Coop for 30 chickens

[Dogsothoth]

Show me your coop & run for 20-30+ chickens!

I have 26 now, and my barn is 12x12 or so, and the run is just a pasture. I’m hoping they’ll stay in, may have to clip wings I just want to see others 20-30+ designs!

Also, how often do you clean & what is your cleaning protocol for your designs? Bedding choice, products, etc? Please share!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

I don't have that many, but I'd love to see pictures!

Is the dimension of your coop 12 x 12?

 

[Dogsothoth]

I don't have that many, but I'd love to see pictures!

Is the dimension of your coop 12 x 12?

Yes, so I’m hoping thats enough space. I’d imagine so? I have 9 out there right now & it looks like an empty coop. I mean, to be fair, there’s 2 goats in this barn in a stall in the corner, and they go in the pasture as well. But they really only take up a TINY space, the goats. There’s 1/2 acre pasture, but the chicken area is prob... 1/6th of an acre or so.

I realized though. My coop barn is prob 12x14 or 16 actually. I have a 12x12 attached for ponies, as well, I’m realizing that the coop barn is larger!

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Yes, so I’m hoping thats enough space. I’d imagine so? I have 9 out there right now & it looks like an empty coop. I mean, to be fair, there’s 2 goats in this barn in a stall in the corner, and they go in the pasture as well. But they really only take up a TINY space, the goats. There’s 1/2 acre pasture, but the chicken area is prob... 1/6th of an acre or so.

I realized though. My coop barn is prob 12x14 or 16 actually. I have a 12x12 attached for ponies, as well, I’m realizing that the coop barn is larger!

That should be plenty big! General guide line is 4 sqft per bird.

 

[saysfaa]

Mine is much smaller but the coop that inspired mine works well for at least the lower end of your numbers and scales up easily.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/woods-style-house-in-the-winter.445004/#post-5566206

The builder had about 18 when he posted his thread but it would fit more. And, again, it scales up very easily.

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you? Climate matters, especially when it comes to housing.

I don't have a coop page yet for Neuchickenstein, which is 16x16 in an Open Air style, but here's the build thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/large-open-air-coop-in-central-nc.1443812/

And this article has extensive photos: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

I haven't done the math for 30, but I have 23 adults and some juveniles in there right now and had 40+ of mixed adults and juveniles last fall.

20 hens

• 80 square feet in the coop. 8'x10' is the most practical because 7'x12' or 6'x14' require a lot of weird cuts.
• 20 feet of roost
• 200 square feet in the run. 10'x20', 12'x16' or 8'x25' as suits the land available.
• 20 square feet of ventilation.
• 5 nest boxes.

The Usual Guideline numbers break down some when dealing with large flocks in large spaces. From a behavioral standpoint, the larger the coop/run the less space an individual chicken needs because there is so much more overall space where it can get away from bullies and freely engage in such natural behaviors as perching, foraging, dust bathing, etc. without interference from other flock members. But increasing flock density still comes with problems in the areas of sanitation, over-grazing, and the like since an individual chicken still eats the same amount and produces the same amount of waste.

 

[Percheron chick]

My old chicken coop was a 10x12 stall in a horse barn. The most it ever held was 25 chickens, 9 guineas and in bad snow storms 3 geese. They did have access to a 10x20 run all the time and free ranged.. Normally, I bed with straw or hay because I always have it on hand. If I find free bags of leaves or pine needles or if a tree company is looking for a place to dump a load of wood chips, I'm in. I'm not married to one way.

 

[3KillerBs]

Normally, I bed with straw or hay because I always have it on hand. If I find free bags of leaves or pine needles or if a tree company is looking for a place to dump a load of wood chips, I'm in. I'm not married to one way.

IMO, an excellent practice (did I learn it from you originally? ).

Free bedding is the best bedding and, IMO, a mix is better than just one material anyway.

 

[Percheron chick]

What I do not like to use it shavings. Smells and look great but the dust! Everything gets covered.
A big advantage of free is it's painless to strip the stall and rebed it. More apt to clean out more frequently. You need to have a place to compost and dispose of the waste but I have the problem of never enough finished compost.

 

[3KillerBs]

What I do not like to use it shavings. Smells and look great but the dust! Everything gets covered.
A big advantage of free is it's painless to strip the stall and rebed it. More apt to clean out more frequently. You need to have a place to compost and dispose of the waste but I have the problem of never enough finished compost.

I use shavings in the closed coop and in the brooder, but my favored base bedding is a mix of pine straw and wood chips.

Unfortunately, with avian flu in my area I couldn't gather the last of the winter's pine straw for them and when I top the bedding soon I'll have to fork the top of the wood chip pile aside and use only the underlayers -- tripling the work.