Coop size and design

[speckledhen]

I have a pen that is about 20 x 22. In that one coop are housed 43 birds. For that number, I'd say that's a good size run, but mine do freerange, too, most days for at least part of the day. When they have to stay in the pen, there's plenty of room for them.
20x22= 440 divided by 10 equals 44 birds. The coop is a bit on the crowded side, however, for my tastes. I have lost several hens this year to internal laying with another one about to suffer the same fate, so I dont plan to reduce the numbers right now.

 

[Montana-Hens]

The square foot rule can become very inportant if you don't use other heat. You want them to have enough room to prevent pecking, but not so much that they don't generate enough heat to keep themselves warm.

I live in SW Montana and I have 4 ladies in a 3.5 x 8 insulated coop with no additional heat. The coop is about 3.5 ft at the front and 4 ft at the back. It is raised off the ground about 3 feet. They were selected by breed to be cold hearty, and this set up seems to work well for me and them. Healthy hearty girls with no pecking or other known bad habits.

I do use a heated water dish, and have it well ventilated (though I think the dry MT climate helps me out lots here). My ladies free ranger every day their choice, some times not as early when the temps drop but they will be out some part of the day.

I don't use the deep litter method. In this small of a coop it for me was harder to achieve that cosposting mixture, humidity (too dry) etc. So each am I use my kiddie rake and pull out the little roosting piles from the night and pour back in some shavings.

My advise is read as much as you can find here....choose your method and come back and look for answers and readjust as necessary.

good luck...