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Hi and welcome to BYC and congrats on your new hobby.

Here are some links to key resources:

Best wishes

Pork Pie
 
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Welcome to BYC!​
 
CindyinSD said:
What’s the weather like where you live? You can add your approximate location to your profile if you like. It will help folks to answer your questions.

A chicken tractor is fine if you’re in warm country. If you have harsh winters, you may want something more substantial.

Also, you need to keep in mind how much space your girls will need. If you have hard winters you’ll need more than you would if you live in, say, Texas where the hens can be out most days and basically use the coop as a bedroom and storm shelter.

Personally, I built a fancy little coop and ended up moving my whole flock to the emptied tool shed, racing against a blizzard. I realized that, while the coop was nominally big enough, it was too small to be snowbound in without the danger of going bonkers. The shed has sliding doors. Don’t buy a shed with sliding doors if you can help it. I’m always cleaning out the tracks.

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Assuming 4 sq ft per bird, the minimum size of a coop for 8 hens would be 32 sq ft. That’s really small, imo, but you could make it work. I would go double at the very least, but maybe you live someplace where they still do summer. Taller is better, and don’t forget ventilation and light (skylight, windows if you can).

You’re also going to want to consider roost space. The standard is about a foot per bird. Mine use about half that. But then it’s been winter almost their whole lives so far. On hot summer nights they might want the whole 12”. Higher roosts are more desirable, so the boss hens will commandeer those. Roosts should be higher than nesting boxes, but don’t stress about it. Two by four lumber, broad side up, makes good roosts. The chickens can sit on their feet and avoid frostbite.

Read the posts here about coops. It’s worth studying. Look up deep litter, nesting boxes, roosts (use the search function). You’ll find lots.
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Thank you so much for all the great info! I live in Minnesota (I will add that to my profile) so I'm very concerned about getting them through the winter. I'll definitely be reading up on that! Your hens look so happy....such a nice coop!! I do want to make sure mine have plenty of room too. Thanks again for the advice, it is much appreciated :)
 
Pork Pie said:
Hi and welcome to BYC and congrats on your new hobby.

Here are some links to key resources:

Best wishes

Pork Pie
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Thank you for these!!! I have a lot of reading to do!! :caf
 

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