The only rule of thumb is more space is better. There is no 4 sqft per bird mandate. My thoughts on this is if you manage birds in a way that locks them in the coop for winter months then 4 sqft per bird is not nearly enough room. If you have no run and free range or a very large run with some protection from elements then 2 sqft per bird for coop space is more than adequate and I've had birds voluntarily use less than that. This of course is a management system where birds are never locked in the coop during days. Every day the door is opened just past sunrise and closed at dusk.
More space allows for easier integration of future birds not raised by the flock. More space allows for the addiction and compulsive aquisition of more birds. More space allows for a back up plan if suddenly every migratory hawk or mink decides your flock is the easy meal. Birds can be locked in coop for a few days until the hungry predators move on. My set up is an extremely large fenced in kennel area with trees and shrubbery for protection. Birds stay under cover when hawks show up and I fully accept to lose a few each year in exchange for them to be outside where they prefer to be pecking and scratching and dust bathing and roosting in the shade of shrubs.
That's my two cents on it. Your management system dictates what space you need.
More space allows for easier integration of future birds not raised by the flock. More space allows for the addiction and compulsive aquisition of more birds. More space allows for a back up plan if suddenly every migratory hawk or mink decides your flock is the easy meal. Birds can be locked in coop for a few days until the hungry predators move on. My set up is an extremely large fenced in kennel area with trees and shrubbery for protection. Birds stay under cover when hawks show up and I fully accept to lose a few each year in exchange for them to be outside where they prefer to be pecking and scratching and dust bathing and roosting in the shade of shrubs.
That's my two cents on it. Your management system dictates what space you need.
