Coop and Run Square Foot Recommendations

[Oktober]

Hey Folks,

I realized this may be a bit redundant, but I can't seem to find it on the webpage at the moment. What are the recommended square foot requirements for non-bantam chickens in a coop and run?

I remember hearing 4 sq ft per bird in the coop, but was that when the birds are confined most of the time? If they have free access to a fenced in run, is the 4 sq ft per bird flexible?

For the run, I remember something like 10 sq ft per bird, which seems like it could be a lot. Any guidance?

Thanks!

-Okt

 

[debid]

You're remembering correctly -- the prevailing opinion is 4 inside and 10 outside for standards. Unless you live in a place where it snows heavily for months and then you may want more indoors. Obviously, this is NOT the standard of production farms and there are other opinions about how much space is enough. The fact is that nobody can tell you at what density your flock will squabble more than they would if they had more room. But, they will squabble more at some point and, of course, more birds in a smaller space means more manure buildup more quickly.

ETA: I had 10 in a 10x10 run and 4x8 coop so 3.2 sq. feet of coop and 10 of run, 8' of roost pole (all at the same height). My birds got along fine like that but the manure built up pretty quickly under the roost.