Coop/run size questions

[AliNaz]

I've been doing lots of research on here and have read about needing 4 sqft/chicken in the coop as well as 10 sqft/chicken for the run. I have eight 2 week old chicks and I know that I would need 32 sqft of space inside the coop. I'm thinking of having a 5.5'x6' coop built for me which would give me 33 sqft of space inside the coop. Does the 32 sqft include the space for the nest boxes? I'm trying to decide if I'll need external nest boxes or not. Also, if my coop is elevated 2', will the space underneath the coop count towards the size of the run?

 

[cmclean]

We found that bigger is better! As soon as you build what you are planning and your chickens grow into adults, you will ask yourself why you didn't make it bigger!!!!!!!

 

[AliNaz]

The thing is I'm having to go much bigger already. The hubby and I had agreed on getting 4 and then I won a contest on My Pet Chicken and now have 8! I got to experience chicken math before I even had any! lol

 

[LLMama]

I have the same questions! There are so many considerations for building a coop. Is your going to be portable or permanent?
I am going to buy four 2 month old chickens from a farmer and I was thinking about building a coop that is 3 x 4 and have an external nesting box. I would like it to look like this (http://www.greenchickencoop.com/Our_Coops.html#alex) and I'm not sure how large the run should be. I would like to leave them out and be free range when I am home in the day, but I live in PA and the winters are cold and ground is frozen, will I let them out then?
So 10sq ft per chicken would make the run be 5' x 8'? Will that be very portable?
I hope we can both figure our coops out to have happy hens!

 

[chookaholic]

The space under your coop will count towards the area available to your chickens. If you add roosts at different levels this gives them opportunity to exercise and to get away from bullies - up to a degree.

If your coop is of a generous size and fully covered so that it keeps dry in all weather then it's not necessary to have a run. That's how I keep some of my chickens and they don't even try to come out, even if I leave the door open. Most people who see this are amazed that they don't try to get out but they have everything they need in there: litter to take dust baths, nesting box (I only have one per pen as they all lay in the same box anyway), food ad lib and water plus roosts. They get greens at least once a day which makes nice yellow yolks.

A run is stripped off all vegetation before you know it and gets muddy and caked in winter.

If your nesting boxes are lower than the highest roost they are unlikely to sleep and poo in the nesting boxes.

 

[LLMama]

So you are saying that if we have a generous sized coop we don't need a run at all. And I only need one nesting box for four chickens? I have read that they will often share one nesting box.
If I make the coop big enough to walk into how high should the nesting box and roost be?
Thanks

 

[AliNaz]

I hope you get some answers LLMama.

Thank you Chookaholic. Great to hear that the space below the coop will count towards the space for the run. We have too many predators in our area so unfortunately free ranging is not a safe option for us.

So basically would a 5' 6" x 6' coop attached to a 6' x 14' run work well for 8 chickens? And with this size coop can the nest boxes be inside the coop or would they take away too much space?

 

[gigelus2k13]

Regarding the nesting box, I think that having only one is not such a good idea. If you have the room (and, if you plan to build a large coop, you do), add more than one box.

When I built my (smallish) coop, I planned only one "pocket" nest. Unfortunately, two of my chicken are broody-prone and, if they get in the mood, they will occupy the nest,preventing the other chicken from using it. I had to build two other nesting boxes inside the coop and then cajole the broody ones to settle for the new locations, freeing the "production" nest.

 

[LLMama]

ok thanks. That is a good tip. I am now confused whether to build a run or not. I am worried about winter and/or my dog mainly.

 

[cmclean]

Chickens need room to mess around or they get bored. You need some kind of run for them to be the happiest.