help with coop size

[joelharper]

I am planning on building an 8x8 coop and attach a run as well, the entire thing will be 8x16. My question is how many chickens can I have for this. Right now I have 5 hens, which I got my first eggs yesterday. Right now they are in a prefab coop, its to small and they aren't happy. So I am expanding into a bigger coop, which should be ready in a couple of weeks. I am wanting more chickens, but don't know how many I can have comfortably in the 8x8 coop.

 

[cavemanrich]

Your coop in general size suggests you can keep about 16 chickens. 4 square feet per each. Your run would be the same size, and it is slightly inadequate to keep all 16 chickens happy. If you could increase your run size, then things would be much better . Of course if you stay with lower numbers like 8. then coop and run would be adequate. Overcrowding is a big problem.. Too many chickens in the run at the same time can lead to various behavior problems.. Only you can tell how many chickens are happily housed in your coop/run. Things like breed of chickens, and size are factors as well. House the existing ones and add to your flock a few at a time , until you feel you reached the maximum comfort level. You will know when it gets overcrowded.
WISHING YOU BEST

 

[Emma Miriam]

I second all the above.

Am I correct in understanding that your run is the same size as your coop, 8x8? If so, you can only house 6-7 chickens due to the size of the run...the rule of thumb is 10 square feet per chicken in the run. Honestly, I would highly recommend building your run so that it can house just as many chickens as your coop: 16. That would mean a 160 square foot run, or 8x20. Would that be feasible? Otherwise, if you wanted to keep that many chickens, you would need to free range at least some of the time.

Hope that helps!

 

[joelharper]

No the building the chickens will live in is 8x8. The chickens will be able to go under the building. It will set up off the ground about 3 feet. I am then building a run thy will be 8x16. The building will be inside the run.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

No the building the chickens will live in is 8x8. The chickens will be able to go under the building. It will set up off the ground about 3 feet. I am then building a run thy will be 8x16. The building will be inside the run.

So you've got room for about a doz birds (although I've found that 10 sq ft per bird ends up feeling awfully small if they're large fowl).

 

[joelharper]

Yes they are full grown chickens. Not bantam

 

[joelharper]

Thank you so much. I have 5 and I want some more. Like 15-20 total. Wife doesn't want that many. So I might can talk her into 10 total. Haha. Thank you

 

[Emma Miriam]

OH ok gotcha! Sorry for the confusion. With an 8x16 run, you could fit 12-13 chickens, as HighStreetCoop said.

Good luck talking your wife into that!

 

[joelharper]

Hahaha. Thanks. I will just bring them home and let her find out when she sees them.

 

[ECBW]

Keep in mind the up keep. 8x8 coop would mean person would need to enter for maintenance, this means head room. With the coop elevated 3 ft, how high will the coop be? The keeper will also need a way to enter.