What is the pragmatic space per hen in the coop, please?

[kevinhannan]

I hope I don't upset people by this question, but I am curious to know...

I have seen various 'coop-floor sizes per hen' stated in different places on the 'net
but when I see my girls, they are all usually near each other, especially at night.
They seem to naturally occupy less space than what I have seen stated.

Now, I don't want to cram my girls in - and I want to thank them for their ex-battery cage
status in their earlier life - but I do want to make maximum use out of the space I want
to give them.

I can give them a more than ideal outside space (per hen), but what is the pragmatic
space per hen in the coop, where they seem only to be to feed and sleep?

Thanks for reading me and your time to reply.

 

[CupOJoe42]

The minimum recommended space is as follows, at least from what I've read or been told:

In the coop: 4 square feet per bird

In the run: 10 square feet per bird

In the brooder: start with 1/2 square foot per bird, increase to 3 square feet per bird in 4 weeks)

Roost space: 1 foot per bird

Ventilation: 1 square foot of ventilation per bird, or 1 square foot of ventilation per 10 square foot of floor area

1 nest box for every 4-5 birds (inches):
Leghorn size: 12w x 14h x 12d
Heavy breed size: 14w x 14h x 12d
Bantam size: 10w x 12h x 10d

Allow 4" of feeder space per chick

 

[kevinhannan]

Thanks DobiesLady1,
I have saved the page for my future ref.

Thanks again for your kindness and time to reply ;-)

 

[JackE]

Depending on where you live. In the winter, the birds may be spending alot of time in their coop. Chickens can get cranky and start bullying and pecking each other, if the are kept in too tight a space. That's why you want as much floorspace for them as you can provide. Dobieslady1 gave some good numbers to follow.
Jack

 

[kevinhannan]

Hi Jack ;-)

Yes, thanks for the heads-up on the girls needing space -
I want to give them as much luxury as I can while allowing
them to behave the way they should with minimum stress
from me or the other birds.

My current plan is a 144-sq-foot coop (12'x12') which should
house 36 girls, but I'm going for 20 - there's only so many eggs
I can juggle in a day! ;-)

Thanks for popping in, Jack!

e2a:
Wow! Just checked out your coop! What a palace!