Is it 4sq. feet or 2sq. feet per chicken in coop?

[Shellyb]

I thought when I started reading about chickens I saw that it was 2sq. feet per chicken when they have access to outside and 4sq. feet when they don't. Now everyone on here has been saying 4 sq. feet regardless of outside space it seems. Anyone know for sure? TIA

 

[Southernbelle]

4 sq feet/bird inside and 10 sq ft/bird outside. Overcrowding causes all sorts of problems

 

[gritsar]

I agree with Belle. The more space you can give them the better.

 

[Kim_NC]

Ditto.

The 2 sq ft/bird inside is used for broilers (Cornish X).

 

[Akane]

Depends on the bird. Usually I hear 4sq ft for standards and 2sq ft for bantams. Then meat birds are generally kept in fairly small space.

 

[gkeesling]

If they could come and go outside the coop all they wanted then you could probably go with less than 4 sq. ft. per bird, but if you live in a northern area there is part of the winter they are going to be cooped up in the coop for a time. If you only have 2 sq. ft. per bird it will get awful crowded during that time and they will peck at each other something fierce. I live in Indiana, but if i lived in, say, Tennesee where they wouldn't be spending all their time in the coop during the winter thenI'd feel more comfortable going less than 4 sq. ft. per bird.