i know 4 sq feet but...

[KimberlyJ]

Wow those coops are nice, and local too!!! Last year was my first winter with chickens and it was a bad one

! I have a very nice covered run, and it still snowed in. My chickens spent alot of winter days cooped up inside the coop by their own choice. Two or three days is was so bad out we didn't even open the pop door. If I take my Black Australorp and stand her in a 12" by 12" space she barely has room to move! So for me, one square foot per chicken just won't do. Yes it's fine if all they are doing is going in the coop to lay or roost, but they need to hang out in the coop to get out of the weather too.... And yes, during the winter my chickens do pick on each other if they are cooped up too long. Not fighting exactly, but they do get grouchy with each other just like humans.

 

[mommissan]

My coop is only 4.5x4.5 and I have 10 chickens. I know.... tch tch tch! I have a 336 sq. ft run they use from dawn 'til dusk including evening free-range time. They are very happy and healthy birds. However, I have a winter dilemma now. The coldest days warrant being locked in that itty-bitty coop all day. I plan to build a bigger run come spring, but I will have to monitor them very closely this winter. I firmly believe in 4 sq. ft. per bird in the coop, because the run isn't always an option!

Chicken math: I have a 20.25 sq. ft. coop allowing for 5 chickens. I came home with 10 chickens, and now plan on a 10'x10' coop in spring which means I can have 25 chickens.... I'll order 25 from a hatchery, justify adding 25 more meat chickens to butcher by winter..... totaling 60 chickens.

 

[Fowl97]

so how many birds would you rec commend for a 6 by8 with free range all afternoon and a run. same question for a 4 by 8? thanks for all the replies so fast as well

 

[mommissan]

6x8 = 48 sq. ft. divided by 4 sq. ft. per bird = 12 chickens
4x8 = 32 sq. ft. divided by 4 sq. ft. per bird = 8 chickens

Simple.

I know. I'm learning the hard way.

 

[Fowl97]

my step dad has the attitude of they are chickens they are fine. he doesnt get that they will fight and can and will kill each other. we are lucky and have a small ish coop with 6 birds and they all get along fine so he thinks that clark farm is right with 1.6 sq ft bird. Im going to keep working on him and maybe ill try to find some pictures of them fighting and getting beat up to show him. if we do build the smaller one i will make sure we dont get 12 birds. they do free range all the time so they have plenty of room during the summer but like sour said you dont know how bad the winters will get for that year. the biggest issue is we are starting construction today and he all of a suden said a 4 by 8 is easier to build we should build one of thoes. he loves the chickens but he sometimes gets things in his head and its hard to convince him out of it

 

[sourland]

Guys can be like that.

Don't take away my 'man' card. Sourland George

 

[mommissan]

Quote:
Ya know, I'd hate to be a thorn in your step dad's side but, if you're gonna go through the trouble of doing 4x8, 6x8 isn't all that much harder. It will be harder to expand later and more expensive. It's just 2 more feet, a sheet of plywood and 4 more 2x4's.... maybe an extra few minutes.

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Quote:
My point of getting birds is so I don't rely on horribly treated battery hens for food. I like my food to come from healthy, happy animals. They'll be healthier and happier the more room they have. Just saying.

versus

 

[mommissan]

Quote:
My point of getting birds is so I don't rely on horribly treated battery hens for food. I like my food to come from healthy, happy animals. They'll be healthier and happier the more room they have. Just saying.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/46869_battery2.jpg

versus

https://www.backyardchickens.com/fo...44731_100001337108712_599058_1769700703_n.jpg

x2

 

[Fred's Hens]

At risk of ruffling feathers here, the tiny coops and runs we see so often, packed with birds, is only a step above the conditions depicted above.

The bigger the better is always the approach to take. If the coop is bigger, in cold weather/snowy states, you will be glad you did build it bigger and the birds will thank you when the next big 2 foot snow storm comes and then is followed by another 3 days later.

Plus, build it big now. You might easily find yourself wanting a couple more birds. Could happen. Believe it or not, some folks actually get to liking chickens and find they need to add a couple more.