How Big Should my Coop Be?

[Hmarie0608]

Currently it's 3ft by 7ft and 4ft tall (NOT including the boxes, which are about 2ft by 3ft by 2ft tall). Originally planned for 3-4 chickens but now I have decided to keep 8 hens. They're still young, but how much bigger do I need to make the coop? And I don't just mean some standard minimum for 8 hens, but how much space will actually make them happy?
They do run around my yard during the day so they won't be stuck in the coop except from 7pm-5:30am.
If it helps, no I don't have bantams, I have EEs, BAs, RRs, and a NN.

 

[disneyguy]

Newbie advice here - "rule" is around 3-4 sqft/chicken in the coop, and around 10 sqft in the run. If they're free ranging most of the day, as long as they can stretch around in the coop/on their perches you should be good to go.

 

[B-Goock]

Something to keep in mind is if it's raining/snowing they won't want to be out in it so during those times they are literally cooped up and will get grumpy. Just like people if you pack them together they will start getting testy and short tempered.
My definition for "coop sq ft" is whatever size area they will be restricted to during bad weather.
Another thing I always go by is always make it bigger than what you think you need. Hence your situation of 4 to 8 chickens which I did the same thing this year of from 8 to 16. Funny how we both doubled!

I built my coop last year big enough for 25 at the 3 sqft/chicken. My run was built big enough for about 12-14 chickens so yeah doubled the run this year. So I have room for how many more......25 minus 16................Wait my girlfriend said I have enough and I usually have a surplus of eggs I give away to family, friends, and coworkers. I'm good. Got enough. Would like some EE's.

 

[Hmarie0608]

I wish I had enough room for 16 chickens that seems like the perfect number. Hopefully by the time we have kids we will be on a much bigger property. But it doesn't snow where I live, however we do have a monsoon season of like 2 months where there are thunderstorms so I should definitely plan for that.