Chicken run size question about the space under an elevated coop.

[Major_in_MS]

So I'm planning on elevating my coop 2 feet off the ground and the area under the coop will be screened in as part of the run. The rest of the run will be covered also as the coop roof will continue over the run.

So, when planning the size of the run, should I include the area under the coop in the 10 sq.ft. per bird rule?

I'm planning this coop for 25 chickens. The coop will be 10' x 10' for the chicken area, but will also include a human area 6' x 10' that will be used for food, supplies, miscellaneous storage and a brooder area, and the nest boxes will be accessed from this area. The total area under the coop will be 160 sq.ft. I'm wanting to do the run area 10' x 16' also, but this will fall short of the 250 sq.ft. needed, unless I can claim the space under the coop, which will then give me a surplus.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that an area that large under the coop will be very hard to clean out.

Anybody have any experience with something like this? I'm thinking now that I may need to just drop my coop down to ground level and add an extra 9 feet to my run area.

 

[N F C]

I personally would just put the coop at ground level and make the run larger. For me, cleaning out from under an elevated coop would be difficult. And if you have an injured/sick bird that hides under elevated coop, it could be difficult to retrieve them.

Those are just my thoughts on elevated coops...I'm sure others have had good luck with them.

 

[DobieLover]

So I'm planning on elevating my coop 2 feet off the ground and the area under the coop will be screened in as part of the run. The rest of the run will be covered also as the coop roof will continue over the run.

So, when planning the size of the run, should I include the area under the coop in the 10 sq.ft. per bird rule?

I'm planning this coop for 25 chickens. The coop will be 10' x 10' for the chicken area, but will also include a human area 6' x 10' that will be used for food, supplies, miscellaneous storage and a brooder area, and the nest boxes will be accessed from this area. The total area under the coop will be 160 sq.ft. I'm wanting to do the run area 10' x 16' also, but this will fall short of the 250 sq.ft. needed, unless I can claim the space under the coop, which will then give me a surplus.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that an area that large under the coop will be very hard to clean out.

Anybody have any experience with something like this? I'm thinking now that I may need to just drop my coop down to ground level and add an extra 9 feet to my run area.

Yes, I've done this before.
I've since rebuilt my entire setup with a fully secure, solid roof on my run. I never close my pop door. I can walk in both the coop and the run. I would never go back to an elevated coop.
I also avoided going with only the bare minimum area in the run and instead shoot for as close to twice that as I can get. Giving the flock as much room as possible is the best for sanitation and to avoid behavioral issues.
Good luck with your build.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I would close up that space, 10x16 is too big of a span to easily get under or access if something goes wrong under there.

I also avoided going with only the bare minimum area in the run and instead shoot for as close to twice that as I can get. Giving the flock as much room as possible is the best for sanitation and to avoid behavioral issues.

x2. I'd go even bigger than that if you have the room and budget. More room = fewer health and behavior problems, period. And if you ever need to integrate birds in the future you're going to have a far easier time if you give yourself the space needed to do so ahead of time.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I agree. Drop it down so you don't have to worry about getting under there. They poop a lot. Do you really want to crawl in poop?

You might follow the link in my signature below to get some of my thoughts on space requirements. I do not believe in rigidly following a formula on how much space is needed. There are so many variables that no one magic number can suit every single person on the face of the planet that owns chickens. Some of us need more than others. For some people that 4 and 10 is overkill, for others it is not enough.

Instead of looking at it as how many can I possibly squeeze in this area, I suggest you determine how many you want, then determine how can I reasonably give them enough space. It''s kind of a different mindset. That 10' x 16' building should be nice. I don't know what the design will be or how it will be oriented relative to your run. I don't know how you plan to build the run, how expensive that will be. Posts and wire can be pretty inexpensive if you go big. If you are using a lot of lumber to frame it and roof it then it can get pretty expensive. I suggest you make the run as big as you reasonably can. Nobody in here complains about the run or coop being too big but too small leads to all kinds of problems.

 

[Soy Milano]

This is a chart for space requirements for chickens - http://www.adoptabirdnetwork.com/topics/chicken-space-requirements