Coop size

[jetdog]

6 or 7ft roost should be fine with 6 hens, why will they be locked up for such a long period of time? Do you not have a run they can get into?

 

[dnx717]

They will have continual access to their run, just not "free ranging" in the yard. But I would like to have them out in the yard some.

What do you mean 6 or 7 ft roost? What total square footage for their roost only, and what about the run sq footage? Mind you, the roost will be elevated above the run so whatever size plot I give them will all count towards sq footage of their run.

 

[jetdog]

A 2x4 laying flat spanning whatever width your coop is will make a nice roost, 10sf per bird is the general rule for a run.

 

[Summerford]

I'll end up with 17 hens by July- August in my one coop that I'm building next week. It's going to be 8ft wide, 4 ft tall and 12 feet long. the coop (house) part will be 3 ft high 8ft wide and 4 ft wide.

 

[dnx717]

Thanks Jetdog. So I need to be around 6x10 or 8x8 for my hen's run and the henhouse itself needs to be 2-3 sqft per bird? So call it 6x4 with nesting boxes/roost included?

 

[jetdog]

"They" say the rule for a coop should be 4sf per bird but I would definitely make it a little bigger than what you need, even to add a couple of feet now is alot easier than trying to add it later. Post some pictures of your progress.

 

[dnx717]

Feeling quite dense now but it's finally sinking in. I've heard four per hen but I assumed that meant run and henhouse. Perhaps it's a problem with the lingo bc when I hear coop I think run and henhouse in a fenced area is the coop. But when you (or anyone) says coop they mean the henhouse itself. So, I feel quite dense but the light just went off. If I want 6 hens I need 24 sqft for them to sleep and nest and 60 sqft for them to run about.

Does this change at all if they are going to free range for a couple hours a day outside of the run?

 

[dnx717]

I will be sure to post but right now any pictures would look like large shipping skids, yet to be broken down. I'm all about some free lumber! Lol. Luckily my father-in-law has done construction his whole life so where my ingenuity lacks his skill will take over.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

We have 6 chicks, and yes, we gave them 24 sq feet inside the coop, plus a few extra if you count the nesting box. They free range during the day. If in doubt, go a little bigger.

 

[armychicken14]

I am building a 16x5 coop how many chickens can I get? Thanks