Newbie with a size question

[ngraysmith]

I'm planning on getting 3-4 chickens this summer. We will free range them when we are home and outside during the day (at least several hours except in terrible weather). We may need to put them in the coop at night since I know we have raccoons, possums, and other predators in the area. So...how big should the coop and run be given that they will get some free range time almost every day and be shut in the coop at night?

Also, if I were to add another 2 chicks every 2 years for six years, resulting in a total of 10 chickens (4 for years 1-2, 6 for years 3-4, 8 for years 5-6, and 10 for the remainder). How would that change my space needs?

I'm sorry if this question has been asked a million times and I do appreciate everyone who takes the time to respond!

Nicole
in the NC Triangle

 

[#1California Chick]

Welcome to BYC!!

The usual space is: 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and 10 sq feet per bird in the run.

Where do you live?? If you have bad winter weather and the chickens will be spending a lot of time in their coop, then you may need more coop space.

Good Luck!!

Cindy

 

[sherrydeanne]

I'd do at least 4x8 so you don't have to build bigger later. 8x8 would be a really nice size (less cutting with those sizes than 6x8, etc)

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
The thing is about this free ranging business, it's not really for *exercise* (like when people keep their horses in a pen all the time but make sure to get them out for an hour or two of leg-stretching exercise every day).

It's a matter of entertainment vs boredom, and 'elbow room' vs crowding.

So if they are only going to be loose for a few hours a day, that does not IMO really reduce social pressure on them in the run to any meaningful degree. And you should still have a good big run -- 8-10 sq ft per chicken, or more if the indoor part of the coop is tight.

Also, if I were to add another 2 chicks every 2 years for six years, resulting in a total of 10 chickens (4 for years 1-2, 6 for years 3-4, 8 for years 5-6, and 10 for the remainder). How would that change my space needs?

You would not want much less than 4 sq ft per chicken indoors (you could squinch a bit less if they have a good SHADED run of ample size) and 8-10 sq ft outdoors, so for 10 chickens that would be like a 4x10 coop plus a 10x10 run, *minimum*.

Although, life would be a lot simpler if you added more chicks less frequently -- it's easier to raise more chicks than just a pair, and that'd cause less disruption of the social order. Just something to think about anyhow.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat, who used to live in Durham and still misses it