Coop size for 6 chickens?

[Chicknldy91]

We are planning to get chickens soon. The breeds I am getting are Black Australorp, Buff Oprington, and Americauna/Easter Egger. I don’t need info on the breeds, I’m just listing them for reference. I have googled so much about coop sizes and have gotten a different answer each time. What size do I need to build my coop to for these breeds? Same for the run. What size do I actually need for six big chickens? I feel like I am losing my mind trying to figure out what size I need! Please help!

The coop I’m planning on building will be wood and chicken wire, while the run will be pvc pipe and chicken wire. This is just the basics I have for now.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The "thumb rules" are (per bird):
4sq ft coop space (nesting boxes excluded)
10sq ft run space
1 linear foot roost
1sq ft 24/7/365 free ventilation art a level which will not draft on the birds
1 nesting box per 4-5 hens, +1

Like all thumb rules, its just a starting off point. Local conditions, special needs, differing management practices can all impact those.

For instance, if you happen to live in a very hot, often dry climate, an Open air coop may be what your birds need - which allows you to effectively combine coop + run space into an area smaller than 14 sq ft (total) per bird. If you have winter weather which puts snow on the ground for long periods of time, or very heavy predator loads, you migh benefit from more (covered) run space. If you have really nasty winter weather for days on end, more coop space is recommended, etc...

Bantam breeds (which you don't have) need a little less.

More space allows more options - larger flocks, integration and injury areas, more boredom busters to help avoid behavioral issues, etc.

Also, "squarish" is better than narrow and long - it makes it more difficult for a single aggressive bird to dominate the space.

/edit Also, chicken wire keeps chickens in - it keeps nothing out. As predator protection goes, its virtually worthless unless your predators are other chickens.

 

[Chicknldy91]

The "thumb rules" are (per bird):
4sq ft coop space (nesting boxes excluded)
10sq ft run space
1 linear foot roost
1sq ft 24/7/365 free ventilation art a level which will not draft on the birds
1 nesting box per 4-5 hens, +1

Like all thumb rules, its just a starting off point. Local conditions, special needs, differing management practices can all impact those.

For instance, if you happen to live in a very hot, often dry climate, an Open air coop may be what your birds need - which allows you to effectively combine coop + run space into an area smaller than 14 sq ft (total) per bird. If you have winter weather which puts snow on the ground for long periods of time, or very heavy predator loads, you migh benefit from more (covered) run space. If you have really nasty winter weather for days on end, more coop space is recommended, etc...

Bantam breeds (which you don't have) need a little less.

More space allows more options - larger flocks, integration and injury areas, more boredom busters to help avoid behavioral issues, etc.

Also, "squarish" is better than narrow and long - it makes it more difficult for a single aggressive bird to dominate the space.

/edit Also, chicken wire keeps chickens in - it keeps nothing out. As predator protection goes, its virtually worthless unless your predators are other chickens.

Omg thank you! I plan on doing chicken wire on the actual coop and run and possibly running cattle panels or hardware cloth along the outside and under the ground to keep predators from digging at least. I’ve seen a few other options for predator protection as well but am open to any other options!

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

What predators do you have there? You might be better off to use hardware cloth for everything. (it will cost more. But better to pay more in the beginning, than buying something that ends up not working, then having to buy the better product later and do it over.)
If you have raccoons for example, they have hands, and can climb. They can easily reach thru chicken wire and grab a chicken if it is close though to the side of the coop/run.

Agree 100% with the amount of space the posted above listed. That said, no one ever said they wish they had made their coop/run SMALLER. So go as big as you have the space and budget for. Do you live where there is a limit on the number of chickens you are allowed to have? If so, that is one thing. But many people start out with a certain number, then want MORE. They want "all the chickens" and end up having to build or buy additional coops, or adding on to their existing one.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Putting cattle panels on the ground is a waste of money.

 

[Chicknldy91]

What predators do you have there? You might be better off to use hardware cloth for everything. (it will cost more. But better to pay more in the beginning, than buying something that ends up not working, then having to buy the better product later and do it over.)
If you have raccoons for example, they have hands, and can climb. They can easily reach thru chicken wire and grab a chicken if it is close though to the side of the coop/run.

Agree 100% with the amount of space the posted above listed. That said, no one ever said they wish they had made their coop/run SMALLER. So go as big as you have the space and budget for. Do you live where there is a limit on the number of chickens you are allowed to have? If so, that is one thing. But many people start out with a certain number, then want MORE. They want "all the chickens" and end up having to build or buy additional coops, or adding on to their existing one.

We have American black bear, the gray and the red fox, the bobcat, the gray wolf and the coyote. Red wolf too but it’s endangered still I believe. I’m pretty sure there’s raccoons here too but they’re not as common here in the blue ridge mtn region. I’m not sure what other critters are around here that would become a problem. I plan on making the coop itself as sturdy as possible due to the predators we have here. I have yet to see a bear in the neighborhood but I know they’ve been seen before.

 

[DobieLover]

I plan on doing chicken wire on the actual coop and run and possibly running cattle panels or hardware cloth along the outside and under the ground to keep predators from digging at least. I’ve seen a few other options for predator protection as well but am open to any other options!

No chicken wire if you want to keep predators out. Only use 1/2" hardware cloth on all openings in the coop. There should be nowhere on the coop with holes greater than 1/2" if you want to keep most predators out. If bears are a potential threat, you may want to strongly consider adding hot wires to your set-up.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

With those predators, I wouldn't use chicken wire at all. I would also seriously think about electric (hot) wire around the whole thing. Either that, or the electric poultry netting. Electricity will make a believer out of a predator. Especially if it is hot enough to knock
them on their butt! Another thing with chicken wire, small birds can get in. And those little suckers eat a LOT of food in the winter. You have no idea how much they eat!

 

[Quadzilla32]

Hello all,

Not to highjack this thread and didn't want to start another whole new "will this work" one, could I get some input on my coop idea/design for my 6 chickens. I have a deposit on 6 of them and want to make sure that the coop will be big enough. I have read about the "rule of thumb" and think it will work.

I plan to make a raised coop that will be 4x6 with the run being roughly 12/10 ft. I'm still going back and forth whether or not to make the nesting boxes inside or attached outside with drop door to get to the eggs. I was going to make three nesting boxes but seems like two would work but would like some room if future chickens are added. The back side of the coop will be doors that swing open with roosting bars right there with a poop box so you can easily sweep the droppings out the back for easy cleaning. There will be hinged windows that can be opened for cooling/ ventilation along with a vent in the top of the coop.

Outside the coop the run will be rather long and protected by cloth with minimal clutter inside.

My main concern is the cold winters along with enough room for the chickens inside the coop IF I put the nesting boxes inside. I'm in Colorado and while our winters aren't as harsh as up north there are still times it wont get above freezing for several days with snow on the ground. I would feel bad if the chickens are stuck in the coop and in a small space.

This coop is kind of my inspiration and how i plan to kind of make mine with some slight tweaking

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/littlefeats-the-feather-factory-chicken-coop.47742/

Thank you all,

-Mike

 

[MarkRainbolt]

4 foot by 6 foot coop
6 foot by 10 foot run
6 foot roost bar or (2) 3 foot bars
Hardware cloth for everything!!!!!
Mark