Damn sister, move the c*uck over! (Length to width ratios and the delicate chicken psyche)

[SteveE]

I think the birds may have been pooping in the coffee bean jar again today. Anyway.... relative noob here. Designing my first coop. Here is a nerd question....

Assume a coop with a square floor plan has X chickens, where X is the max number that can be in this coop and still be happy.

QUESTION: Keeping everything the same as much as possible, would they be just as happy in a coop laid out as a long rectangle? Remembering basic geometry, the square footage and volume (at least to top of shortest wall) would be the same. The square plan will use fewer materials and be lighter weight overall (in case it needs to be moved). BUT with the longer plan, there will be more linear feet of wall, and the birds might like being protected on one side, and so be happier overall in the longer one.

To be honest, there's a little overthinking here I suppose, but for the other curious nerds among us, what do you think?

 

[DobieLover]

I think the birds may have been pooping in the coffee bean jar again today. Anyway.... relative noob here. Designing my first coop. Here is a nerd question....

Assume a coop with a square floor plan has X chickens, where X is the max number that can be in this coop and still be happy.

QUESTION: Keeping everything the same as much as possible, would they be just as happy in a coop laid out as a long rectangle? Remembering basic geometry, the square footage and volume (at least to top of shortest wall) would be the same. The square plan will use fewer materials and be lighter weight overall (in case it needs to be moved). BUT with the longer plan, there will be more linear feet of wall, and the birds might like being protected on one side, and so be happier overall in the longer one.

To be honest, there's a little overthinking here I suppose, but for the other curious nerds among us, what do you think?

I wouldn't make a long rectangular coop.
You've already noted the (highly) inefficient use of building materials.
Depending on how narrow the building was, there would likely be issues with nest box placement, cleaning, getting on and off the roost and handling the birds for routine exams.