Help with coop size

[Aliasofryan]

Hello, I’m a first time chicken owner and I need some help determining the size coop I need to build. I have 20 babies in the brooders now getting big fast. I have the plans for a 4x4 coop with a 12 foot run. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to be big enough since it will only have 6 nesting boxes. Without breaking the bank I should be able to modify the plans to 6x6 coop with a 18 foot run and 8 nesting boxes. Now will that be enough or do I have to go bigger?

 

[MillersFarm]

4x4 and 6x6 sounds way too small for 20 birds. @aart Is really good with housing and what-not. But i'll tell you just for 30 birds I have an 8x16 ft coop for them.. And somethimes that can be a little crowded during the winter..

 

[Aliasofryan]

Ok thank you so it seems I’ll have to adjust my plans to a 8x8 coop and a 24ft run. That would allow for 10 nesting boxes and plenty of space...now the next problem would be finding lumber at a decent price lol

 

[AmazingRachel]

The general specs are 3-4 sq. ft. per bird (3 for Leghorns, 4 for dual-purpose), 2 sq. ft. for bantams. Then it's 8-10 sq. ft. of run space per bird in the run, but you can play around with this a bit if you're going to have them free ranging. I've seen 5 sq. ft. per bird in a covered run but they free-ranged almost the whole day.
Nesting boxes specs are 1 box per 4-5 birds. So 6-8 boxes are unnecessary.
I would push for a 6x6 coop, and then you could have 9-12 chickens, depending on chicken type. And for that, you only need 3 boxes.
Unless you have sex-links or autosexing chicks, you probably have some males in the brood you're going to have to thin out. There's also the chance of other losses due to disease. My point is that you probably won't end up with 20 hens out of 20 chicks.

 

[AmazingRachel]

Ok thank you so it seems I’ll have to adjust my plans to a 8x8 coop and a 24ft run. That would allow for 10 nesting boxes and plenty of space...now the next problem would be finding lumber at a decent price lol

1 nesting box per 4-5 hens is fine.

 

[MillersFarm]

Ok thank you so it seems I’ll have to adjust my plans to a 8x8 coop and a 24ft run. That would allow for 10 nesting boxes and plenty of space...now the next problem would be finding lumber at a decent price lol

8x8 might work.. 8x10 would be really nice but most large plywood are 4x8 pieces so it would make building easier.. But I do still suggest an 8x10 coop.. As for the roof you could use some cheap clear roof panels.. Just make sure they have shade during the summer. a 24 ft run sounds alright but they will clear it pretty fast.. Will you be letting them out during the day of their run so they get out and scratch around your property? Lumber can be pretty expense huh? I'd try going to a home depot. A little trick I use is I buy un-pressure treated 4x2 8ft to use to support the roof since rain and snow wouldn't be able to touch the 2x4s, But for the frame you would have to use pressure treated 2x4s. That saves a little bit of $. And look for the cheapest plywood you can use for the siding. If you can I'd look for some free doors and windows on craigslist to add to your coop as well. I know it's not a step by step thing but this is how I build my coops.

After I finished the floor and the frame I put the panels on the roof and then put the siding on, I did a little more expensive siding but you can just use the plywood sheets as siding

 

[Aliasofryan]

That’s not a bad idea. I was planing to use non pressure treated lumber because I didn’t know if it would affect the birds

 

[MillersFarm]

That’s not a bad idea. I was planing to use non pressure treated lumber because I didn’t know if it would affect the birds

Use pressure treated lumber, Your coop will last longer and it wont effect the chickens.

 

[blackdog043]

I was planing to use non pressure treated lumber because I didn’t know if it would affect the birds

Any wood that is not exposed to the weather or have ground contact, can be regular wood. Although if it's a shed style coop, I would make the base with pressure treated. What kind of coop are you planning on building?

 

[Teila]

Hello, I’m a first time chicken owner and I need some help determining the size coop I need to build. I have 20 babies in the brooders now getting big fast. I have the plans for a 4x4 coop with a 12 foot run. I’m pretty sure that’s not going to be big enough since it will only have 6 nesting boxes. Without breaking the bank I should be able to modify the plans to 6x6 coop with a 18 foot run and 8 nesting boxes. Now will that be enough or do I have to go bigger?

This is an excellent article on the subject of room: How Much Room Do Chickens Need