For 3 chickens....

[ChickCluck]

Alright, I'm confusing myself with all the dimensions on a coop.

For 3 chickens, would 5 x 5 work? Or bigger? 4 square feet per chicken, right? We're getting Orps (I think), so they will need a lot of space...

Am I figuring this right?

Never had a brain for math

 

[patandchickens]

Assuming you mean "indoor space, and they'll have a run twice as large again or larger", then 5x5 would be plenty of room by most BYCers' standards. That's 25 sq ft, divided among 3 chickens is a smidge over 6 sq ft per chicken. Mine have about twice that indoor space, but even 6 sq ft per chicken is a lot better than less. To accompany it you'd want a run that's at least 4x8', or preferably bigger.

Honestly I think you're best off building the biggest that seems practical/affordable to you, because if you don't add any more chickens your existing chickens will thank you for the ample room, and if you DO get the 'gotta get more chickens' bug, you'll have some capacity for more without getting too crowded.

Have fun,

Pat