how big should a coop be

[chickenmama109]

hi


I have 11 hens and 1 rooster

how much space is needed for 12 chickens

thanks to all help

 

[Trish1974]

Here's a great article that will answer your questions and even questions you didn't know you had!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

 

[Ridgerunner]

As I asked in your other thread this morning, where are you? What kind of weather are you dealing with? Lots of snow, ice, and blizzards or a pretty comfortable winter. Your coldest and hottest temperatures are what’s important here. Your problems will come on your extreme days and nights so give extreme temperatures in either Fahrenheit or Celsius, not just vague things like “it gets pretty cold”. It’s surprising how many people do that and that really doesn’t tell us anything.

How do you manage them? Will they be confined to the coop by itself for extended periods when they are awake or will they have access to outside pretty much when they are awake? Will that outside access be a run or will they free range all day every day. Don’t think of your coop in isolation, it’s just part of your space system.

Will you integrate new chickens in the future? Integrating new chickens, especially young chicks, requires more space than a flock all the same age.

Is 12 chickens your absolute maximum number or can you expect that to grow? What is a realistic number for the future?

 

[CapricornFarm]

Just think about the biggest coop you could build. Then make it twice that size.

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

At least 48 sq. ft. That's 8' x 6'.

 

[Bek]

Here's a great article that will answer your questions and even questions you didn't know you had!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

That's a great read! Thank you for sharing it!

 

[chickenmama109]

thank you every one and no im not going to get anymore chickens and yes mine free rang
and thanks to every one

 

[TwinsLoveChicks]

That's a great read! Thank you for sharing it!

X2!

 

[FlyWheel]

There is no such thing as too big a coop. The usual recommendation is a minimum of 4 square feet of usable floor space per bird, and 18"/bird of roost. Obviously if there will be times they will have to spend long periods inside then the bigger the better.