A Simple and Effective Coop Plan for 50 standard-sized chickens

[Preservation Acres]

Hi folks,

I've been reading everything I can find online...some say give 2 square feet per bird. Some say 5 square feet per bird--geez! At 5 square feet, a 50 bird chicken coop would have it's own zip code!

How many square feet should my coop be for 50 birds? During the day they'll free range and will have the run of my 26 acres, so they'll just be "cooped up" at night.

Also, I've been looking at an endless number of coop plans online, but not knowing how many square feet I need per bird makes it difficult to decide. I just need a functional coop that's not a complete eyesore. I'm really not picky. Can anyone send me a link to a good coop for 50 daytime free ranging standard-size chickens?

Thanks!

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

100 sq ft will be plenty. I go with 2 sq ft per bird.

 

[speckledhen]

The rule of thumb, and I can attest to this since I have about 45 in my coop (8x20 with a bump-out around a tree, taking off about 10 sf), is 4 sf per bird. You do NOT want 2 sf per bird, especially if they must be kept inside for any reason. And you'd need the windows and vents open all the time or the ammonia will knock you off your feet, with just 2 sf/bird. That's inside. Outside, at least 10 sf/bird in the pen.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
just pondering, but if I were plannign to put 50 large breed chickens into a coop, I'd probably go with a carport, and modify it to be a coop.

I did that for a barn, though, so I'm weird like that. The barn turned out well, however, so it isn't so far fetched. We got a 18'x21' carport, and built a back onto it, a stall inside, and enclosed part of the front to have an open doorway they can come and go as they please (the stall takes up 1/4 of the back part and is to keep them out of the hay and feed.) We put two windows in the back wall, that stay open most of the time, for air flow. (the 18 is width, the 21 is depth)

I mention the carport because A) it is fairly cheap and B) you can modify it however you'd like, if you're handy at building. You'd have the basic structure to work with already. (roofs are the hardest part of a building project, IMO).

I'd love to pick up another smaller carport somewhere cheap to modify into an outdoor run/coop for brooding chicks in.

meri

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
2 sq ft per bird is enough. more sq ft per bird is a bonus. He did say theyd only be in the coop at night.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

Quote:
2 sq ft per bird is enough. more sq ft per bird is a bonus. He did say theyd only be in the coop at night.

yeah, if they are only in at night, you can get by with less square foot per bird. You also, however, have to take into account if it is really bad weather out, and they are stuck in - but even then, it would probably only be for a day or two.

I would still try to go at least 3 square per bird, if possible.

even at 4 square per bird, it would only be about 10x16 (I think, or am I adding wrong?) a 10x16 coop would yield 320 square feet of space. more than enough, IMO if they free range every day.

eta - I have an 8x12 coop (with attached run that is 8x16) that would technically hold 32 chickens, but the most I've had in it was 29 and that got stinky.

meri

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
2 sq ft per bird is enough. more sq ft per bird is a bonus. He did say theyd only be in the coop at night.

yeah, if they are only in at night, you can get by with less square foot per bird. You also, however, have to take into account if it is really bad weather out, and they are stuck in - but even then, it would probably only be for a day or two.

I would still try to go at least 3 square per bird, if possible.

even at 4 square per bird, it would only be about 10x16 (I think, or am I adding wrong?) a 10x16 coop would yield 320 square feet of space. more than enough, IMO.

meri

I agree more is better but he was just wanting something to house them of the night. Understand about the bad weather too, if I was going to keep 50 chickens in a coop for much time at all Id go with more sq ft. But 2 sq ft is enough. Thats what all my chickens usually get and they are all doing great.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Thanks folks!

I'm thinking that a 10 x 12 coop should do the trick.

So...what do you think about a concrete floor? I want something that's easy to clean (just sweep out the old wood shavings and replace), won't rot out, and will create a barrier from digging predators.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
Ive never had nothing but a dirt floor in my coops, but I would think a concrete floor would work great.

 

[Preservation Acres]

Quote:
Ive never had nothing but a dirt floor in my coops, but I would think a concrete floor would work great.

My wife thinks I'm nuts for wanting concrete. She thinks a dirt floor would be fine. Have you had any problems with predators?