how much head room does a chicken need in the run and coop?

[nittanyxi]

I'm building a run and coop in a 4 x 10' section of my yard. I was going to build the coop over the run so both the coop and the run will be 4x10.

Side view.

<-------10'------------>
---------------------------------------------------
[ Coop ] } 2'
[ ]
----------------------------------------------------
[ run ] } 2'
[ ]
----------------------------------------------------

Is 2 feet high enough head room for both the coop and run?

 

[QuackerOats]

I would give them some more head room in the coop, so they can get up high to roost. Another thought would be - is it enough head room for YOU... I see that it is ten feet long. I wouldn't want to crawl around in a two feet space to clean after chickens.

 

[nittanyxi]

the sides will have hinged doors so I can either open all or part of the coop or run to clean it. I won't have to crawl inside.

 

[medan]

I give mine 8 feet high 20x40 ft and have roosts in the run also a shady area and in the pen they have 4 foot and a roost 8 foot long at 3 feet high I set the laying boxes at 3 ft 2 inch in my 8x8 coop i use the upper 4 feet as brooder but the first 2 feet when you come in the door is open to the ceiling it has become a pain ducking into the 4 foot area so i am putting doors in the wall to pick eggs and clean nests an 8x8 buiding is easy to build not a lot of waste I could take pictures if you like

 

[nittanyxi]

thanks for the replies. I have a 4x10 space to work with. that's it. I'm asking how much head space they need to be safe and happy not how much would be good for me.

 

[cicene mete]

Chickens like to be high up, and will roost as high as you let them. However, I've seen plenty of happy hens in those eglus, which look like they are about 3 feet tall. If you only have a few hens, I think three feet would be okay, but 2 feet would probably be too little.

 

[teach1rusl]

I agree...unless you're talking bantams, I would give them 36 inches.

 

[patandchickens]

I would not make the coop and run any *shorter* than 24" (although it is ok to have part of the run as low as 14-16", just not the whole thing). Taller is better, 3' would be good.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat