Coop and run size for bantams

[NAT Ranch]

I am new to chicken raising. I have been given 8 bantams (7 hens and a rooster) to pick up this weekend. I need to start construction on the coop tomorrow evening. With the area I have available, I will be able to provide 48 square feet of run, plus the coop with nesting boxes. (My plan is an elevated coop with a ramp down to the run.) Due to many feral cats in the neighborhood, the chickens will not be allowed to free range at all. Am I going to be overcrowding them in that space? Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[SilkieNation]

Seems a bit small. I have three bantams in 96 sq.ft. with a dog house, which takes up a bit of room, and I wish they had more space. But if this is all of the space you have, perhaps you could design the run with a mezzanine or other structures to give them places to go. But, if you can make it bigger, make it bigger.

 

[Emma Miriam]

I agree that that's quite small...minimum rule of thumb for bantams is 8 square feet per bird in the run, and your run only provides 6 square feet per bird. But if you can build a large elevated coop (at least 18 inches off the ground, more to make it easier for you to access), that will increase total available space. Rule of thumb is 3-4 square feet per bird in the coop, so that would mean you should build at minimum a 24-32 square foot coop. Since their run is so small, I'd build their coop on the large side.

If there's any way you could give the birds more space (or give away a few so you have a smaller number), I'd highly recommend it.

Hope that helps!