Chicken Coop/Run, how big?

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Picklethequail

Picklethequail

Songster
Dec 17, 2020
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Martha's Vineyard Massachusetts
Hello, i've been away for a long time, but i wanted to know, How big does a Chicken coop/ run have to be for 8 hens? I still haven't gotten my chicks but I wanna be prepared for them, before I get them. I'm getting 2 Golden laced Cochins, 2 blue silkies, 2 speckled sussex, and 2 wyandottes. If that makes any difference than getting all the same breeds. So how big does the coop and run together have to be in ft. and how tall does it have to be also in ft.
 
Bare minimum would be a 32 square foot coop such as a 4x8 and 80 square foot run such as an 8x10.

For height I strongly recommend a walk in coop and run you can easily stand fully upright in. Stooping or crawling through chicken poo to catch a bird needing medical attention is definitely not fun or easy.

Given your location gets snow I would go bigger if possible as in winter they spend a lot more time inside.
An 8x8 shed is pretty standard and will give you far more options for roosts, nests and even indoor feed.
 
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) 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.
Remember, however, that these are minimums. There are a number of factors that might increase how much space is required and being subject to severe winters is one of them. :)
 
21hens-incharge said:
Bare minimum would be a 32 square foot coop such as a 4x8 and 80 square foot run such as an 8x10.

For height I strongly recommend a walk in coop and run you can easily stand fully upright in. Stooping or crawling through chicken poo to catch a bird needing medical attention is definitely not fun or easy.

Given your location gets snow I would go bigger if possible as in winter they spend a lot more time inside.
An 8x8 shed is pretty standard and will give you far more options for roosts, nests and even indoor feed.
Click to expand...
Thank you, this really helps. My dad is 6'1 so it has to be at least 6 ft. tall if he needs to re arrange something in there.
 
Picklethequail said:
Thank you, this really helps. My dad is 6'1 so it has to be at least 6 ft. tall if he needs to re arrange something in there.
Click to expand...

Go with at least 6&1/2 feet tall inside. Your dads head will be happy to have that space.

Remember that bedding on the floor takes up a couple inches and knocking your head on a rafter hurts....a lot.
 

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