Are my calculations right for coop size?

[Xival Knievel]

I have 5 pullets and the coop I'm working on is 4' x 6' and 5' tall.
It will be attached to a 50' x 20' run that they will have access to all day every day.

Is 5 the correct maximum number of standard size chickens I can have in this setup?

Thanks

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Generally, standard birds need 4 sq. feet of coop, and 10 sq. feet of run. But remember that the smaller the area, the more quickly it is *fertilized* and the greater the need for cleanliness.

If your coop is 4 x 6 ft, that's 24sq ft. of coop. Five standard sized chickens should be happy in this if it's used primarily for roosting and laying. The run seems to be a nice size for the chickens and they'll enjoy using it every day.

Carla

 

[Oblio13]

Make your coop bigger than you think it needs to be. Before long, you're going to wish you'd doubled even that.

 

[Xival Knievel]

I was going to make it bigger but then somebody offered me this building for $20!! I couldn't refuse. I figured I'd be spending closer to $300 on the coop. Now I just need to give it a door and windows for the chickies, a roost, and a couple of nest boxes instead of starting from scratch. Oh and a paint job!

 

[Paegglvr]

I would think it would depend on what type of pullets you have... Bantams don't need as much room. Regardless of what type you have... the kind of space should you have is plenty for five chickens.

According to the books I bought when I bought my flock... 2sq ft per of floor space per bantam and 3 sq ft per standard bird when your coop has an attached run.

Its funny though, the book terms it "floor space" requirement. When my birds are in the coop, they are always roosting & really don't take up that much space.

 

[Chirpy]

I think the reason the book said floor space is that anything you have on the floor takes up the space you should be counting for chickens. For example: if your feeder and waterer are inside (even if they are hanging) then they are taking up floor space that should be for the chickens. You cannot count the nest area as floor space.. does that make sense?

Also - the general (better) rule of thumb is what CarlaRiggs said: 4 sq. feet inside for standards and 10 sq. feet of outside run space for standards.