Confused about measurements

[my8girls]

Hi! This may be a silly question. We're building a coop for 8 chickens. I know it's recommended to have 4 square feet per chicken; am I correct in assuming this is the size of the building itself, not including the run? I'm planning on a 6x6 building. Is that correct?

Thanks!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Hi! This may be a silly question. We're building a coop for 8 chickens. I know it's recommended to have 4 square feet per chicken; am I correct in assuming this is the size of the building itself, not including the run? I'm planning on a 6x6 building. Is that correct?

Thanks!

Yes - for the guidelines you are using the 4 square feet is coop and the corresponding recommended run space is a minimum 10 square feet per bird. There are other guidelines that can be used depending on climate, LF/bantam, etc - but I like this as a good base line to work from - and, of course, these are minimums, more space per bird is never a bad thing.

 

[David1998]

Yes, that's the way I understand it. And, that assumes they will have access to a run or free range most of the day. If they'll be in the coop or extended periods of time (winter in cold climates or no run/free range access), then the recommendation is 10 sqft/bird.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Oh - and

 

[my8girls]

You guys are quick, thanks! It's 5 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Australorps, and a Buff Orpington. So maybe a little bigger wouldn't hurt.

I'm in Colorado, so it does get cold, but not like it does in the NE. That brings me to another question. Is it okay to leave their coop door open at night, as long as the run is very secure?