need help on coop ideas

[internationalfarmer]

hi am new to the website and chickens and i was wandering what size coop and run i should build for 10 to 15 chickens.i plan on getting my chicks in spring of 08 and build my coop and run in the winter! thank u for ur help

 

[greginshasta]

4 square feet of indoor space plus 10 square feet of outdoor run. So 15 birds = 60' + 150' give you room for that flock, but no room specifically reserved for expansion. (Hint - chickens are really cute and have amusing personalities, plus provide delicious eggs, thus could be ever so addicting.)

I've got 10 birds, have built a 96' run and am building a 10x12 shed for a coop. The coop will be divided between storage and coop area, with a wall that has the potential to be moved if we end up getting more birds and want more coop space. The run is built in a way that it could also be expanded if necessary.

Hope that helps.

 

[Nuggetsowner:)]

There are lots of great coop plans if you go back to HOME and look at the coop design area at this site. It helped my husband and I get ideas for how we were going to build our coop and run. As for how much room they need I think it is 4 square feet per bird. But I am definately not an expert so I would look at the designs!! ANd get lots of advise from the wonderfully smart people on this site!!

 

[greginshasta]

Nuggetsowner :

There are lots of great coop plans if you go back to HOME and look at the coop design area at this site.

Additionally, there are even more photos of coops here in this section and in the old forum . I have literally spent hours pouring through 35+ pages of archived postings looking at all the posts.​

 

[Dawn419]

Here are two links for you...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=64

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=11802

Tons of great ideas in both! Hope this helps and Welcome to BYC and the madness!

Dawn

 

[speckledhen]

In general, for 10-15, an 8x8 is good, an 8x10 is even better and an 8x12 will allow you to add a few. Believe me, you will be adding chickens to your original flock.

I originally had a flock of 10 girls in an 8x8 then added a rooster. Still had room, but of course, this hobby mushrooms and then I added on 12' to that coop, retrofitted part of a shed into another coop and then built a third small coop for my Ameraucanas.