Coop Size for 10-12 hens

[arh39]

Hi everyone,

I was wanting to get an idea on what size coop I would need for 10-12 hens. They would all be relatively light breeds and would be completely free range, except for at night when they would be locked up in the coop. Also is 3 nesting boxes per hen a good ratio.

Thanks again

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think you mean 3-4 hens per box.
One of my coops is 6X8 and perfect for that number of light hens.
LF need about 4 sq. ft. per bird.

 

[Banriona]

Hi everyone,

I was wanting to get an idea on what size coop I would need for 10-12 hens. They would all be relatively light breeds and would be completely free range, except for at night when they would be locked up in the coop. Also is 3 nesting boxes per hen a good ratio.

Thanks again

The general rule is 4sf per bird (less if they are bantams, more if they are larger breeds) inside the coop. 3 hens per box should be plenty. I'd say a 6x6 coop should be sufficient. Keep in mind anything on the floor counts against floor space available for the birds so if you have your nesting boxes, feeders, waterers etc. on the floor don't count that space in your available square footage.

 

[donrae]

Bigger is better. Look at what dimensions your materials come in (plywood comes in 4x8 sheets, things like that) and plan you coop to best utilize your materials. 12 hens means a minimum of 48 square feet, remember that's a minimum.

You say you're going to free range, keep in mind there may be times when your birds have to be confines. Foul weather, predator issues, vacation, those things all may require the birds being confined. Plan accordingly.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

All solid advice and I agree wholeheartedly. If you really do follow through with free ranging, or have a fenced in run (with hawk netting over it) attached to the coop (very advisable so they can still move about though yet more confined), you can get away with the smaller size of 48 sqf.

Just be aware that no matter how many reasonable nesting boxes you provide (and 3 is adequate for that many birds if 12x12x12 inches), they will likely all vie to use the same one and leave the other two completely empty and unused even though the other boxes are identical to the "golden box." It has nothing to do with the adequacy of the boxes but the fact they are bird brains.

Lady of McCamley