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

[jeria]

Another option I'm considering for next year is building a small tractor run so I would be able to safely let them into other areas of my yard when I'm home but not able to constantly supervise. With my overly playful dogs, coons, neighborhood tame and feral cats, coons, foxes, possums, hawks, owls, and an occasional Eagle and woods behind my house, predators are definitely an issue. Climate is also a factor as I know mine will be shut in the coop in some weather situations all day when I'm at work. A raised coop in my thinking (no experience) provides some extra weather protections and still lets them be outside if they choose even though might be a pain at times. I finding out quickly this is definitely a learning journey. Actually revising my assembly plans today.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Raised coops are great...... Until...... Eggs are laid under it (always in the back corner), a hen goes broody under it (also a back corner), someone does not feel well and hides (see back corner), it is pouring rain and you need to feed or water or clean or gather eggs or (anything in the back corner).

Shade cloth can provide shade and allows air flow. So can a couple wooden saw horses with a piece of plywood screwed on top making a sort of table.

Just my 2 cents and lots of years keeping chickens.

 

[HuntingChick14]

I just finished drafting it all out! I think I'm going to go out today to buy all of the materials and will hopefully start construction today or Tuesday. Thanks for all of the advice and recommendations!

 

[jeria]

Shade cloth can provide shade and allows air flow. So can a couple wooden saw horses with a piece of plywood screwed on top making a sort of table.

What is shade cloth? Tarps block the breeze which in my hot humid summers is important. I will have a covered roof for the run and coop. Planning on some climbing plants (hops and sun flowers) that will add shade in the summer and die off in the winter to let the sun in the South side but not until next year as too late in the year.

 

[21hens-incharge]

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=shade+cloth

I have had this stuff for several years and take it down in winter to avoid snow load.

So far no rips or weather degradation that I can detect.

 

[jeria]

https://www.lowes.com/search?searchTerm=shade+cloth

I have had this stuff for several years and take it down in winter to avoid snow load.

So far no rips or weather degradation that I can detect.

It's pretty pricey for a larger area, how big of a section do you use it in?

 

[imnukensc]

You won't need four nest boxes for four hens. Two nest boxes will be plenty and you may find they all prefer one of the two and only use one of them. Make your run larger if you can. At least 40 sq ft. Bigger is better. My raised coop is 5' x 5' for four hens. My chickens can free range, but the run is 8' x 16' and none of that is under the coop. A 6' x 8' area in the middle of the run where I keep their feed and water is covered with 5V tin roofing. Of course, the whole run is covered with 2" x 3" fence wire except the bottom 2 feet of the run which is 1/2" x 1" welded wire.

 

[21hens-incharge]

That was the general page. I could not find the other.

They sell it by the foot at I think 8 or 10 feet wide. I did not pay more then maybe 40 or 50 dollars. I can cover my 16x23 run and most of my hoop run with what I bought.

It looks to have gone up some. The 6x40 foot roll is 60 bucks now. That will still cover a 12x20 area.

The by the foot price was lower. I just don't find it on the site.
I know the Lowes near me has by the foot still. It was there a week ago.

 

[jeria]

I know the store sites don't always give you a good idea what they actually have and sometimes on amazon you can find better deals. Look interesting to keep in mind as I will have to see how shade works once I get mine built and go from there. I'm currently way over budget. Oh well, new counter tops will wait a while longer . Don't have time to work on them anyway.

 

[GuppyTJ]

Hi There, I think the folks above did a nice job of giving you ideas for minimums for the coop and the run. I'll offer that the bigger you can make it, the better. I'm pretty sure almost no one ever says "I wish I had made my coop or run SMALLER." Yet, almost every one wishes it was larger.

The more space you give your hens, the happier they will be and happy hens lay more eggs. More space also tends to mean better health because everything is less concentrated. The poo is spread out, the air is more fresh, the ground is less trampled. You have less behavioral issues such as pecking, fighting on the roost. You have less illness, less parasitic concerns. You don't have to devise ways to amuse them (chicken swings, mirrors, etc) because they're bored and "cooped up." Space is EVERYTHING good to a chicken.

Thinking of it another way, the ideal environment for chickens is a truly free range environment where they can wander at will, making decisions on where to go to find bugs and grass and dig and scratch and amuse themselves doing what chickens do all day. The more of this you can give them, the healthier and happier they will be.

So, using the above advice, think about the limits of your space and how much space on your property you want to give them. If you can give them more than the minimum, you will be happy later you did. I'm almost positive.

One last point about winter... even in NH, your chickens will want to go outside. If you can shovel a little area for them to get out and in their run, they will likely range out on their own. My chickens don't like snow but they go out every day in the winter to peck and scratch and roam around.

Hope this helps,
Guppy