About to build our first coop....

[cblakley0531]

I was wondering, possibly getting two more chicks, it will make 5 total for us, I have plans sketched out for a run that is 4'x8', coop 4'x3' with 1' access under the coop in the run. External nesting boxes. Do you think that it would be okay for 5 hens? I know the general rule of thumb that I've seen is 2-4 sq ft per chicken in the coop and 10 sq ft per chicken in the run. Thank you for the thoughts in advance!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have a very small coop about that same size with a run that is about 12x12 and raised 18 inches off the ground.
I have found that it is too small for even the three that I have in mine. They pick on each other in the winter when they choose to stay in. There is not much room to add a food dish or water.

I just built one that is 3'x8' with a run the same size. I have one mean nasty girl in it and cannot imagine having more than 2 in that space.

I think you will need to add on to have enough space.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

I would go ahead and build it to 4 sq feet per chick... You won't regret it. It's really not that big once everything (including the chickens!) is inside.

 

[Summerford]

Like others have thought please build it bigger that you have planned. I was just going to have 6 hens. Well I got a small coop and run. Now I have 18 6 months later. Had to build a bigger coop and run. save the money and just build one. Chicken math will get you everytime.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You’ll get some conflicting recommendations on magic numbers for how much space chickens need, a lot because we are all unique. Different magic numbers cover different conditions. If you follow the link in my signature below you can get my thoughts about what some of those conditions are. It doesn’t matter if that space is in the coop, coop plus run, or something else. What matters is how much space is available when they need it.

What you describe will probably be big enough for three hens in your climate. Probably. I’d be very nervous with any more than three in there, not just because of the size of the coop but because of the overall space available.

 

[cblakley0531]

Thanks so much to all of you! I posted another thread with my new dimensions totally forgetting about this one...whoops :-(

We started building a coop that is 4'x4' instead of the original 4'x3' like I mentioned about and now my run is going to be 4'x10' - is that a little better for 5 birds? The breeds I have are Australorps, an Ameracauna and a Silver Laced Wyandotte.

Thoughts on the new dimensions?