need some info before starting to plan my garage coop/winter run

[conny63malies]

I plan on 8 chickens. Most of them will be bantys such as cochins,frizzle and silkie with a few ameraucanas. I have three standard size polish chicks but dont know the sex yet. But the total chicken count will be 8. The coop/henhouse will be in the garage with a outside run that can be accsessed through a side garage door.
What sqf should i plan for?
How high should the perches be?whats the minimum height?
How high should the nesting boxes be? can they be on the ground?
I hope a 4x8 coop area is enough

 

[MRNpoultry]

I plan on 8 chickens. Most of them will be bantys such as cochins,frizzle and silkie with a few ameraucanas. I have three standard size polish chicks but dont know the sex yet. But the total chicken count will be 8. The coop hen house will be in the garage with a outside run that can be accsessed through a side garage door.

What sqf should i plan for?

4x8 for the inside sounds like more than enough.

How high should the perches be?whats the minimum height?

If the coop sits on the ground 3 feet would be good.

How high should the nesting boxes be? can they be on the ground?

They should be lower than the roost, to help keep them from sleeping in the boxes.

I hope a 4x8 coop area is enough

Does this count the run?​

 

[wynedot55]

you want to allow 4sqft pre hen.roosts can be 3 or 4ft high.

 

[MRNpoultry]

Will you let your hens walk around the yard?

 

[conny63malies]

Yes they will have yard access, a area of about 100sqf right next to the garage. I will have this fenced and covered with netting, since i saw some hawks nearby. I am also planning on a inside run area , just in case for the lousey winter weather and since most of them have feathered footed.
Not sure of the material yet. I dont want the whole coop to be solid since they will be in the garage anyways.
2-3 nestboxes are fine , right?

 

[Chirpy]

I think the general idea is to have one nest box for every three hens. However, after listening to so many other people who's hens are like mine .... they all chose the same one or two nest boxes to lay in.

I have eight nest boxes and they only lay in three of them 95% of the time.

So - I would think that 2 or 3 would be just fine for your girls. I might go with three if you can do that.