Let's be honest...

[Mrs. K]

I think you have to kind of play with the numbers. I have about a 5 x 6 x5 coop, just room for three levels of roosts, and some nest. They do not spend the day in there, I do have a bigger run. But two years ago, I had 10 hens, and they seemed ok, but when a predator got two, I noticed a change in the flock, they seemed more at peace, more comfortable.

In the summer, I had 5 hens and a flock of chicks, as the chicks grew, I could tell there was a bit more pressure in the flock, in the summer I was able to let them free range most of the day, but as the days grow short, and predators more brave, this time of year they are more cooped up in the run, with a few free days. Anyway, things have settled down after I have culled back to 8 in the coop/run.

So if it seems stressed, probably too many. MK

 

[cfdf]

I have an 8 x 10 coop with a 10 x 10 run on one side and a 6 x 10 run on the other side. My chickens can travel from one run to the other run by traveling through the coop. I have 7 standard size chickens and 4 bantams. My chickens have more than enough room in the coop. They are only in there during the night, unless it exceptionally cold, windy or heavy rains. They roost in the rafters, except for the barred rocks that roost lower. I live in Central Texas so it doesn't get too cold here in the winter for long periods of time. (we are expecting the 20's tomorrow night) I will probably be adding a couple of silkies and maybe a couple of others this spring. If I go by the 10' per chicken run rule, I will be shy of that this summer. Of course I have bantams so they don't take up as much room. I guess I can always add another run to the back side of my coop if need be. I don't let my chickens free range due to dogs in the area. Ever once in a blue moon I will let them roam around in my fenced back yard. It only has 4" high fencing so they can easily get over it. I left them in there one day, while I was home (inside) and went to check on them...1 was missing. She had flown over the fence and was pacing in front of her coop. She needed to get into the nest box and couldn't. I haven't put them in the back yard since. My flock is very managable at this size and the coop stays relatively clean.

I do have a chicken tractor that I pull/push around the yard. It's parked for the winter right now, but come spring it will be out again. My chickens just love grasshoppers and fresh greens.

 

[bunnibird55]

I have a 40 ft x 60 ft pole barn with a chicken pen inside of 10 ft x 20 ft. I have 28 NH chickens and 14 bantam cochins in this area. I open the barn door every day and they free range. We have 35 acres but they mostly stay in around the barns and house where there are a lot of trees for cover. I figure I can add a lot more chickens this next year!

 

[dirtsaver]

Our coop is 4'x12'x7' high with 4 roosts 4' long. The run is 12'x18'. There are 14 happy chickens living there. Like some others here the coop is mostly a sleeping place but is a lounging area when it's really bad out. I know it doesn't meet the standards for the number of birds but it's working for us so far.

Larry

 

[Beekissed]

I have a 10X15 coop/house with 10 nest boxes, 2- 10 ft roosts and 3- 3 ft. ones for 30 standard breed chickens. All floor space is clear except for a feed barrel and the feed trough.

No run...free ranged on 1 acre.

They also have two three sided sheds attached to the coop in which to lounge and an additional sheep run-in that they love to use...and they love to sit on and sleep on my one black sheep....must feel cozy to the toes!

Plenty of space, hay bales and warm places to roost and lounge at any given time....my chickens have a good life, I must say.

I have my broody pen attached to the main pen with a wired over window in between...this space currently holds 4 crates of apples and many, many pumpkins for supplemental feed for chickens, sheep and dogs.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

We are growing out and admittedly overcrowded right now. I finally did a head count this afternoon. In the run we have 3 coops. Each age group has claimed one coop and generally are in the same one each night, altho not always. The adults are in the main coop 4x12. 13 roost in there at the moment, including 2 roos. One third of it has a clear roof and they love that. Nest boxes and feed are elevated to give more room.
Just added an exterior nesting box to coop #2 today. It is 4x4 and had 5 POL girls in it tonite.
The third coop is 4x4 and had 8 half-grown orps in it tonight. Three suspected roos will have to move to the roo pen and leave us within a month.
I feel it is overcrowded, but no one has complained about the conditions, and everyone mixes well within the 20 x 20 run. Dynamics seem to change as the pullets/cockerels mature. We do have feed/water in all areas
All coops are elevated so there is always dusting going on underneath them or places to hide.
Ideally, we will be down to a generous dozen hens for the heavy part of winter.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I have 11 hens. My coop is 7ft x10ft = 6.3 sq. ft per bird.. My run is 100sq ft.=9+ sq ft. pre bird. I have a dropping board and my nestboxes are up off the floor--leaving the entire floor for them to scratch/play/rest on.

I like having more room for each bird, than the 'average''. I think it is one reason I haven't had problems introducing new birds to my flock
In the summer, I think I could 'push' it to 17 birds but during the winter (because of the time change/ shorter days) , I would hate to have them crowded in the coop/run..

 

[fl_deb]

Okay, you got me, I am over crowded.... 4 birds in an approximately 2' x 4' coop

with exterior nest box of 2' x 3'

attached to a secured 4' x 8' run

all secured with 1/2 inch Hardware cloth so they have access to the run 24/7.

Oh and they free range in the chainlink fence in the backyard when ever I get out there.

But I can get away with it because I live in Florida, and the girls really only sleep in the coop,

or pass through it on their way to the nesting box.

 

[gritsar]

The adult coop is 8X10 (80 sq. ft.). It holds 13 birds, now that Lil' Bit has passed. Four nestboxes, after I took an unused one out. Roosts run pretty much the length of an 8 ft. wall and a 10 ft. wall, so I guess close to 18 ft. of roost space. All the hens squeeze into one 3 ft. space on one roost and leave my poor roo all to himself on the other roost (I think he snores). The adult flock is all LF brahmas.

The baby coop is...I can't remember, I think a 12X14 (168 sq. ft.). There is 19 birds total in it now. Three nestboxes, adding more this week. 16 foot of roost in total. There's everything in there from silkies up to cornish Xs.

All my birds free range, so the coops are only for egglaying and sleeping at night.

If I were to add another flock, not just chicks hatched out by a broody, I'd add another coop. It just went much easier intergrating the flocks during the day when they each had their seperate spaces to return to at night.

The two coops will forever be known as "the adult coop" and "the baby coop", even though the babies have grown up. Just like when I want to call the birds, say the brahma flock, I say "here Girls!", and with the younger birds it's "here Babies!".

 

[mboreham1]

i have 9 birds, 7 standard hens, 1 rooster, 1 bantam hen. They have 72 sq ft of run, 36 sq ft of coop, all attached, available at all times, so combined, i cover all the minimums. They free range about 2 hours per day mid week, 4-8 hours at the weekend.

You can "get away" with less, but why? If you want more chickens, can you modify your coop - add a second level, attach a side addition etc? I have watched my birds sort the "pecking order" if the eventual lower bird has more than four or five feet to run off into, i havent seen them chased further than that/