Coop & Run Question

[Harley Chick]

We are now the proud parents of 4 baby chicks. In planning for their new home I have a few questions for everyone. We need to build a coop/run combo so on day's I work late they will have to stay in the enclosure all day. How big of a run do they need not to go stark crazy? this is what we are modeling our enclosure after...

 

[jthornton]

If your starting from scratch build a walk in coop, I wish I did. You need 4 sq ft per bird inside the coop, 12" of roost per bird, 10 sq ft of run per bird. Of course the bigger the run the better.

Chicks grow at an amazing rate so you better get busy!

You should add your location to your profile so we know your general weather.

JT

 

[techbsmith]

I agree with what JT said - bigger is definitely better, and you WILL want a walk-in coop/run if at all possible. I started with a pre-fab type deal I bought at Tractor Supply rated for 8 chickens - I put 5 in and quickly saw it wasn't large enough.

I then built a 10X15 run that is 6' tall and completely enclosed around the little pre-fab job. That helped .. but still not really what I needed. Now I have a 4X10 walk-in coop for the original 5 chickens that can house several more which is better because I have 13 baby chicks - will cull out down to keep 8.

That being said, I'm picking up a 10X10X6 dog run that I'll convert into another run for segregation purposes - and I'll use the original pre-fab unit for the chicks once they are big enough to leave the brooder.

I'll also be retrofitting an old dog house to be a small coop, and likely building yet another coop so I can have a separate place for my brahmas.

As you can see...chicken math. It happens

Best advice, go with as large as you can afford/have space for and make it as easy to clean/use as possible.

 

[aart]

If your starting from scratch build a walk in coop, I wish I did. You need 4 sq ft per bird inside the coop, 12" of roost per bird, 10 sq ft of run per bird. Of course the bigger the run the better.
Chicks grow at an amazing rate so you better get busy!

Minimums!

You should add your location to your profile so we know your general weather.

Ditto Dat^^^
Easy to do, then it's always there!

 

[Harley Chick]

Thank you!!!!! I added our location and the coop/run we thought of building will be a 6'x10'. That will be about 15 sq feet per bird? Sound ok?

 

[techbsmith]

Thank you!!!!! I added our location and the coop/run we thought of building will be a 6'x10'. That will be about 15 sq feet per bird? Sound ok?

6X10 should be fine for 4 standard chickens - just beware of the chicken math and ending up with additional birds.

 

[aart]

I added our location and the coop/run we thought of building will be a 6'x10'.

Coop and run space is figured separately,
unless,
the run is totally weather and predator proof and coop door is awalys open.

 

[Harley Chick]

That number is coop and run together. Run will be completely covered and predator proof so if i work late the girls can stay in the enclosure all day. We will only free range when we are home. Is that enough room for 4 chickens, we have NO plans on adding any more chickens. 2 per person should be more than enough eggs for us. Thoughts?

 

[aart]

Run will be completely covered and predator proof.....Is that enough room for 4 chickens.

6x10 should be good.

.... we have NO plans on adding any more chickens.

Famous last words

 

[Harley Chick]

LMAO it will keep the peace with hubby at 4 glad to hear the size is adequate, I want chickens but just don't want to be a jailer in the process. I want them happy, healthy & safe