I would like to start with 45 laying chickens and maybe 5 roosters. How big should the coop be. I have a big yard which I can always let the them run

[Rabohwa]

I would like to start with 45 laying chickens and maybe 5 roosters. How big should the coop be. I have partitioned the yard and there is at least 4 000 sq.m they can always run in. The coop is mainly to keep the predators away at night and for laying booths.

 

[black_cat]

Thanks, I surely need it.

That is a LOT of chickens. Did you say that this is just to start with? I admire your bravery!

 

[aart]

Yep, ~200sqft of coop space minimum, 50 feet of roost length, 10-12 nests.

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[black_cat]

I think 5 rooster would be fine, as that would be 9 roosters per hen. They would need a VERY spacious run though, like what was mentioned before. A big coop too, at least 200 square feet and A LOT of roosting space, 18’’ per bird.

9 roosters per hen? Poor hens!

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Solid point. They would NOT last long. Survival of the fittest.

Survival of the males more like.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

First of all, you would need more than forty five hens for five roos, but if you wanted 50 birds total, you would probably need about 200 sq ft of coop space for 50 standard birds, less for bantams. Your run would need to be really huge.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

9 roosters per hen? Poor hens!

Typo, sorry. That would be horrible though.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

It’s fixed now. 9 roosters per hen would be an absolute nightmare.

 

[black_cat]

It’s fixed now. 9 roosters per hen would be an absolute nightmare.

Agreed!

 

[black_cat]

All the chickens would probably end up dead if you had 9 roosters per hen, at least the hens and some roosters would be.

Solid point. They would NOT last long. Survival of the fittest.