Coop capacity

[Alex S]

If I had a coop with 34.5 sqft and a run with 102 sqft run, how many chickens could I fit?

 

[Alex S]

"Fit" seems a little mean...
How many hens could I keep with that size?

 

[Percheron chick]

8-10.
Will depend on breeds, age (were the all raised as one group) gender, size. Will depend upon how much stuff is in there (Feeders, nest boxes ,amount of roosts) and of course weather.

 

[CluckerFamily]

8 would be a good amount for the coop.

 

[3KillerBs]

34.5 /4 = 8.625

So, 8 standard-sized chickens -- if the interior space is not filled with nestboxes, feeders, waterers, etc. Otherwise subtract the amount of space those take up.

And this assumes that you also have 8 square feet of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation (the pop door that is closed at night and any windows that are closed in the winter don't count).

As others have pointed out in many places, these "rules" are general guidelines because chickens are living creatures who don't read the rulebooks.

 

[Aunt Tat]

If I had a coop with 34.5 sqft and a run with 102 sqft run, how many chickens could I fit?

Now THAT'S a practical story problem!

 

[Alex S]

Now THAT'S a practical story problem!

Your right! Chicken Math class!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Why make it so small? Bigger is better. Yes you could stuff 8 chickens in there but I would not.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If I had a coop with 34.5 sqft and a run with 102 sqft run, how many chickens could I fit?

I'm not sure how much weather will influence you in Kirkland. How much time will the chickens be trapped in the coop only because of snow or storms? Run space is great when it is available but if it is not available when they need it then it doesn't count. Some people believe in magic numbers such as square feet per chicken and square feet per chicken in the run. I don't. If you follow the link in my signature below you'll see why. The weather is not the only reason.

I find the tighter I pack them the more behavioral problems I have to deal with, the less flexibility I have to deal with issues that come up, and I have to work harder on a day to day basis plus when I do have issues. Of those, I really value flexibility, having that can reduce my stress levels a lot.

I don't know how you came up with those numbers, it sounds like you are trying to use something that already exists. To me that is a great idea. By the way, I like the way you changed it from "fit" to "keep". To me that is a better mindset. Instead of thinking how many can I get in here, I'd suggest you look at your goals as to why you want chickens, then get as many as you need to fit those goals and provide enough room for that number. If you are reusing something that doesn't always work.

I understand you are on here for help but I don't have any specific numbers for you. They are all hens, hopefully all the same general level of maturity. That helps. If you get chicks and raise them together, that helps. If you ever plan to add more chickens in the future, that hurts, it takes more room to integrate than it does for them to live together after they are integrated. I would think the right number for you would be between 5 and 9, depending a lot on your winter weather and some on the personality of the individual hens.

if the interior space is not filled with nestboxes, feeders, waterers, etc. Otherwise subtract the amount of space those take up.

I think that would depend on what that stuff looks like. It might be considered clutter which would improve the quality of the space available, not detract from it. At 34.5 square feet I envision an area maybe 4' x 8.5', not much to break the line of sight.

 

[Alex S]

I'm not sure how much weather will influence you in Kirkland. How much time will the chickens be trapped in the coop only because of snow or storms? Run space is great when it is available but if it is not available when they need it then it doesn't count. Some people believe in magic numbers such as square feet per chicken and square feet per chicken in the run. I don't. If you follow the link in my signature below you'll see why. The weather is not the only reason.

I find the tighter I pack them the more behavioral problems I have to deal with, the less flexibility I have to deal with issues that come up, and I have to work harder on a day to day basis plus when I do have issues. Of those, I really value flexibility, having that can reduce my stress levels a lot.

I don't know how you came up with those numbers, it sounds like you are trying to use something that already exists. To me that is a great idea. By the way, I like the way you changed it from "fit" to "keep". To me that is a better mindset. Instead of thinking how many can I get in here, I'd suggest you look at your goals as to why you want chickens, then get as many as you need to fit those goals and provide enough room for that number. If you are reusing something that doesn't always work.

I understand you are on here for help but I don't have any specific numbers for you. They are all hens, hopefully all the same general level of maturity. That helps. If you get chicks and raise them together, that helps. If you ever plan to add more chickens in the future, that hurts, it takes more room to integrate than it does for them to live together after they are integrated. I would think the right number for you would be between 5 and 9, depending a lot on your winter weather and some on the personality of the individual hens.


I think that would depend on what that stuff looks like. It might be considered clutter which would improve the quality of the space available, not detract from it. At 34.5 square feet I envision an area maybe 4' x 8.5', not much to break the line of sight.

Well, I'm thinking about a 6x6 coop and an 8x10 run, also planning to start with 3-4 chicks in the spring.