Need help figuring out sizes for first coop?

[blufangirl]

We got 3 ducklings and four chicks this year and are starting to build a coop. All of them will be free ranging our backyard during daylight hours. We want a coop and run for them at night. I know around 3 to 4 square feet of coop space per bird is good. We are going to be converting a storage shed. But I have been reading that they should have 10 square feet of run space per bird. Is that still accurate if they are not in it all the time and it will only be for nighttime housing? Any advice would be great.

 

[Kailey the Animal Lover]

I think 4 square feet per bird is fine. AS LONG IT IS ONLY FOR NIGHT!! Ducks do not roost, so i would put up a tarp under the roosts so the poop does not fall on the ducks heads. Best of luck!!

 

[blufangirl]

I think 4 square feet per bird is fine. AS LONG IT IS ONLY FOR NIGHT!! Ducks do not roost, so i would put up a tarp under the roosts so the poop does not fall on the ducks heads. Best of luck!!

Thanks. For advice we had already been thinking poop boards for that reason

 

[Kailey the Animal Lover]

OK! Our ducks didn't want to go inside for the night, so we just let them stay outside. BAD choice, though. They ALL were eaten. So, they will most likely not want to go in, but just bribe them in with some food and close the door. And if you don't want to have to go inside the coop to collect eggs, you should put small doors behind each of the nesting boxes so you could just unlatch the doors and collect them that way. This is one of my favorite nesting boxes.

 

[blufangirl]

OK! Our ducks didn't want to go inside for the night, so we just let them stay outside. BAD choice, though. They ALL were eaten. So, they will most likely not want to go in, but just bribe them in with some food and close the door. And if you don't want to have to go inside the coop to collect eggs, you should put small doors behind each of the nesting boxes so you could just unlatch the doors and collect them that way. This is one of my favorite nesting boxes.View attachment 1307906

That's the main reason we want t attach a run to the coop so they can have outdoor access even at night, especially since we have hot summer nights here. My husband has been studying the best possible predator protection for the coop and run. But I just can't see filling half their free range space with a run only for at night.

 

[Kailey the Animal Lover]

How big is the run space?

 

[X_and_Z]

What is your climate like? When wet or snowy your chickens won't want to free range much so you will want more roofed space. If you live in a mild climate you can get away with the minimums. 4 sqft/chicken is the general rule of thumb in the coop - nest area should not be included in this. 10 sqft/chicken is for run space in addition to the coop but it you intend to free range you probably meet this.


You also want to think about the future. If you want to insure a steady supply of eggs you should read this:
https://nwedible.com/chicken-rotation-optimizing-for-year-round-laying-from-the-backyard-flock/

In addition to the above chicken math is a real force.

 

[pennyJo1960]

as large as you can mine is 17 square foot diameter geodesic dome
going to build another one bigger actually have three coops now though

 

[blufangirl]

Also he is converting the shed to have a back section for egg collection and storage.

 

[blufangirl]

What is your climate like? When wet or snowy your chickens won't want to free range much so you will want more roofed space. If you live in a mild climate you can get away with the minimums. 4 sqft/chicken is the general rule of thumb in the coop - nest area should not be included in this. 10 sqft/chicken is for run space in addition to the coop but it you intend to free range you probably meet this.


You also want to think about the future. If you want to insure a steady supply of eggs you should read this:
https://nwedible.com/chicken-rotation-optimizing-for-year-round-laying-from-the-backyard-flock/

In addition to the above chicken math is a real force.

We are in south Carolina so pretty mild all year. They will have the whole yard year round but want to add a run for hot summer nights rather than totally locking them up but keeping them safer from nocturnal predators. That's why I'm thinking we could go smaller than 10sq ft per bird. I don't want to take up a ton of the free range space with a run but want them to have options at night, especially the ducks that aren't really happy locked in a coop