Coop Help!!!!!!!!!!!! Area to Chicken Ratio

[cottonbell]

I'm kinda in a pickle. We are just starting into this venture of silkie chickens. Well, I'm kinda concerned on how much room I need in the coop for them. I have 20 chicks, not sure how many are hens yet.

 

[nbenevento]

I think most people would say 4 sf per adult hen.

 

[Judy]

One rule of thumb is 3 to 4 sq ft per chicken, or 60 to 80 sq ft. An 8'x8' coop would be 64 sq ft. But it depends on several factors. Here is a good post about space:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700308/coop-and-run-size/0_20#post_9504811

 

[loveourbirds]

I will assume you probably wont have more than 11 hens. your coop design would depend on a couple of factors. are they all the same color? silkies are not good egg layers so again im assuming that your using them for breeding purposes. if your plan is to keep say 11 hens, you will probably need 2 roosters. you may not have to, but I would separate them into 2 groups of 5-6 hens and a rooster.

coop for 11 hens and 2 roosters: 52 square feet. 5x12, 6x10, 8x8 would be some good measurements to start with
coop for 6 hens and 1 rooster: 24 square feet. 4x6, or 5x5.
coop for trios: 12 square feet 3x4

with silkies keep the head height above 2 1/2 feet.

these dimensions are for inside space only. run space should be 10 square feet per bird.
for the 13 bird coop a 10x12 run would work but I would go a little bigger
7 bird coop 8x10 or bigger run
3 bird coop 4x8 run or bigger.