Number of chickens and coop size

[broodiehens]

I'm fixin to pick up some more chickens but don't know how many I should get for my coop size. I currently have 3 chickens. they have a very large run and a coop that is about 4' by 3' and 4' tall with 4 nesting boxes. How many more do you think would comfortably fit in the coop?

 

[rsarns]

You are going to get varied answers from 2 sq ft per chicken to 4 or more. If you go by the 4 sq ft per chicken you are already at your max. Even at what I consider not enough of 2 SQ ft per chicken, then you could squeeze in 6. I think that is too many, but more importantly are we talking full size chickens or bantams? My coop is 11x10 and I have 20 chickens, with a 24x24 run that they spend most of their time in, and I have mild winters so they can be outside everyday. My point is with 20 chickens I feel that is about max for this coop, and it is 9 foot tall. THeir roosting area is 8 ft by about 3 ft deep... with 3 8 ft roosts.

 

[Cowgirl71]

With standard size chickens, I like to give them each a minimum of 4 sq. feet of coop space, plus a minimum of 6 sq. feet of run space and/or free range.

I've tried squeezing in more birds in the past, but I've always regretted it. When overcrowded they can start pecking on each other, and are also more stressed, leading to lower egg production and higher susceptibility to illness.

 

[broodiehens]

They are full sized New Hampshire Reds.

 

[CarolynF]

Hi,

Are the nest boxes inside that 3'x4' space? If so you're at your max. already. I have a 3 x 4 coop, too and wouldn't want to put more than 4 hens in there. I have one nest box that sits in one corner.

 

[broodiehens]

The nest boxes are in the wall of the coop, so they don't take up any space inside.

 

[Jeffross1968]

In purchasing chickens over the last couple months, I've had the chance to see many people's set ups. I've seen everything from what amounts to mansions for very few chickens, to lean-to's offering a little shade for 30 chickens. Personally, though they say not to consider whether they free range or not, unless they spend every or almost every day in the coop/run, and instead get out and free range all day, you can keep a few more than what is considered optimum. I have a 4x8 at 5 feet tall at peak coop, with a 10x10x6 run. Conventional wisdom puts me at 8 chickens on the low end, and 16 at the high end. I'll probably end up somewhere in between. The extra few chickens body heat will keep them warmer while roosting on cold nights, and on the few days where it's required, the covered run is big enough for them to have room to move around comfortably.

 

[BoltonChicken]

The agreed upon minimum for standard sized chickens is as follows:

4 Feet of floor space for each chicken in the coop.
10 feet of floor space for each chicken in the run.
1 nesting box for every three chickens.

More than that is better. Less is not good.

You have 12 square feet in your coop, enough for three chickens. I would not add more until
I added some coop space.

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:
I agree. Perhaps you can renovate and add on to the coop and run.