coop size for 7 chickens

[gjoyner]

hey, I was wondering what a good size for 7 chickens is, how many nest boxes, how big of a run..etc.
thanks!

 

[teach1rusl]

Well...others will always tell you to build bigger than you think you'll need, because you can always use extra space, and many end up with more chickens than planned. But here would be the MINIMUMS based on what I've read on BYC:

7 chickens x 4 feet per bird inside the coop = 28 sq. feet, so maybe a 5x6 or 4x 7... If you live in an area that gets pretty cold in the winter, and they would be spending very much indoor time, bigger is far better...

7 chickens x 10 feet per bird inside the run = 70 sq. feet, so maybe a 7 x 10... but if you can do more, that's even better.

3 nest boxes would be plenty

 

[gjoyner]

perfect. thanks

 

[chookchick]

I have 6 chickens in a 8 by 8 coop and I think it is perfect for them, wouldn't want to go any smaller. One or two more in there would be fine--but they are hanging out inside most of this awful rainy day, and I'm glad they have the room! My run is 12 by 12, and again, I would not want a smaller run for them. Make sure you plan for any "extras" you may want to add later also.

 

[aim4balance]

Actually I only have 14 square feet in the house, 3.5 x 4, and by the math I'd ideally like 20 for 5 birds. However they use the space under the coop too b/c its off the ground on cinderblock (does that count as coop or run? was thinking it is useful for bad weather, they usually don't go in the coop when it rains but underneath.) So if underneath counts I really have 28?

 

[Ridgerunner]

You found an old thread, didn’t you?

You might follow the link in my signature to get my thoughts on space for chickens. People like to think that this is an exact science but it is not. There are a lot of variables.

That “math” you are talking about (4 square feet in the coop along with 10 square feet in the run for each chicken) is pretty much set up for an urban flock of all hens at the same general maturity level. If you have a rooster, have a broody hen raise chicks with the flock, or ever want to integrate new chickens, it can be a real problem. Or it might work out. It’s really not an exact science. In general I find the tighter I squeeze them, the more behavioral problems I have to deal with, the less flexibility I have to deal with problems, and the harder I have to work. I am a proponent of providing plenty of space because it makes my life easier.

To answer your specific question, looking at coop space in isolation isn’t all that important when looking at behavioral problems. What is important is how much total space is available when you need it. If that space underneath is available when they need it, then it counts toward the total.

 

[aim4balance]

yes ridgerunner, your old post about space was very helpful! thank you for your thoughts. the 5 birds (all the same age) definitely seem to be getting along well. we never notice fighting. could that change as they get older? I was thinking to add 2 already laying pullets to the 7 week old birds.

 

[aim4balance]

I had no idea I accidentally posted this in an old thread! Oops!