Coop Size Opinions

[ryeguy]

At the moment we have 6 week old chicks, but I want to account for the possibility of expanding the flock to 10. So from what I read our coop needs to be 40 square feet or 8'X5'? If this is correct what size run would I need for 10 chickens? 10'X10'?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm not a believer in "Magic Numbers" for chickens. We keep them in so many different climates, under so many different conditions, and use so many different management techniques that different numbers work for different ones of us. The numbers you mentioned will keep most of us out of trouble most of the time. They are more than the absolute minimum many of us need. But they are not at all over the top for many of us. I understand if you don't have experience with chickens, you need some place to start. Four square feet in the coop with ten in the run per chicken is a good place.

A few things I'll mention. Building material often comes in 4' and 8' dimensions. If you plan your coop with that in mind, you can often build a larger coop for the same amount of money and with less cutting and material waste. That applies to your run too. I don't know how you plan to build it, but look at the length of a roll of wire so you don't have as much waste. You can often make the run a lot bigger for very little extra money. That can really depend on how you buiild it though.

I prefer making the coop and run longer and narrower rather than square if you are going to cover it. The wider your coop and run, the longer distance that lumber has to span. You can wind up with pretty heavy lumber in long expensive lengths if you don't consider this. In your coop this is probably not an issue, but if you are going to cover your run, you might think about it. Depending on where you live, you could have snow and ice loads. About anywhere, you can get some strong wind loads. Don't build your roof too weak.

I find that the more space I give them the less hard I have to work. My coop is oversized for my flock. I don't put in much effort in poop management, for example.

With extra space, I have more flexibility in dealing with problems. If I need to leave my flock locked in the coop for days at a time, I can. If you plan on integrating new chickens or having a broody raise chicks with the flock, extra space comes in really handy.

Instead of trying to figure out the minuimum space required for a certain number of chickens, maybe think of your number of chickens and then think how you can provide plenty of space for them.

 

[mickey328]

There are a lot of variables to consider. Generally, 3 to 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop, but then you need to consider how much time they'll spend in there as well. Ours pretty much just go in to sleep and lay, so they don't need quite so much. Since ours spend the bulk of their time in the run (the coop is accessible all day, but they prefer to be out) we made our run bigger: they have just under 15 sq ft each, which is probably more than absolutely necessary but I like them to have the room

 

[donrae]

Make it twice as big as you think your're going to need, or as large as your space permits. You really can't give them too much space and it's hard seeing so many folks on here with problems from crowding. Do yourself and your birds a favor and give them as much space as you can.

 

[1muttsfan]

Size recommendations serve an important function in coop planning. They are not random numbers, but intended to help provide for the health and welfare of your birds, and to allow you some way to plan ahead - as you are wisely doing.

Standard fowl - 4 square feet coop and 10 square feet run
Bantams - 3 square feet coop and 6-8 square feet run (some are not very active)

Of course more is always better!

Crowding birds is not a great idea, as it increased stress, disease incidence, and behaviour issues like picking.

 

[Jakoda]

I have 9 standard size chickies, my indoor area is 12 x 4.5 outside run is 12 x 22.5.

Honestly even tho this is most likely enough room for them, I wish I made the inside BIGGER, I can always expand (mine are in a partion part of a huge shed I have),

So if you can afford to make it bigger, I would do so, you'll be happy you did
Diane

 

[duckinnut]

I'm not a believer in "Magic Numbers" for chickens. We keep them in so many different climates, under so many different conditions, and use so many different management techniques that different numbers work for different ones of us. The numbers you mentioned will keep most of us out of trouble most of the time. They are more than the absolute minimum many of us need. But they are not at all over the top for many of us. I understand if you don't have experience with chickens, you need some place to start. Four square feet in the coop with ten in the run per chicken is a good place.
A few things I'll mention. Building material often comes in 4' and 8' dimensions. If you plan your coop with that in mind, you can often build a larger coop for the same amount of money and with less cutting and material waste. That applies to your run too. I don't know how you plan to build it, but look at the length of a roll of wire so you don't have as much waste. You can often make the run a lot bigger for very little extra money. That can really depend on how you buiild it though.
I prefer making the coop and run longer and narrower rather than square if you are going to cover it. The wider your coop and run, the longer distance that lumber has to span. You can wind up with pretty heavy lumber in long expensive lengths if you don't consider this. In your coop this is probably not an issue, but if you are going to cover your run, you might think about it. Depending on where you live, you could have snow and ice loads. About anywhere, you can get some strong wind loads. Don't build your roof too weak.
I find that the more space I give them the less hard I have to work. My coop is oversized for my flock. I don't put in much effort in poop management, for example.
With extra space, I have more flexibility in dealing with problems. If I need to leave my flock locked in the coop for days at a time, I can. If you plan on integrating new chickens or having a broody raise chicks with the flock, extra space comes in really handy.
Instead of trying to figure out the minuimum space required for a certain number of chickens, maybe think of your number of chickens and then think how you can provide plenty of space for them.

Yeah, what RidgeRunner said. Pretty much sums it up.

 

[RWD]

Look into the advantages of a moveable coop and run. Cuts down on odor, mud, sickness, pecking, and on and on. Move regularly to new ground for cleanliness, forage, bugs, weeds, etc.
Able to utilize space more productively.JMHO

 

[ryeguy]

Wow, thanks for all the great advice. This is my first "big" build of anything using wood so simple stuff like building 4' and 8' was something I never considered. Now I'm thinking about building an 8'X8' coop. Thankfully the people who lived in my house before we bought it left a ton of lumber so we don't have to buy too much. I also got all the shingles I'm going to need from someone on freecycle.org tonight. I'm comfortable with my coop design at this point. It's a combination of things I liked from the coops I've looked at on here. It's raised to include the space underneath in the run. After reading the poop bar thread I'm definitely incorporating that into the build as well.

Thanks again everyone!