How much area needed?

[randy9130]

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/

Thanks!

 

[South Dakota Guy]

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/

This is great information! I have purchased (but not received) a prefab coop that is listed as sized for 8 to 10 chickens, but it looks like it is only good for 4 chickens according to the guidelines that you posted . The coop is 16.5 sq ft and the run is 38.5 sq ft. We max out at six hens due to local ordinance so going with 4 hens should be good enough for us. It is just my wife and I and this is really her deal.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is great information! I have purchased (but not received) a prefab coop that is listed as sized for 8 to 10 chickens, but it looks like it is only good for 4 chickens according to the guidelines that you posted . The coop is 16.5 sq ft and the run is 38.5 sq ft. We max out at six hens due to local ordinance so going with 4 hens should be good enough for us. It is just my wife and I and this is really her deal.

If you post a link to the product we will help you figure out how you have to modify it to get enough ventilation. I don't know of any prefab coops that really have enough ventilation as is.