Is 15 chickens too many?

[Semi-Country SAHM]

We are currently planning our coop and run. Our coop is roughly 4'x8' (just a couple of inches bigger) and 7' tall. It is two converted horse tack sheds that we joined together. Our nesting boxes are going to be external and the feeders and waterers will be out in the run. Our run will be 16'x20' with a roof height of 8'. We also plan on letting our birds free range on our property which just over 1.3 acres. We live in southeast Texas so our winters are pretty mild, but our summers are hell!

I was wondering if 4'x8'x7' was enough roosting and nesting space for 15 birds.

 

[rjohns39]

The answer is complicated and varies based upon opinion. The rule of thumb is 4.5 sqft per bird in the coop--but as one BYC article points out the real need is in cubic feet. Or really Roost space. I try to plan on 1.5 ft of roost per chicken and its worked out ok. In the beginning there were typical chicken fights in terms of who gets to roost at what level, but they seemed to work that out in a couple of days. It's as though everyone has their assigned spot... Hope that helps, I wish I could find that article.

 

[Tully Mars]

My coop is 12'x 20' for 27 birds and they have 20 nesting boxes inside. I would think it could work given they have a good sized run and will free range a bit.

 

[Percheron chick]

Most would keep 1/2 that many in that space. You will find your birds will not use the coop in the summer because it will be stifling. I would go with an aviary type structure. Roof, wall to the prevailing wind and hardware cloth on 3 sides.

 

[rjohns39]

This isn't the article I was looking for but its a good one. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

My coop is 4x8 and with 7 standard layers it is just short of feeling crowded when all are inside.

My coop is 12'x 20' for 27 birds and they have 20 nesting boxes inside. I would think it could work given they have a good sized run and will free range a bit.

12x20 means you have just shy of 9 sq ft per bird....op's coop would provide just 2 sq ft per bird.....

 

[Semi-Country SAHM]

Thanks for everyone's input. I forgot to mention that the north side of the run will be a solid wall to help protect from any cold wind that we do get, and the rest will be covered in 1/4" or 1/2" hardware cloth. We were also going to put roosts in the run and leave the coop door in the summer on top of all the windows and vents since we will have some pretty heavy predator protection.

We might go ahead with fewer chickens and see how things go.

 

[Semi-Country SAHM]

This isn't the article I was looking for but its a good one. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

That article helped a bunch! I feel that since they have over 300 sqft out in the run plus daily access to 1.3 acres (weather permitting of course), I just might be able to do the 15. I might go ahead a do a slightly smaller number to see how things go. Thank you so much for the article.

I'm starting to think that raising chickens is like raising children, everyone does it differently lol!

 

[Tully Mars]

My coop is 4x8 and with 7 standard layers it is just short of feeling crowded when all are inside.


12x20 means you have just shy of 9 sq ft per bird....op's coop would provide just 2 sq ft per bird.....

and that's not counting the 20'x40' run that is attached to the coop