How many chickens can my coop/run hold?

[Fluffychicky]

I have a roofed area attached to my garage I put a 4x4 coop under the roofed area and once I enclose that section the run will be 10x24 ft my question is since it is a sheltered area and the run will be so large can I keep 4 bantams and 7 standard hens in that coop. The winters here are not that harsh so I don't see the chickens spending any time in the coop other than sleeping.

 

[newwestchick]

I have 22 in a smaller space than that right now, but I do let them out every day too for a few hours

 

[Fluffychicky]

I have 22 in a smaller space than that right now, but I do let them out every day too for a few hours

So you think they'll be ok sleeping in a 4x4 coop?

 

[justplainbatty]

I have a roofed area attached to my garage I put a 4x4 coop under the roofed area and once I enclose that section the run will be 10x24 ft my question is since it is a sheltered area and the run will be so large can I keep 4 bantams and 7 standard hens in that coop. The winters here are not that harsh so I don't see the chickens spending any time in the coop other than sleeping.

Is that the floor space (4x4) with nest boxes and roosts up above? That floor space only allows for a max of 4 standard fowl or 6 bantam and that's tight considering you would also have feeder and waterer on floor too.

 

[Fluffychicky]

Is that the floor space (4x4) with nest boxes and roosts up above? That floor space only allows for a max of 4 standard fowl or 6 bantam and that's tight considering you would also have feeder and waterer on floor too.

that is the outside dimensions so yes I think that's the floor space as well with roosts and the nesting box is attached so that adds a little more the food and water are not kept inside the coop

 

[cmae2623]

My 10 chickens are in a 8x10 coop that is a raised metal shed off the ground about 2 feet. I also have a 8x8 run next to it when they go out to "exercise". I have heard that u should have about 2-3 square feet per chicken.

 

[newwestchick]

My coop is open to the secured run 24/7, food and water is in the covered run. They all pile into the coop (4x5) to sleep, despite that there are roost etc. outside the little coop for them. This is temporary, however, their numbers will be reduced to 9 soon. I'm not sure I would leave more than 10 (full sized) regularly in my set up (total secured covered run is 170 square feet) - and would allow them range time daily.

 

[Fluffychicky]

Ok so if I got a separate coop for the overflow would that be better? And if I did that would the two flocks mingle ok?

 

[newwestchick]

Ok so if I got a separate coop for the overflow would that be better? And if I did that would the two flocks mingle ok? 

They'll let you know if they're not happy

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are a couple of different things working here. How much room is available in the coop by itself is only important if they are locked in there when awake. If you enclose that run space so you are confident it is predator proof and leave the coop door open all the time, they will have enough room to avoid social problems. If they are locked in there while awake you risk a disaster from behavioral problems.

If you lay out a 4x4 coop for 11 birds, you barely have enough room in here for them to sleep. You certainly don’t have room for food, water, or nests unless the nests are external. Sometimes, not always but sometimes, a hen is a real brute on the roosts, especially during integration or with changes in maturity. It’s possible you birds lowest in the pecking order will want to escape that brute and will sleep somewhere else. That may be your nests; that may be somewhere totally different. You may be OK with a coop that size but you certainly don’t have any flexibility if you do have any problems.

Chickens sleeping in something that tight will produce a lot of poop concentrated in a small area. You’ll have to come up with a poop management plan to handle that. That will probably involve cleaning out the coop on a real regular basis. Essentially the coop floor will be a droppings board that you have to clean really regularly.

Good luck!