size of coop

[burt4750]

I have 8 medium to large size chickens and 2 bantams. Will a 4x8 coop be large enough?

 

[Mamatomany123]

No. You need at minimum 4 sq ft per bird. I would build bigger. How big is the run?

 

[DobieLover]

I have 8 medium to large size chickens and 2 bantams. Will a 4x8 coop be large enough?

Possibly. I easily kept 11 LF chickens in a 4x8 coop. The key is you have to have a fully predator proof run attached to the coop so the chickens can just hop off the roost in the morning and head outside.

 

[tralfaz]

larger will give you more roost options

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I have 8 medium to large size chickens and 2 bantams. Will a 4x8 coop be large enough?

Sounds like the coop could possibly be large enough as long as they have a large run.The only time my chickens are in their coop is when it gets dark or when they lay their eggs, otherwise they are outside.

 

[aart]

The key is you have to have a fully predator proof run attached to the coop so the chickens can just hop off the roost in the morning and head outside.

Ditto Dat^^^
Weather proof too.

Welcome to BYC! @burt4750
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[GC-Raptor]

I've kept 7 Barred Rocks in a 22.5 square foot coop with a hanging feeder and waterer on pavers or heated base. So about 3 square feet per chicken with two 6 foot roosts.
They were let out daily at 5 am into a covered run 100 square feet. Run is now 300 square.

I had to cull 2 on separate occasions and lost one to a Fox last month.

As the numbers dropped there was less bickering at roost time and also in the morning when everyone wants to lay in the favorite nest of three available.

4 square feet per LF chickens is preferable especially if they are locked inside during a Blizzard. Yeah it's happened here a few times.

I don't have Bantams, but 3 square feet per would probably be OK, IMO. GC

ETA; As for pen size I have found that 28 square feet per chicken is preferable to 14 square per chicken. equals less bickering. Expanding to 42 square per chicken had no effect.