Number of birds I can run in my setup.

[skyhawk333]

I have a 8x16 foot coop walled up solid for a coop and a 8x20 hoop run by the side. How many chickens should I be able to run with this set up?
I plan on shutting the chickens up inside during the night because of predators. I think they will be safer.When I get through it will be almost snake proof. I'm sure they will find a way, but I'm going to try to keep them out.

 

[Percheron chick]

20

 

[skyhawk333]

Yes, 20 is about what I was thinking too. I just wanted other opinions.

 

[PapaChaz]

if you go by standard "rule of thumb, general consensus" of 4 sq ft per bird inside, your coop at 8x16=128/4=32 chickens.

However, when you apply that 'rule of thumb general consensus' of 10 sq ft per bird OUTSIDE in the run, you come up with 8x20=160/10=16 chickens

being that the coop will most likely be left available to them to go in and out at will, you'll be fine with 20, maybe even a few more. I'd leave the feeder inside to encourage them to go in and out through the day.

 

[aart]

What is your climate?
Putting your location in your profile can help folks give more viable answers/suggestions.

4/10 rule of thumb is minimum, more space is always better especially in wintry climates.

 

[farnorth]

I have a similar size set up. I keep 16 most of the time.

In summer I will let a broody raise some chicks and my numbers might climb to 30 with 16 being adults and 14 being youngsters.

They do get to free range in nice weather. and are not confined to the run except for when I don't want them running around for some reason or if someone is visiting with a dog who is not trained to leave the chickens alone.

Over winter I reduce the flock to 16 audults because my flock is indoors for nearly 6 months in our northern winter weather and I don't let them out at all in winter because they would get stuck in deep snow and it's usually bitter cold for weeks on end.

I could probably get away with 20 birds but when they are confined to the coop 16 seems like plenty.

 

[skyhawk333]

The climate here is semi tropical in the summer as I live in central Mississippi. The winters do get cold sometimes down to 10 degrees but only for a day or two at a time. Most of the winter is mild.

 

[BBrady]

Awesome. I have a converted shed that is 8 x 24 for a coop, and I am building some tractors that are maybe 8 by 16 depending on what scrap I have and if I can drag that around by myself. I was planning on starting out with just a dozen rhode island red chicks, and maybe getting some hens in a few months, but I went to a different feed store today, and they had barred rock chicks and I quickly decided to double my flock off the bat, assuming they all live (fingers crossed). I am glad to hear i probably have enough space for after the brooder phase!