What size coop do I need?

[Tiffy316]

I'm making a coop for my little bantams. The run will be 8x8, but I need to know what size coop I will need for 12 to 14 bantams. I'm not including the coop and run in the measurements, the ones that I need are just for their little house to get out of the weather. Thanks.

 

[3KillerBs]

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

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

People often say that bantams take up half the space of a standard chicken.

Where, in general, are you located? What kind of weather will they need to get out of and how long is that weather likely to last? Coops in severe winter areas need to be roomier than coops in mild climates where they are never cut off from their usual run.

 

[Tiffy316]

Kansas. Winters can be nasty. They'll still have access to their run and extra scratch grains and straw will be provided in winter. I read that bantams need 1 square foot of space in the coop, but also 2 square feet of space, so I'm not sure how much per bantam.

 

[3KillerBs]

Kansas. Winters can be nasty. They'll still have access to their run and extra scratch grains and straw will be provided in winter. I read that bantams need 1 square foot of space in the coop, but also 2 square feet of space, so I'm not sure how much per bantam.

Is your run fully covered and weatherproof or will they be confined to the coop much of the time?

I don't know if anyone ever regretted making a coop larger than they thought they needed.

 

[Alaskan]

Kansas. Winters can be nasty. They'll still have access to their run and extra scratch grains and straw will be provided in winter. I read that bantams need 1 square foot of space in the coop, but also 2 square feet of space, so I'm not sure how much per bantam.

I would go with 2 square feet for inside space, at minimum.

Also, since your winters can be bad, I would highly recommend roofing the run.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would go with at bare minimum a 4x8 coop. Better would be a 6x8 that you can actually enter and close the door to tend things.
A 6x8 isn't much extra material but it IS far more functional to have enough room for you to step in to tend them.

 

[Sono]

I would go with 2 square feet for inside space, at minimum.

Also, since your winters can be bad, I would highly recommend roofing the run.

At our old place the regulations for permit was 2sqft for each inside coop and 10 sqft for each in the outside run. My coop was 4x4 (16sqft) inside for my 6 hens and 8x8 in the run ( 64 sqft ) which was a little bigger than required. More room is better .

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

Make it bigger, walk in so you can manage it. Size matters

 

[Sono]

Make it bigger, walk in so you can manage it. Size matters

That is my plan, going to build a shed for a coop... easier to maintain.

 

[Tiffy316]

Make it bigger, walk in so you can manage it. Size matters

I can go inside the run and the roofs lift up.