How Big Should A Chicken PEN For 4 Be?

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:
  • 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
  • 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
  • 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
  • 1/4 of a nest box,
  • And 1 square foot (.09) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.
4 hens
  • 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
  • 4 feet of roost
  • 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
  • 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
 
The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:
  • 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
  • 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
  • 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
  • 1/4 of a nest box,
  • And 1 square foot (.09) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.
4 hens
  • 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
  • 4 feet of roost
  • 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
  • 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
  • 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice
Is standard size Plymouth Rocks and such?
 
You have to keep in mind that people here on this site tend to overstate the needed size of coop and ventilation. There are many ways to manage birds and ventilation. Agricultural literature anywhere will state 1.5-2 square feet per bird for coop size. Obviously you'd not want to coop birds for extended periods of time with that space limit. 0.37 square meters per bird is overkill for a coop birds only sleep and lay in but if you kept birds in a coop all winter is actually limited and somewhat cruel. That 4 square ft per bird (0.37 Square Meters) you'll only read on this BYC site. It's basically meaningless and takes nothing into account as to how you'll manage your birds. The passive ventilation area is gibberish too. It's disturbing as this site should be informative not hard rules of fantasy.

My 8x8 suggestion was in feet. For ease of construction and not wasting material you'd just make a small run in the common stick lumber length. Your common lumber length must be 2.4 meters. Though 2.8 or 3 meter lumber is better. I'm an advocate of big runs!

Bird behavior is to be outside all day. They want shelter when it rains and snows but still prefer to be out of coop during days even if it's raining. Coops on stilts and covered runs provide the shelter they want and during winter you can plastic or tarp two to three sides of the run for them then throw down hay. The larger the space is where they are active the happier they are and the easier it is to integrate birds in the future.
 
You have to keep in mind that people here on this site tend to overstate the needed size of coop and ventilation. There are many ways to manage birds and ventilation. Agricultural literature anywhere will state 1.5-2 square feet per bird for coop size. Obviously you'd not want to coop birds for extended periods of time with that space limit. 0.37 square meters per bird is overkill for a coop birds only sleep and lay in but if you kept birds in a coop all winter is actually limited and somewhat cruel. That 4 square ft per bird (0.37 Square Meters) you'll only read on this BYC site. It's basically meaningless and takes nothing into account as to how you'll manage your birds. The passive ventilation area is gibberish too. It's disturbing as this site should be informative not hard rules of fantasy.

My 8x8 suggestion was in feet. For ease of construction and not wasting material you'd just make a small run in the common stick lumber length. Your common lumber length must be 2.4 meters. Though 2.8 or 3 meter lumber is better. I'm an advocate of big runs!

Bird behavior is to be outside all day. They want shelter when it rains and snows but still prefer to be out of coop during days even if it's raining. Coops on stilts and covered runs provide the shelter they want and during winter you can plastic or tarp two to three sides of the run for them then throw down hay. The larger the space is where they are active the happier they are and the easier it is to integrate birds in the future.
Isn't bigger better?! I would prefer a too big run, compared to a too small one.
 

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