help!!!!

if i put chickens in there it would only be for a week or 2 so i know what breeds i hatched now if it was chicks, they would free range on 20 acers and it would be after they were 6 weeks old

so it would work?
I don't understand what you are saying.
 
A good way to visualize the space minimums is to picture a bathmat next to one of those standard, 5-foot tub/shower inserts like you see in the hall bathroom of a manufactured home.

The bathmat is about 4 square feet. The tub/shower insert is 10 square feet.

That's the space required in the coop and run for 1 chicken.
 
I know your budget is small, but if it were me and with your acreage, I would be looking at building a large-permanent coop. If they free range on 20 acres, you are going to lose some to predators. It is just a fact when free ranging in the country.

I see in your profile, you enjoy farming. Is your place farmland or normal pasture? Chickens need places to hide and feel safe when free ranging.

My place is smaller at only 8 acres and my girls really only utilize about 3 acres or so in their free ranging. After a few murders, they have become a bit more cautious. You will also up your chances in free ranging if you select darker breeds. Mine are a mix of Production Reds and RIR. They can absolutely disappear along a couple of my fence lines under the Yaupon and scrub oak...especially when the Sycamore leave get trapped by my fence. :D

I have a neighbor on about 40 acres and he has a coop that looks exactly like the one you shared. He placed it in a bad spot and tried to put in too many chickens. He lost all the hens and is down to a single Rooster now.

Coops don't have to be pretty...just functional. Buy or build as big as you can get.

Good luck.
 
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If it helps, I built a 4' x 8' walk in coop out of scrap lumber and recycled fence boards. I splurged on a metal roof. Cost me $250 in total, mainly for the roof panels, hardware cloth, 1 sheet of plywood (for the floor), and miscellaneous hardware.

ETA: I don't really have any building experience, either. I just made plans based off ones I found on the internet. Took me about 5 afternoons.
 

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