How big should I make my coop and run for 4 birds?

[HuntingChick14]

I think I have it all figured out! The whole thing, coop and run combined, is going to be 5x8, with the coop being 4x5. Thanks for the help everyone!

Sheesh I'm the master of overthinking!! 4x5 coop gives you 5 square feet per chick. My thinking from all I've read is that I needed at least 4 sq feet. You will also like I will probably have to shut your chicks up in the winter occasionally, I used to ski up in your area as I lived in Londonderry and the Boston metro years ago. Gets dang cold, snowy and windy up in your mountains. My thinking for 4x6 is the most chicks I may have per code is 6. I'm starting with 4 in a few years when the egg production drops I will be able to add a couple more. LOL my original thinking was 2 then 3 I found out was better and then I couldn't decide on breeds so 4.

What breeds were you thinking? I love learning about other people's flocks

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I think I have it all figured out! The whole thing, coop and run combined, is going to be 5x8, with the coop being 4x5. Thanks for the help everyone!



What breeds were you thinking? I love learning about other people's flocks

That's too small. You need more run space.

 

[HuntingChick14]

That's too small. You need more run space.

I thought that I needed 10 sq ft per bird. If my math is correct, then I need a 40 sq ft area for 4 birds. An 8x5 would be 40 sq ft.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I thought that I needed 10 sq ft per bird. If my math is correct, then I need a 40 sq ft area for 4 birds. An 8x5 would be 40 sq ft.

That's the rule of thumb for outside run space. Coop separate. And really, you want more.

 

[HuntingChick14]

That's the rule of thumb for outside run space. Coop separate. And really, you want more.

I'm going to have the coop raised by 2 ft so the the run itself will also be 8x5. I feel like that's plenty of room. I don't think that they would be so confined that they would fight or anything.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

I'm going to have the coop raised by 2 ft so the the run itself will also be 8x5. I feel like that's plenty of room. I don't think that they would be so confined that they would fight or anything.

Unless there isn't anything in the run, they probably wouldn't have a lot of fights caused by lack of space. Bigger really is better.

 

[jeria]

What breeds were you thinking? I love learning about other people's flocks [/QUOTE]

I ended up with 2 Easter Eggers, a Barred Rock and an Austraulorp. Future chicks yet to be determined. LOL Lavender Ameraucana maybe, they are so pretty.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would have to agree bigger is better for the birds.

Look at it this way....
Point a to point b the farther apart they can get from each other if someone is in a mood the better.
When my run was smaller mine had difficulties getting away from moody sisters. Increasing it just a few feet gave them the needed room. It gave me room for perches and additional water dishes.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Bigger is always better but if you're seriously restricted on space then you'll just want to get creative with the space you have. Do keep in mind though that using space under the coop, while a popular option, does mean that you might find yourself on your hands and knees trying to catch a chicken or cleaning under it.

 

[nenebynature]

Build as big as you can afford! Seriously. I am currently adding on to mine because I added girls this spring but would have done so anyways because mine are used to free ranging and get really cranky on days when I'm not home to let them roam.

Another good idea is to build it with ideas of how to add on in the future or adjust things on the structure. I jumped in with both feet and thought I had a great plan at first but pretty much right after original structure was completed, I realized there were many things I should have done differently. It's all about being able to adjust to make things better for the birds as you learn and become more experienced. Good luck friend!