Coop and run desgin

[LWeeto]

Hi all I currently have three seperate hen houses, housing my 12 chickens, 2 ducks and a Cockerell, I am looking to redesign so that I have a single hen house and run, run area will be 36' x 6' and proposed hen house will be a converted 8' x6' shed, as I wish to expand my flock, would my proposed design work and be sufficient for 30 chickens

 

[WIchickMama]

Hi all I currently have three seperate hen houses, housing my 12 chickens, 2 ducks and a Cockerell, I am looking to redesign so that I have a single hen house and run, run area will be 36' x 6' and proposed hen house will be a converted 8' x6' shed, as I wish to expand my flock, would my proposed design work and be sufficient for 30 chickens

the propose dimensions would be find for what you have now-though a lot of individuals keep ducks and chickens in separate coops as their sleeping habits are so different, but the dimensions are not enough for 30 chickens. Minimum room needed for a healthy and happy flock is 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop and 10 sq ft per chicken in the run--this is floor space-anything on the floor (nesting boxes, food, water, etc) should be subtracted from the calculated sq ft.

The 8x6 shed=48 sq ft which would be ok for 12 chickens
The 36x6 run=216 sq ft which would be ok for 21 chickens

These are just recommendations, you can go smaller but you might run into some traits/habits/bullying arise that you won't want in your flock and you can always go bigger

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

30 hens would, in theory, need:

• 120 square feet in the coop (10x12 or 8x15 -- BUT it would be easier to build 12x12 or 8x16 because lumber comes in multiples of 4 feet).
• 300 square feet in the run (15x20 -- as nearly square as possible is the most efficient use of materials).
• 30 linear feet of roost
• 8 nests
• and 30 square feet of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, best located above the birds heads when they're sitting on the roosts.

While these guidelines break down a bit for very large flocks in very large coops -- at least in the social aspects of the space requirements, though not the sanitary aspects -- a long, narrow space is problematic because dominant birds can guard the narrow area and subordinate birds can't pass at a sufficient distance to show their respect properly, a situation that can result in bullying.

I suggest that you read this excellent article on why these guidelines are GUIDELINES, rather than hard-and-fast rules: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

Here are some great large coops to help spark ideas for you:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/alaskan-woods-coop.75752/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.76267/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/post-and-beam-styled-coop-run.76181/reviews
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/le-palais-de-poulet-the-chicken-palace.67196/
https://countryliving.blog/2021/06/15/my-coop/

 

[3KillerBs]

Also,

What do you like most about your current coop and run?

What do you like least?

What do you most wish you had done the first time?

What did you do right that you want to make sure you do again?

 

[Sally PB]

^^Very good questions!

 

[LWeeto]

Also,

What do you like most about your current coop and run?

What do you like least?

What do you most wish you had done the first time?

What did you do right that you want to make sure you do again?

Hi, I'm in the Midlands in the UK, I'm not over keen much of my current set up, I do like the dog house I've converted to a hen/duck house and a coop I built using a old Guinea pig hutch mirroring the one I had first brought.
If I was able I would rip everything out and take up the stones I put down and lay the slabs better and include a drain to make the run area washable, I would like to keep the 6' width of the run area as Ive fenced It off and planning on carrying the fence line down to a all weather childrens play area at the bottom of the garden, if I was to move up to a 12' x 36' run area and build a 12' wide coop it would block the view out of the kitchen window to the play area and the field we overlook

 

[3KillerBs]

if I was to move up to a 12' x 36' run area and build a 12' wide coop it would block the view out of the kitchen window to the play area and the field we overlook

The coop and run don't have to be the same width.

Some people never have any bullying issues, but it's a known risk with a long, narrow facility.

Lot's of "clutter" can help since they key thing is for the lower-ranked birds to be able to get out of the dominant bird's sightline.

 

[aart]

the propose dimensions would be find for what you have now

Agrees, but just barely enough space...
...and keep in mind that integrating additional birds works best with extra space.

 

[Sally PB]

"I wish I'd made my coop/run smaller," said nobody, ever.

Space gives you so many more options, and makes everything easier.