Real Coop Sizing Question

[dsw500]

I just retired and now finally am getting ready to start my chicken journey. We live in the mountains at 7500 in Big Bear Cal, have lots of predators, winters get typically 50 to 60 inches of snow, our house gets wind, and summers are mostly mild in the 70's and 80's. We are looking to have a flock of between 10 and 14 chickens. Most for laying, some for culling. I almost purchased the Defender extra large coop by Producers Pride today, but decided to do some research and now I am so confused with pre-fab coop sizing claims. All the literature I have read says 4 sq ft per chicken... So 40 to 60 sq foot coop seems correct, but the defender coop is just under 5 x 4 ft. with a protective run of 10 x 10. Other sites have coops that say 15 chickens and they look like I would need 10 acres to accommodate them. While I like the idea of the ease of pre-fab, we are ok with building.

I would be so grateful for anyone that can give me some understanding around coop sizes, run sizes, and if anyone has plans that would work (or where to find them) that would be great too.

Thank you!

 

[cavemanrich]

All the prefab coops are stating numbers that are not very realistic. Yes, your research at 4 Square feet per chicken coop, and 10 square feet per chicken RUN are acceptable.
I suggest you consider a GARDEN SHED, and convert it to coop.
You can also build your own garden shed, and skip the converting.
What you need is IDEALY a walkin,, with plenty of VENTILATION up high, minimum 15 inches above chickens heads roosting. That also translates, to ,,,,,,,,,,, roosts do not need to be very high.
Provide windows that can be opened during summer for cross breeze cooling. (protected with hardware cloth for safety)
Windows during winter provide natural light.
Your run needs to be safe against the predators you have in area. You may need the open area above to be protected as well.
I see that you just joined,,,, so would like to
Ask anything else you may have in mind.
Meanwhile, I will search out a thread that seems dormant currently,,, with many coop pictures.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'd aim for larger than anticipated in your case, as it sounds like you'll be cycling birds in and out as they get older and integration of new birds favors space. So if your theoretical max is 14, I'd build for more like 16+ (64 sq ft or an 8x8), which gives you a bit of extra wiggle room. For run space, I personally feel the recommended 10 sq ft per bird is too tight so I'd aim for something more like 15-20 sq ft per bird, to allow for clutter and other enrichment items to avoid behavioral issues, and for integration.

As a point of reference my coop is 60 sq ft (48 interior not including nests) and the run is 440 sq ft, so that's for my self imposed maximum of 12 birds.

Also if you don't plan on having a climate protected run the chickens may end up spending a lot of snow season indoors, which would favor having a much larger coop than in a moderate climate. If that sounds like that could be the case (i.e. no roofed run for winter use) then you'd want to aim closer to 6 to 8 sq ft in the coop per bird.

The easiest option for you would likely be a shed - if you get a prebuilt one (or used one) you won't have to do most of the building, and some alterations like the addition of ventilation, roosts, nests, should make it work for your needs. Plus a typical shed is big enough to make your life easier as far as cleaning and maintenance.

 

[dsw500]

All the prefab coops are stating numbers that are not very realistic. Yes, your research at 4 Square feet per chicken coop, and 10 square feet per chicken RUN are acceptable.
I suggest you consider a GARDEN SHED, and convert it to coop.
You can also build your own garden shed, and skip the converting.
What you need is IDEALY a walkin,, with plenty of VENTILATION up high, minimum 15 inches above chickens heads roosting. That also translates, to ,,,,,,,,,,, roosts do not need to be very high.
Provide windows that can be opened during summer for cross breeze cooling. (protected with hardware cloth for safety)
Windows during winter provide natural light.
Your run needs to be safe against the predators you have in area. You may need the open area above to be protected as well.
I see that you just joined,,,, so would like to
Ask anything else you may have in mind.
Meanwhile, I will search out a thread that seems dormant currently,,, with many coop pictures.


WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Thank you! I'm going to check out the garden shed idea! The run I'm looking at is slightly larger than 10 x 10 and is fully covered and fits our area, so I'm rethinking flock size and thinking 10 chickens would be a good size to work with for a few years.

 

[dsw500]

I'd aim for larger than anticipated in your case, as it sounds like you'll be cycling birds in and out as they get older and integration of new birds favors space. So if your theoretical max is 14, I'd build for more like 16+ (64 sq ft or an 8x8), which gives you a bit of extra wiggle room. For run space, I personally feel the recommended 10 sq ft per bird is too tight so I'd aim for something more like 15-20 sq ft per bird, to allow for clutter and other enrichment items to avoid behavioral issues, and for integration.

As a point of reference my coop is 60 sq ft (48 interior not including nests) and the run is 440 sq ft, so that's for my self imposed maximum of 12 birds.

Also if you don't plan on having a climate protected run the chickens may end up spending a lot of snow season indoors, which would favor having a much larger coop than in a moderate climate. If that sounds like that could be the case (i.e. no roofed run for winter use) then you'd want to aim closer to 6 to 8 sq ft in the coop per bird.

The easiest option for you would likely be a shed - if you get a prebuilt one (or used one) you won't have to do most of the building, and some alterations like the addition of ventilation, roosts, nests, should make it work for your needs. Plus a typical shed is big enough to make your life easier as far as cleaning and maintenance.

this is awesome info. Thank you. I'm looking at a climate protected run, plus additional free range space with some fencing and netting. This was very helpful.

 

[Island Coppers]

dsw500,​

If you read many, many threads here one thing I think you'll never see is someone lamenting that their coop is too big. The birds like the larger space and if you ever need to cage some inside the coop, to introduce new birds or protect young chicks that will become part of the flock, extra space will make so much easier.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum! Glad you joined!

You have received great advice above.

We are looking to have a flock of between 10 and 14 chickens. Most for laying, some for culling.

How do you see this working? Will you be hatching or buying dual purpose birds as replacement layers to keep you flock young and eat the excess or will you be bringing in specific meat bird breeds? There are a lot of different ways to go about this. I'd have different suggestions for different scenarios.

All the literature I have read says 4 sq ft per chicken..

Over the years I've seen everything from 1 sq ft per chicken to 15 sq ft. on this forum. Some of these included recommendations for additional run space, some not. Lately most people seem to have settled on 4 sq ft in the coop and 10 sq ft on the run as typical guidelines.

I would be so grateful for anyone that can give me some understanding around coop sizes, run sizes,

Everything is situational. We all have unique situations plus we are dealing with living animals. What works for one does not work for all. The 4 sq ft works most of the time if the birds are already integrated and about the same age. To integrate chickens the same age or level of maturity, to integrate different maturity levels, or to have a broody hen and chicks with the flock can take more room. It is not a square feet number, it's more of can they get away from the others if they need to.

Unlike many people, chickens do not have a good understanding of coop space versus run space. To a chicken, if they need space is it available, wherever it is. If they have room available in the run they don't need as much room in the coop. If the run is snowed in or you have the pop door closed the run space is not available.

Each chicken has its own personality. Some can handle confinement and closeness better than others, even if the same breed. I find when I pack them in close they are more likely to have behavioral problems (pecking, fighting, cannibalism), I have to work harder (poop management), and I have less flexibility to handle issues (isolate one from the flock or deal with predator issues) as some examples.

I can't give you hard and fast numbers. I suggest to err on the side of more room rather than less. I'll admit, in the summer when I have my regular flock plus 45 or so of various ages growing to butcher age I can get a bit crowded. But I manage.

 

[Bawkbok]

If you read many, many threads here one thing I think you'll never see is someone lamenting that their coop is too big.

SO True!! Our coops and runs can never be too big!

 

[Bawkbok]

You have received great advice above.

I just want to say, your advice and input is always spot on. I learn from all your posts. Thanks for always providing insight to those of us still learning.

 

[cavemanrich]

Meanwhile, I will search out a thread that seems dormant currently,,, with many coop pictures.

Found it,
Here it is......
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/post-your-chicken-coop-pictures-here.596294/