How big should I build?

[JB8907]

I want a coop with 2 large bays. 1 for my layers and 1 for my roos. My wife isn't a fan of eating fertilized eggs... I don't understand, but OK. The layers will be about 30 total in the end. They'll just free range outside. The roos I'm keeping for breeding and I just like them. Will be around 10. They'll be confined to an attached run and access to an fenced area I'm going to put around entire coop. How much SQFT do the hens need and how much do the roos need? I'll also have 2 breding/brooding pens sandwiched between them.... And GO.

 

[featheredplanets]

Chickens need a bare minimum of 4sqft per bird in the coop, if they’re free ranging all day, everyday, you could get away with 3sqft but better (and more productive) to have safe, happy hens than sad, stressed hens.

For 30 hens and 10 roosters, that’s 160sqft (ex: imagine 10x16ft space), if you’re having additional pens taking up floor space, you’re going to have to build even bigger. How big do you want your brooders to be? How many birds do you plan on breeding in the pens and for how long?

ETA: And they need at least 10sqft per bird for runs.

 

[JB8907]

I'll put a trio in each pen to breed then pull the roo once the hens start incubating the eggs. I was thinking 10x10 for the roos plus their attached run and 10x10 for the hens since their free ranging all day. So that would be two 10x10 bays plus a 10x30 attached run for the boys then two 5x10 brooding pens between them. For a total of 20x30 including the run. Sound about right?

 

[featheredplanets]

Sounds like you have it worked out right! I’m no expert in even simple math though. Others will add their opinion soon too

 

[JB8907]

Sounds like you have it worked out right! I’m no expert in even simple math though. Others will add their opinion soon too

I'm pretty good at math I just needed the SQFT per bird honestly. I'm hoping to build it this summer. I just need the rain to stop so I can get the dirt work done.

 

[aart]

I'd give the 30 hens more coop space.....will they range all day in the rain,
what if you have pred problems, might need a run for them too???

I'll put a trio in each pen to breed then pull the roo once the hens start incubating the eggs.

So you figure once they are inseminated they will automatically lay a clutch and start setting?

 

[JB8907]

I have another question. It’s about the foundation. I want to do the deep litter method. So here's my question should I raise the whole coop and put it on blocks then install a wire skirt around it and rocks on the outside of that or leave it on the ground and dig down a foot?

 

[aart]

I have another question. It’s about the foundation. I want to do the deep litter method. So here's my question should I raise the whole coop and put it on blocks then install a wire skirt around it and rocks on the outside of that or leave it on the ground and dig down a foot?

Raise it if height is an issue......digging down might create a puddle holder.

 

[JB8907]

That’s what I was thinking. We have a high water table around here. So the litter might just act like a week and pour the water up now that I think about it.

 

[Willowspirit]

I would vote for raising because after only a few weeks I'm tired of bending to change out food food water water and tired of squatting on the ground to feed treats feed treats feed treats.