How many chickens in 10x10 coop with deep litter

[Chelps03]

How many chickens can I put in a 10x10 coop with the deep litter method. I want to use that method to compost things and keep it dry and try avoiding flys and other pests. I figured 10 would be overcrowding. Could I do 6?

 

[lacychappell4]

Bantams or Large fowl ? I think you could do 6 Bantams but I am not sure with Large fowl

 

[citymeetscountry]

Is this only the coop or is this the coop and run? I believe 4sqft/bird is recommended for coop

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, just the coop or the coop and run?

Theoretically, a 10x10 coop can hold 25 chickens if they have an appropriate sized run. 10x10 as a run is appropriate for 10 birds. But I personally wouldn't put that many adults in there.

Have a look at my Camp Cockerel, which is built on a 10x10 picnic pavilion frame.

Just 5 half-grown cockerels have plenty of space even though they have no run:

A dozen mixed-age cockerels is probably nearing maximum reasonable capacity.

Regardless of the manure management system, the usual space guidelines are still a good rule of thumb to begin with -- and then be willing to adjust according to how it works out for you.

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I am building a 10x10 coop for my 18 chickens and 5 ducks. It would be a little tight except for the fact that they have a covered run of about 650 sq ft right now.

If you're talking coop + run = 100sqft, then I'd say 6 large birds, depending on your climate and if the run is covered.

 

[Percheron chick]

I've comfortably housed 25 layers and 8 guineas and an occasional goose in a similar set up. They did free range all day and had a barn to wander around in bad weather.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As others noted, are you talking about coop strictly, or coop and run, or just the run?

the deep litter method. I want to use that method to compost things and keep it dry

One thing to clarify, if this is a true deep litter system you don't want it dry, it needs a certain amount of moisture to compost, which is why deep litter is more often used in runs instead of coops.

 

[3KillerBs]

Deep Bedding: A dry, non-composting system where you keep adding bedding to the coop as it becomes soiled -- managing it by turning it as necessary (or getting the chickens to turn it for you) -- and clean it out only infrequently when the bedding has become both thoroughly soiled and piled up to the point of not being able to add more. Usually used above a floor in the coop but *can* be done in a covered run over dirt in a favorable climate.
Deep Litter: A moist (not wet, moist), system where the lower layers of material are actively composting while new, dry material is continually added to the top. *Can* be done on any floor surface but is most readily accomplished on a dirt floor because the dirt will seed the material with the beneficial composting organisms.