First coop big enough?

[Cheftim30]

Hi all! I’m new with my first flock. I have 16 girls I’m building my first coop for. As wood prices are crazy right now, I’m looking at building them a 13’x4’ coop out of recycled wood. Will this be large enough for my girls? Also fencing them in a 16x20 run and planing on letting them run around in the yard when we are out there. Thanks for the help!

 

[black_cat]

nope, 13 x 4 is not big enough for 16 birds. I'd go for 13 by 6 at the smallest. However, the run is plenty big!!

 

[DobieLover]

Hi all! I’m new with my first flock. I have 16 girls I’m building my first coop for. As wood prices are crazy right now, I’m looking at building them a 13’x4’ coop out of recycled wood. Will this be large enough for my girls? Also fencing them in a 16x20 run and planing on letting them run around in the yard when we are out there. Thanks for the help!

Look for an old shed that you can have moved to your property and convert that into a coop.

 

[Krugerrand]

What breed/size chickens?

 

[All4Eggz]

@aart

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters and it matters the most when building a coop.

You're proposed run is great, but I'm afraid that your coop is not going to be big enough.

The Usual Guidelines -- for each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop,
• 10 square feet in the run,
• 1 linear foot of roost,
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

Additionally, a long, thin space creates problems with chickens' social dynamics. It's necessary that a subordinate hen demonstrates her acceptance of the dominant hen's leadership by passing at a respectful distance -- which isn't possible in narrow coops and runs.

An 8x8 square coop would both provide the 64 square feet you need and be compatible with the dimensions that lumber and sheet goods come in.

 

[aart]

Hi all! I’m new with my first flock. I have 16 girls I’m building my first coop for. As wood prices are crazy right now, I’m looking at building them a 13’x4’ coop out of recycled wood. Will this be large enough for my girls? Also fencing them in a 16x20 run and planing on letting them run around in the yard when we are out there. Thanks for the help!

Too small on coop, plus 4' width is hard to outfit and navigate for both keeper and birds.

Why have you chosen those dimensions?

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Cheftim30
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Cheftim30]

@aart

What breed/size chickens?

I have buff Orpingtons!

 

[Cheftim30]

Too small on coop, plus 4' width is hard to outfit and navigate for both keeper and birds.

Why have you chosen those dimensions?

Oh, and... Welcome to BYC! @Cheftim30
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2703450

I’m in Piedmont NC. I’m using recycled pallets to build. Sorry my dimensions were wrong, what I have planned is 13.5’x 5’ building on pallets as a frame.

 

[Mellowmalt]

I think it can be done as long as you can make the coop tall enough. Height with additional roosting bars will give you the added space.

But that would require a lot of pallets. If you can fit 2 x roosting bars the length of the coop and nesting boxes that length too then that should be enough for 16 to perch.