How much area needed?

[randy9130]

How big does the coop and run need to be for 4-6 chickens?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Recommendation is usually 4 sq feet per bird in coop and 10 in run.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

If you put your general location into your profile people can give better-targeted advice -- climate matters. Here's some general information for you.

The Usual Guidelines

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.

4 hens

• 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
• 4 feet of roost
• 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
• 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

6 hens

• 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
• 6 feet of roost
• 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
• 6 square feet of ventilation.
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

Small Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dallas-urban-coop-single-slope-design.72422/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yakisugi-coop.76398/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coreys-coop-de-doop.55619/

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-our-charming-and-eleggant-family-coop.77803/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/raptor-chickens-coop-build.78149/

 

[rosemarythyme]

Keep in mind all the above recommendations are minimums - if at all possible aim for more of everything. Some birds/flocks do not do well with the bare minimum, and it also restricts you from being able to add birds in the future, isolate birds which are ill/broody/etc., and so on.

 

[aart]

Keep in mind all the above recommendations are minimums - if at all possible aim for more of everything. Some birds/flocks do not do well with the bare minimum, and it also restricts you from being able to add birds in the future, isolate birds which are ill/broody/etc., and so on.

Ditto Dat^^^!!!
....and much depends on climate.

How big does the coop and run need to be for 4-6 chickens?

Welcome to BYC! @randy9130
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[randy9130]

Welcome to BYC.

If you put your general location into your profile people can give better-targeted advice -- climate matters. Here's some general information for you.

The Usual Guidelines

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.

4 hens

• 16 square feet in the coop. 4'x4' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber.
• 4 feet of roost
• 40 square feet in the run. 4'x10' or 5'x8'. 6'x6' is a bit too small, 6'x8' is more generous and easier to build than 5'x8'.
• 4 square feet of ventilation. A 2'x2' window is theoretically enough, but in practice doesn't create any air FLOW so better to spread the venting around (and even better to exceed the minimums, especially in warm climates).
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

6 hens

• 24 square feet in the coop. 4'x6' is the only really practical build for this given the common dimensions of lumber. If you can't walk into it, put the access door in the middle of the long side to make sure you can reach all areas of the coop because a stubborn chicken WILL press itself into/lay an egg in the back corner where you can't reach.
• 6 feet of roost
• 60 square feet in the run. 6'x10' or 8'x8'.
• 6 square feet of ventilation.
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

Repecka Illustrates Coop Ventilation

Small Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/dallas-urban-coop-single-slope-design.72422/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/yakisugi-coop.76398/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coreys-coop-de-doop.55619/

Medium Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-barn-red-and-white-coop-complete-build-photos.75458/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop.74322/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/egg-song-music-factory.74019/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/perkolators-modern-chicken-estate-2019.75345/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-our-charming-and-eleggant-family-coop.77803/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/raptor-chickens-coop-build.78149/

Thanks. I updated my profile to include my location.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks. I updated my profile to include my location.

From Carthage in the Sandhills.

Here in the Steamy Southeast I strongly recommend an Open Air coop -- which is, essentially, a roofed run with a 3-sided shelter at the windward end. Mine is featured in my hot climate article: Hot Climate Chicken Housing and Care

You'll want to focus very strongly on ventilation.

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

 

[Raptor Chicken]

A lot of good advice already.

The total footprint for my coop/run for 6 hens is 6' x 16'. That's a 6 x 6 coop and 6 x 10 run.

My coop is a little over the minimum so more than adequate, but my run is at the bare minimum. I designed it this way because I already had a fenced off area 24' x 36' for them to be let out daily for a few hours.

Thats something to keep in mind. If you have a way to let your birds "range" a little then you can get away with the minimum for the run. If not, make the biggest run you can. They need to be able to get out and do "chicken things" to be happy. And happy chickens make more eggs.


Here's a pic of our set up...

 

[randy9130]

From Carthage in the Sandhills.

Here in the Steamy Southeast I strongly recommend an Open Air coop -- which is, essentially, a roofed run with a 3-sided shelter at the windward end. Mine is featured in my hot climate article: Hot Climate Chicken Housing and Care

You'll want to focus very strongly on ventilation.

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

How do you handle the cold weather we sometimes have in NC? We had some very cold temperatures this year.

 

[3KillerBs]

How do you handle the cold weather we sometimes have in NC? We had some very cold temperatures this year.

From a chicken's perspective we don't actually get cold here -- except maybe in the mountains. Chickens readily tolerate down to 0F if they're dry and out of the wind. Heat is the problem -- they're wearing built-in down parkas.

Since my area can get storms from any direction, for winter (or hurricanes), I put a tarp on part of the entirely wire wall to prevent wind from blowing directly into the roosting area. My birds were fine, though the rooster *might* have had a little nip on his comb. It was purple at the tips for a week or two then healed up perfectly.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/10f-in-central-north-carolina-in-an-open-air-coop.1558090/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/prepping-coop-and-run-for-wind.1550228/