Questions about Run/Coop space

[StarsFan33]

Ok everyone, I have read TONS and I see generally speaking, that you should allow 4sqft per bird when building a coop. I have some mixed feelings about that. I currently have this coop set up from cconly

bought these because they looked so good! Sadly, they are not at all practical and other then the fact that they look really nice, I hate them! LOL So....on to a real build.

Anyway, this set up is for 9 hens according to the site. I know a lot of people would argue it is too small for 9, but I had 11 in it without any issues until the larger birds started picking on my silkies and polish so I separated them, leaving 7 in this coop/run set up.

this has 4 roosting bars, and they are barely off the floor in the coop. I do not like that along with many things about this set up. But, all the birds seem to just squeeze together. they have PLENTY of space in that coop to all spread out, but they do not. they practically sleep on top of one another.

with that being said, I'm going to build a new coop/run. The hen house will be 8x8x8 and the run will be 16x8x6 (L x W x H) if I'm completely ignoring the run area, and I use 4 sift per bird as my bench mark...that would mean I have room for 16 birds if I'm using 8x8 to calculate square footage (although this isn't accounting for the 8ft height so in theory, I should have even more "sqft" to work with)...I would like to put 25 birds in this space...what do you think? in the run alone, they would have just a little over 5 square feet per bird. They will get some limited free range, every other day.

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

4sq ft per bird is the usual benchmark for inside the house, and 8-10sq ft in the run. For 25 birds, you are looking at making a shed of some kind. Height is more for your convenience. A chicken would be just fine living in a 3-ft tall house and run, but you would have to crawl in there....
Have you looked at the other coops on this site, yet? You can go to Articles> large coops, and take a peek at some designs.

 

[blackdog043]

It could work, until this happens, like you said:
"I know a lot of .people would argue it is too small for 9, but I had 11 in it without any issues until the larger birds started picking on my silkies and polish so I separated them, leaving 7 in this coop/run set up"
Then you have a problem.
If your run could be double the size (L & W) and your chickens would mainly use the coop for sleeping and laying eggs you would have a better chance of them getting along. That being said you could try it like you are saying and if problems start, you could sell a few and down size your flock.

 

[StarsFan33]

Ok Ok, so if I cut back to 20 birds? LOL I am actually building 2 of these. but one is going to be for polish and silkies and one for larger birds. in reality, if I can get 16 to 20 birds in one, that should be PLENTY!!! but then again.....CHICKEN MATH! LOL

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

It's good that you're thinking ahead. You only have 11 chickens right now, correct? Portable livestock shelters sells some pretty decent coops, and assembles on-site.
http://www.portablelivestockshelters.com/large_chicken_coops.html
They also have some odds and ends that you can use to build your own, like tiny windows and weathervanes.

http://www.portablelivestockshelters.com/build_your_own_coop.html

 

[aart]

Height is more for your convenience.

Walk-in height definitely makes things easier for the keeper, but it also is very good for managing ventilation in both hot and cold climes, as well as roost/nest height ratios.

 

[aart]

(although this isn't accounting for the 8ft height so in theory, I should have even more "sqft" to work with)

Extra height doesn't add sq ft.....it adds cubic feet, good for ventilation function.
If you use poop boards, that can add some square footage.
Good place for birds to hang out to alleviate the cabin fever we get around here during nasty winter storms.

 

[StarsFan33]

Thanks for all the replies. I have decided to go with 8x10 coop/house and keep my birds at 15 to 20. they will still have the 16x8x6 run and I have pretty much decided that I will not be allowing my birds to free range. just too many issues with that here.
So I will have two of these set ups. one will house various mixed flock...the other will house my silkie's. Very excited to get the new set up built and see my birds in the new digs!

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Make it twice as big and put in twice the ventilation. Bigger is better, size matters

Gary

 

[StarsFan33]

I am already going twice as big as I wanted.......and several times bigger then what I currently have! LOL ;-)