How many chicken can my coop hold?

[Bigfatchicken]

I just built a coop that is 8x8 and 10ft high. I also have 4 nesting boxes and a 20ft run thats 8ft high and 8ft wide what is the amount difference between standard and Bantam that i can have in my coop any suggestions? what breeds do you think are the most friendly and good egg layers to have.

 

[BarredBuff]

Well I have a 8 by 8 and its 8 foot tall and probably a 15 foot run with 8 nest boxes and it holds 21 chickens 2 roos and 19 hens and they use just 2 nest boxes mine will probably hold up to 30. I have Barred Rocks and Rhode Island reds are good I get about 6 eggs a day but its also winter here but the four red hens arent laying yet. Here recently it was a 70 degree day and they laid 13 eggs

 

[teach1rusl]

I'm not sure of Sarasota weather....presuming you guys have warm temps and mild winters. The "rule of thumb" is 4sq. ft. of indoor space (floor space) for standard sized birds, and half that for bantums. For runs, a 10 sq. feet per standard bird is recommended, half that for bantums. If your area gets pretty good weather, then you could make do with a little less indoor space if they will only be sleeping there. My area gets cold winters, so my chickens spend a lot more time inside in the winter and need all the space they can get. If your chickens are allowed to free range some every day, then you could do with a little less run space (you didn't mention how wide your run is???). So 8 x 8 is 64 sq. feet, which would comfortably accomodate 15-16 standard birds, and about double that for bantums (the more space they have, the more harmony there will be among them). And remember, feeders and waterers take up space... Can't tell on your run since you didnt say how wide it was. But I'm guessing that your coop will allow more birds than your run (comfortably).

I know nothing about bantums. If you look at my signature, I chose my birds from breeds known for good to very good egg laying ability. Personality-wise, my barred rock and orpington are the friendliest and most docile. My australorp and my ee are somewhat friendly/calm. And my GLW is a little flighty; she only tolerates me picking her up, petting on her (acts as if I'm torturing her really

).

 

[mom'sfolly]

8x20=160 square feet, with an 8x8 house (64 square feet), I would say that you probably wouldn't want to go over 20 standard size birds. Another rule of thumb is 18 linear inches of roosting space per bird. My birds think that as close together as they can get is enough roosting space.

The breeds section has lots of info on bird personalities. I have 5 varieties in my small flock and they are fairly distinct. You might want to look at broodiness, egg production, colors and personality. This is a great scource for that. Here is a website that can help too.

My Rhode Island Reds (RIRs) are bossy, inquisitive and friendly. My buff orps are shy, and the rooster is well mannered. They are good winter layers, but can be broody monsters. The SLW (silver laced wyandote) is quiet and not social, but loves the roo, she is also a decent winter layer. The EEs are somewhat shy, good layers, never broody and can fly really well for full sized birds. I had a red sex link who was a laying machine; but she became an internal layer and died. She was my friendliest hen by far.

http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html

 

[Bigfatchicken]

thank you everyone for your help