Hey y'all! I am new to chickens. Just got my first flock of baby chicks on Sunday 3/8/15. They will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. I am planning on buying the materials this weekend to build a coop for them. I was told by the hatchery that I would need to have at least 2 sq. ft. per bird for the coop and about 4 sq. ft. per bird for the run. I just want to be positive that this is correct and also I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me in converting that to feet. I know this kinda sounds like a dumb request, but I have NEVER been good at math/measurements so any help would be greatly appreciated. I have 4 Red Stars and 2 Barred Rocks. So 6 chicks in my flock. I would definitely like to build the coop and run big enough for when they are adults so I don't have to build a bigger one as they grow. Please someone help me out with this. I would REALLY appreciate all the help I can get! Thanks in advance!
I'm all about big runs and smaller coops but it really depends on your management style. If you think you'll be locking birds in the coop on the coldest days of winter then 2 sqft per bird is not nearly enough space. Also be aware that smaller coops makes integration of new birds harder. I've had up to nine birds use a 4x4 coop. I don't recommend that though and felt six hens and a cock was more suitable. But again, the birds were let out every morning regardless of the below zero temperature. And after culling a few birds and integrating new ones there would be trying times and once in a while an injury. So, bigger is better but we all can't have walk in coops. For the run I suggest you go as large as you can. I used a 10x10x6 dog kennel (100 sqft) which work very well but would have liked to go larger. I'm all about electric poultry fencing with a hot gate for spring, summer and fall but you'll need a dedicated run in winter.
general consensus is 4 sq ft in the coop, 10 sq ft in the run. No idea why they'd tell you so small. There will be others who will see your post and give long drawn out detailed explanations on why the 'numbers' aren't always correct, everyones situations are different, etc etc........but the numbers I've posted are pretty common 'general guidelines' to use as a starting point
