Square feet in an open air coop?

[redrocketrooster]

4 square feet per chicken in the coop and 10 square feet per chicken outside (if not more). So how does that apply to an open air coop?
For my design I really won't have much of a coop but an enclosed nest box area. There is not point since the heat would bake them, literally.

 

[Tala]

I guess it depends on how much time they are gonna spend in there. I'd say 2sq ft per bird SLEEP ONLY - meaning that the door is never closed, or they get to leave the coop as soon as it's daylight.

If they are crowded in there together for too long (if you like to sleep in before you let them out) they will get bored and probably pick on each other, possibly even turing cannibalistic!!

I allow 4sq ft per bird in my open air coop because I like to leave them in there till about 10am.

 

[redrocketrooster]

Quote:
Im pretty sure Im going to leave it open 24/7 except during the extra cold days.
The again, Im thinking of just tarping it over heavily during winter anyway...so even then it might be open all the time.

Should I just stay safe and stick with 4sq ft?

 

[CoyoteMagic]

There is someone on the Arizona thread that uses a dog kennel as part of his set up. I'll see if I can find it for you.


Would you believe I lived in Chandler when there were no paved streets, lol. And that was in the 1980's!!

 

[redrocketrooster]

Quote:
Oh I think I saw that one.

Im pretty sure were doing it from scratch and seeing how it turns out haha.
Im still on the look out for dog houses and other structures we can build off of though.

Same here (well not the same time but the roads)! I live in the faarrr East Valley. The part that barely hangs onto the edge of Chandler.

 

[patandchickens]

I'd just give them whatever amount of "roost box" space you need to contain the sufficient linear length of roost for the number of chickens, and then at LEAST 10-15 sq ft per chicken of space on the ground.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Tala]

Quote:
They won't need10-15sq ft per bird in the coop if they free range during the day time.
Really they'll need 1+ linear feet of roost space per bird, plus room to launch up to and land down from roosting, plus a nest box area. If they can leave at will, they won't hang out in the coop unless the weather is absolutely nasty.

You may want to consider a closing door if you have any way for predators to get into your chicken yard area. I lock the door at night to keep preds out, not the birds in. They free range on my back yard all day long though.

 

[redrocketrooster]

Quote:
They won't need10-15sq ft per bird in the coop if they free range during the day time.
Really they'll need 1+ linear feet of roost space per bird, plus room to launch up to and land down from roosting, plus a nest box area. If they can leave at will, they won't hang out in the coop unless the weather is absolutely nasty.

You may want to consider a closing door if you have any way for predators to get into your chicken yard area. I lock the door at night to keep preds out, not the birds in. They free range on my back yard all day long though.

Well we are deep in the suburbs, we have all sides covered by a very thick 6 ft wall, we have 4 large dogs (pose no threat) and the chickens will be in an entirely different fenced off area.
Not many wild animals expect rabbits and road runners. AC actually had to come out and get rid of a few of the rabbits, they caused car accidents.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Oops, I totally missed that part -- yes, if you are not building the whole enchilada just a nighttime roosting thingie, just space for enough roost is fine (8-12" per chicken)

Pat