Coop calculations with run

[Cbodine]

I’m getting ready to start my coop. I’ve seen many posts on the size needed, but I’m still a little confused. I plan on adding a run that’s 16’. Chickens will only be in coop at night. My confusion is, the calcuations I see are for coop and run or coop alone? What size should it be for 6-8 chickens?

 

[Capto Veritas]

Each chicken should have 10 square feet each in the run. So the run should be at least 60 square feet. The coop can be 3 times smaller.

 

[Capto Veritas]

You should also add a automatic closing door or a manual closing door to keep the chickens locked up in the coop at night. Read my article: “Why you NEED a sturdy, ventilated chicken coop” for more information.

 

[Sally PB]

Here are rough space guidelines, per chicken:

4 sf of coop
10 sf of run
1 linear foot of roost
1 sf of 24/7/365 ventilation

Depending on your situation, these numbers are a bit flexible.

 

[Cbodine]

Each chicken should have 10 square feet each in the run. So the run should be at least 60 square feet. The coop can be 3 times smaller.

So, a 6x6 coop with extended nesting box(not taking up coop room) would be ok for 6-8 chickens? Considered a 4x6 with nesting box on the outside, but wasn’t sure if that was too small.

 

[neo71665]

The numbers for 6 or 8 chickens are very different.

8 chickens
8x4=32 sq feet for coop
8x10=80 sq feet for run
8x1=8 feet for roost bar and 8 sq feet for ventilation

6 chickens
6x4=24 sq feet for coop
6x10=60 sq feet for run
6x1= 6 feet for roost bar and 6 sq feet for ventilation

Frankly if you have the room I would build for 10 chickens then plan on having a smaller number. When I built mine I built it for two times the number I actually keep. That way as my birds age I can allow them to hatch out their replacements and take out the older birds as I want instead of having to take out the entire flock at once because of space limits. More room is never a problem, not enough room is.

 

[DobieLover]

You should also add a automatic closing door or a manual closing door to keep the chickens locked up in the coop at night.

Uh oh! I guess I'm in trouble because I NEVER lock my birds in the coop. Ever.

 

[neo71665]

I don't either

When I built mine I made sure everything was well secure.

 

[Cbodine]

The numbers for 6 or 8 chickens are very different.

8 chickens
8x4=32 sq feet for coop
8x10=80 sq feet for run
8x1=8 feet for roost bar and 8 sq feet for ventilation

6 chickens
6x4=24 sq feet for coop
6x10=60 sq feet for run
6x1= 6 feet for roost bar and 6 sq feet for ventilation

Frankly if you have the room I would build for 10 chickens then plan on having a smaller number. When I built mine I built it for two times the number I actually keep. That way as my birds age I can allow them to hatch out their replacements and take out the older birds as I want instead of having to take out the entire flock at once because of space limits. More room is never a problem, not enough room is.

Thank you!

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you!

These numbers are MINIMUMS. Especially for the run area. Make things as big as you can, on high well draining ground and if at all possible, put a solid roof on your run and divert water away from your set up.