How much square footage/chicjken needed for free range chickens?

[Zanc]

Good day.
We have baby chicks we are preparing to build a coop for. We have 2A and plan to free range the birds. All of the "coop" specifications I have read state 2sqft/chicken inside the coop to prevent over crowding.

My thought is, however, our chickens will be free ranged during the day for about 10.5-11 months of the year (our winters are usually broken up with periods of temperatures in the 40-50's). I am thinking that a somewhat tighter coop would provide a warmer home in the winter when the birds are not as active. We plan to insulate the coop as well. (We are thinking of a 4x6 coop with 5 boxes for 15-18 chickens - have 10 babies now.

As I said, we are going to build in the next couple weeks and want to do it right. Do the free-range birds need the 2sqft/chicken in their coop or would it be better to keep the space smaller, and therefore warmer in the winter?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

From everything I have read, 4 sq feet per bird is recommended, with 2 sq feet being bare min. Also, if your winters are that cold they may be "cooped up" part of the winter and will need a little bit of room to prevent behavioral problems.

 

[sanchabird]

My 4 chickens are free range and this is my coop. Mine don't sleep on the roosting pole as they should, instead 3 sleep on top of the nesting boxes and one sleeps in the nesting box, so I could probably add 4 more. Their food goes under their porch, so I didn't have to add extra space for that. It is usually a 2 sqft minimum and 4 soft as "comfortable". One thing I have learned, build the coop as you want it, the first time, otherwise you'll be building a new coop a few months later like I did. Also, put linoleum on the floor, it makes it much easier to clean/hose out if needed. I put two large washer trays in the bottom and all you have to do is pick them up, dump in the litter pile, and refill. Makes it much easier. Good Luck!

 

[shmeggs]

it depends on what breed of chicken you are getting also. I have rhode island reds now , we let them free range but I still figure on 4 square foot per chicken because of bad weather when I don't let them out. some breeds get along better in more crowded situations. I would build a coop with 4 square foot per chicken.

 

[Zanc]

Thank you for the pictures. We are "breaking ground" next weekend and will go ahead with the bigger coop.
Happy Tuesday.

 

[Ridgerunner]

You might find Pat’s article on ventilation really helpful when thinking about keeping them warm in the winter. Pat was in Ontario when she wrote this. It’s not about keeping them warm. They have a permanent down coat to do that. It’s about providing the right conditions for them. That includes enough air exchange to prevent the build-up of ammonia and humidity and preventing a direct breeze from hitting them. Openings above their heads when they are on the roost accomplish that.

I’ll include the muddy run article. The best time to fix a muddy run is before you build it. Most of this applies to the coop as well as a run.

Pat’s Big Ol' Ventilation Page
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-VENTILATION

Pat’s Big Ol' Mud Page (fixing muddy runs):
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=1642-fix-a-muddy-run

For comments on how much space to give them, you might follow the link in my signature. I don’t believe in magic numbers for that because each situation is unique. You won’t find any formulas there, just things to consider.

 

[Sonya9]

Mine don't sleep on the roosting pole as they should, instead 3 sleep on top of the nesting boxes and one sleeps in the nesting box, so I could probably add 4 more.

Is that their roosting pole, about 2 feet off the ground? If so, that is why they aren't using it, they like to roost up high and the nesting boxes are higher.

If you add more birds they still aren't going to want to sleep on the low roosting pole if they have a choice.

 

[sanchabird]

Is that their roosting pole, about 2 feet off the ground? If so, that is why they aren't using it, they like to roost up high and the nesting boxes are higher.

If you add more birds they still aren't going to want to sleep on the low roosting pole if they have a choice.

Yes that is their roosting pole. They slept on it for about a week, then one by one moved higher. It started with the top nesting box roost, then it went to the top of the nesting boxes, and thats where they've been for the last 6 months. This is a newer bigger coop for them. In the last coop I had the roosting poles about 6 inches off the ground and 3 slept there and the other slept on a board about 3 inches off the ground. I had a feeling that they just didn't want to sleep there, but I now know why. However, I don't plan on moving it because they will still sleep up there and right now they use it to get up on the nesting boxes.

I am not going to add more birds due to a mean chicken and her accomplice, I was just saying I could. I wish I could add more though

Thanks for telling me though