Coop and run big enough?

[yoie]

My husband is building a chicken coop that will be 4' x 4' and 5' tall. In addition we have a run that looks to be about 4'x6' (old dog kennel that we reinforced with finer wire). We have chicks coming soon (about 10) and now I'm not sure if this will be large enough for all of them? This is my first time with chickens and I have through so many posts! Just want to make sure they won't be cramped in there. Oh and the chickens range in size from a little campine up to an orpington

I just couldn't pick just one breed!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The general rule of thumb here on BYC that people cite is as follows:

4 square feet per chicken in the coop PLUS 10 square feet per chicken in the run.

If you live in a cold weather place, where they will practically live in the coop all winter, this would need to be enlarged. If they are just sleeping in the coop, and the weather is great year round (and you free range or have a really big run), then the space needed in the coop COULD be reduced some but you risk pecking problems and stress.

So a 4 x 4 coop ideally would be for 4 chickens.
A 4 x 6 run ideally would be for 2 1/2 chickens.

Also, I have noticed that my chickens REALLY appreciate space in the run. So the largest run you can give them within your budget and space constraints will be enjoyed by them.

 

[sharol]

Well, for 10 adult chickens you will need about 40 square feet, the 4x4 has 16 square feet. The run should be about 100 square feet to your 24 square feet. Trust me, from personal experience. You will need lots more room if you keep all 10 chickens. I tried to keep 7 in a 3x4 coop and ran out of room when they were about 8 weeks old. They get lots bigger than you think they will, and if your Campine is like mine, size won't be an issue. If you can make the whole run/coop area into a secure enclosed coop and then build a bigger run, you should be OK. Sorry to be the bringer of bad news.

Quote:

 

[Judy]

The one he's building will be big enough for them for about 3 weeks. Should hopefully give you enough time to get something together that they can live in as adults.

 

[patandchickens]

You could squish enough roosting space (barely) for 10 chickens into a 4x4 coop, but unless you live in a climate where there will literally NEVER be days when they want to spend a lot of time indoors, it ain't gonna work real smoothly for you.

I would suggest building something as large as you can possibly manage, and then trying to keep the flock as small as you can restrain yourself to.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[teach1rusl]

Well...you've already heard it, but I'll second, third, fourth, etc. the others. Unless you live in the DEEP south, hawaii, or other similar year-round warm area, that will not be nearly enough space for ten chickens. I'm not sure if that's enough even by commercial poultry house standards, and they really pack them in.
If they will be living in the run/coop (not free ranging daily), I would most definitely not keep more than four birds in that set-up (even if you ARE in a warm weather area). As was mentioned, even for four birds, your run will be tiny (40 sq. ft. would be a minimum recommendation for a four bird run, 16 sq. ft. minimum for housing). Sharols suggestions are good ones for the sizes you will need for ten birds (at least by the time they start getting bigger...around 12 weeks or so), if you want happy, healthy birds.
Now if you're in a year-round warm area and free ranging daily, then you could probably get by with 8 or so birds, as they'd only be inside for egg laying and roosting, no other time.

 

[Dogfish]

You may be able to get away with the coop size if your run is larger, but it needs to be about 10x10 at a minimum for those birds, otherwise they'll be too crowded. An easier solution would be to have fewer birds and keep the same space.

The biggest issue that I see is the run. My birds only hang out in the coop at night, and to lay, so the run to them is more important.

 

[Reg]

Quote:
Thats a releaf

48sq ft run

16sqft coop

For 4 birds

But still there will be those who are not happy

A lot is said about weather / cold & birds staying in coops to keep warm.

Just how cold does it need to get to drive hens inside ?

Reg

 

[elmo]

Yes, that many chickens will be cramped in both the coop and the run you're planning. Two basic problems are created when you overcrowd chickens. Birds peck each other and when the target can't get away (there's no room), pecking can become serious. Once blood is drawn, the whole gang may pile on, leading to serious injury and even death. You've picked chickens of different breeds/sizes, so that means you'll probably be dealing with different temperaments: some may be aggressive, some may be meek. In a flock composed like that, you need to make sure that there's enough room so pecking order victims can escape their tormentor(s). Did you happen to choose and singletons (single members of a breed)? Unless the whole flock is in the same boat (all singletons), single members of a breed can often be picked out for bullying.

The other problem is that high density stocking requires a lot of work for the chicken keeper to manage the manure so that the coop and run don't become unsanitary and cause disease (and stinky for you to smell). You'll appreciate a bigger coop and run almost as much as the chickens will.

 

[Reg]

Quote:
They will all get anger management classes & trouble maker will get 3 strikes then the pot !