My first coop

[arsnow]

I am going to build my first coop as soon as I get the plans drawn up and the lumber bought. I am making it 5ft wide by 8 ft long, and was wondering how many chickens it will hold. I'm thinking maybe up to 20? The assortments I want to get from McMurray Hatchery all come in minimum batches of 25. Will my coop be big enough. I should have 8 nest boxes in there when everything gets built.

 

[NewHopePoultry]

No, it can house about 10.
As a general rule each breed needs 4sqft of floor space.
8 X 5=40 40/4=10

 

[Sequin]

It might depend. We have a 'coop' that the chickens only use to roost and lay eggs in; our winters are mild and they get to free range when they are not roosting - thus, we have a smaller 'coop' than typically required. We do, however, have a chicken house that they are able to stay in should the winter weather be extremely bad(which is rare in this area) that is like 10x15 and we are in to process of adding two enclosed yards with that. So, guess it just depends on your area, yearly weather patterns, and free range/yard access.

 

[arsnow]

Thanks, I was thinking somewhere around 10 birds. I live in the most northern reaches of Texas where the winters can get down to sub-zero, but usually single digits is the lowest it gets (and not for long). My coop wouldn't be year round housing. I'll have to come up with something for winter weather.

 

[kichohana]

Build it bigger - you'll want more!!!

 

[patman75]

Quote:
Yep!

 

[teach1rusl]

A 5 x 8 wastes material, since most comes in 8ft sections or 4x8 sections. Might as well build an 8 x 8'. I went with a 6 x 8 and kick myself about once a week for not going ahead and doing an 8 x 8. It would still be a tight space for that many birds though. You could go through a hatchery that does smaller orders. Or you could find a friend to go in on an order. Or you could sell off some of your pullets as point of lay when they're about 16-20 weeks....

 

[arsnow]

It's meant to be a chicken tractor. Would 8 x 8 be too big to build with small wheels? I am NOT going to build this thing on a trailer.

 

[CityChook]

8x8 might be awfully heavy

 

[sianara]

My Pet Chicken does small orders. Check them out. I've used them twice now. They are the only hatchery that sexes bantams and they were right on target!
http://www.mypetchicken.com/default.aspx