How many square feet per chicken in the coop?

[teach1rusl]

I always push for the most space possible. However, space tolerences are definitely flexible seasonally. Spring/Summer/Fall, if I had enough roost space, I could keep 3x as many birds in my main coop that I currently do (I have 10 birds in a 7x12 coop). They're literally never inside except to lay an egg or to roost. But between short days and cold weather, my birds spend a LOT more time inside in winter time...and they're a lot grouchier with one another. That's with the pop door opened every morning at first light.
Only you know your winters, how much snow you get, and how your chickens react when you get snow. I would always opt for more space if I had the choice, whether that meant decreasing my bird population or increasing my coops/coop space.

 

[7L Farm]

Its a hard question to answer. Really, depends on the chickens. But one thing I've found out birds like alot of space. I have one coop that's 4 sided the coop is 80sq ft. The run is 150 sq ft. I have 10 hens in this coop & I wish it was bigger. I have a three sided coop that's 330 sq ft with only 16 hens in it. What a dream the birds are very happy & healthy. One things for sure bigger is better. I guess you need to consider your climate as well. Its very hot here so I will from now on only build big open air coops. The heat is killer on the birds. They can grow more feathers but can't take their jackets off in the heat.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Some people try to only talk about coop space and totally disregard the additional space available. You can get in trouble doing that. You have to look at the total space available and when it is available. If they have a lot of outside space and can get to it when they are awake, you really don't need a lot of coop space. If they are locked inside a small space a lot when they are awake, you can have problems.

I'm a believer in giving them plenty of space. Whether that is in a coop, a coop and run, or a coop and total free range is up to you and your conditions.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

The 2 sq feet would only be for the spring, summer and fall. During those times they free-range all day and don't spend any time in the coop besides laying and sleeping. During the winter when they spend more time inside I move them to a larger, insulated coop where they would have about 4 sq feet.

I'm in southern Manitoba so our climate isn't super hot like in the southern US.

 

[claudicles]

Quote:
It is back yard chickens! Not that many of us have acres and acres in out back yards. I am on 2.5 acres which is obviously bigger than most back yards but I still contain my chickens as predator density is a real issue here. I'm of the opinion that a live chicken in a large run is better than fox food.

 

[happytraylz]

I think it also depends on the breeds you have. I know my LF need more space, especially for roosting than my Silkies do. Most of them like to sleep in a 'pile' at night.

And since they're more docile, there's no issues with pecking/plucking that I've seen with larger breeds when in a space together.

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
Good point, these would be large fowl birds. Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Australorps... heavy standard breeds.

 

[gale65]

Quote:
It is back yard chickens! Not that many of us have acres and acres in out back yards. I am on 2.5 acres which is obviously bigger than most back yards but I still contain my chickens as predator density is a real issue here. I'm of the opinion that a live chicken in a large run is better than fox food.

Thank you. We have lots of acreage but I think a lot here do not. We have a dog and a cat and live near a highway and there are lots of places that chickens could get into that they shouldn't and free ranging just isn't a practical choice for us. I still don't think of our chickens being in their 20-sq-ft-per-chicken run as being like feed lot chickens.

 

[HappiFeet]

I have free-ranging birds on a three-acre property, except for two RIR who live in a 3x6 tractor to a)keep the roo safe from the Auracana roo, and b)keep the hen from mixing with the Auracana roo. They have an 8x8, and I live in West Tennessee, where we get snow once or twice a year and it never lasts more than a couple if days. By my calculations regarding the previous posts, I can max out at a total of four in the tractor and 32 in the shed, provided they have enough perch space, correct?

 

[dlbranton]

My coop is about 300 square feet of floor space. I can comfortably roost 200 hens in it. That equals 1 1/2 square feet per hen. My hens stay out during the winter and only come in to roost. I call it my Roost Wagon rather than my Coop. I move them to new pasture about every other day, (depending on how well they have worked the grass.) I feed and water outside. This encourages them to come out, though I think they would anyway, and eliminates extra mess inside. The bottom of my Roost Wagon is 1/2"x1" rabbit wire to keep manure from building up inside. You would think that this would let in to much cold air, however, having more chickens inside the roost produces more heat during the winter. I have windows and a roof vent that help expel heat during the summer. With this said, I would not think it wise to put this many chickens per sq. ft. in a stationary roost. The manure buildup alone would be unbearable. Also, I live in Texas. Our winters are not that bad. The worst case scenario is temperatures in the teens. That is only a few weeks per winter and is usually spread out over a few days at a time throughout winter.