size and I have 23.

Some are bantam though, and they are all chicks and will be free range over an acre and a half or pastured over a large area this summer. We will not be keeping most of our roosters and may sell some hens, and want to be down to 12 or so for the fall. We don't get very cold here, but do get rain and some snow and I dont know how much they'll want to be out in that.

 

[wsdareme]

The rule of thumb is 4 sq ft of coop space *AND* 10 sq ft of run space per LF. So, you have enough room in your coop for 20 LF birds, but you'll also need 200 sq ft (10' x 20' something similar) of run space. You'd be surprised at how much time they'll spend out in the run even when the weather is crummy. Is there any way you could cover part of the run so the ground will stay somewhat dry for them?

 

[wingsofglory]

I kept 14 over the winter in alaska in an 8x12' coop with covered outdoor run. They were LF - Wyndottes, Barred Rock, EE, Comets, Buff Orp. Were happy.

They stayed in the coop mostly - trooped out couple times a day to look at the weather. I think I'll add roosts in the sunny part of run this winter for sunbathing.

Brahma are a little bigger, so maybe 10, also allowing for the 8x10 size - although my nestboxes and baby pen took up floor space so space comparable.

I think the formula is 8 x 10 = 80 divided by 4 sq ft per bird = 20 birds max. But I would not go more than 13 or so - to avoid them getting on each others nerves.

I liked my Brahmas. Had a wise quality to them. Also loved my EExBrahma cross hen.