Coop Size

[WisVizsla]

I'm new to this I want to start with 6 chickens is a 4X8 foot coop big enough?

 

[Mahonri]

First off, welcome to BYC!

You need 4sq feet per bird so you have plenty of room for 8 chickens.

But if you want advise, most of us here would tell you to build an 8 X 10 or a 12 X 12 coop.

... you'll want more....

 

[SuziQ991]

Yep, last August I started with 6 chickens and a 4x8 coop. Now we are getting ready to build a 10x10. So you might as well build a bigger one now

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Yup build as big as you can. I started out with 4. I currently have 26! There were others but they have found there home some place else, lol.



Oh yeah, this doesn't include the Quail

 

[patandchickens]

Another consideration is that if the "Wis" in your name indicates dealing with Wisconsin winters, a larger rather than smaller coop is DEFINITELY better -- easier to ventilate without drafts, less chance of chickens getting stir-crazy and cannibalistic, and so forth.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[WV_Hillbilly70]

Welcome to BYC!!

Definately start bigger than the minimum required space. Good thing about building your own coop is you can build expandibility into it..

 

[Prospector]

Another note - the experts here say 4 sq ft per bird of interior space plus 10 sq ft per bird of yard. That is big enough for a coop, but you will need a run as well.

 

[WisVizsla]

THANKS for all the great input!! Has anyone used a vinyl building as a coop?