What is an appropriate size coop for 10 chickens?

[desertchick3]

What is an appropriate size coop for 10 chickens? Is 6'x6' enough for them in general? I'm not considering building a new coop just yet, but the nesting boxes would be protruding from the side and there would be one roosting bar. Thanks!

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I believe the general recommendation is 4 sq ft per bird. Yours would be 36, so close enough, I say. I have about 48 birds in 150 sq ft, and they do just fine.

 

[Justso]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

Good info here

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC.

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09 square meters) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

8 hens

• 32 square feet in the coop. 4'x8' is approaching the limits for a non-walk-in coop even with the access door in the middle. 6'x6' should be walk-in because even the tallest chicken-keeper won't be able to reach the far wall.
• 8 feet of roost
• 80 square feet in the run. 8'x10' is a nice looking number but, remembering the common dimensions of lumber, a roomier 8'x12' is actually easier to build. 6'x14' looks good on paper but would require a lot of weird cuts.
• 8 square feet of ventilation.
• 2-3 nest boxes.

12 hens

• 48 square feet in the coop. 6'x8' is more practical than 4'x12' since a long, skinny coop like that would be difficult to work inside.
• 12 feet of roost
• 120 square feet in the run. 10'x12' or 8'x15' -- 8'x16' means fewer odd cuts than either of those. 6'x20' is possible, especially if your run is an open-topped, fenced area instead of fully-enclosed with a solid and/or wire roof but risks social problems because subordinate hens need to be able to pass the dominant hens at a respectful distance.
• 12 square feet of ventilation.
• 3 nest boxes.

Your climate would be very well suited to an Open Air coop -- which combines coop and run into one structure. Essentially, a big wire box with a 3-sided shelter on one end.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I feel that size would work fine if you raise all 10 together and don't plan on adding any more. My original 7 girls will squish together but they don't allow any younger ones on their roost.