So, if you are going to keep 10-11 chickens in your coop, at an absolute minimum you’ll need to provide them with 88 square feet. Do chickens need extra heat when the temperature gets below freezing? They take turns in smaller groups rotating out into a tractor and also "free" range for about an hour a … A frequent questions I get is “How many chickens can you put in a 4×8 coop?” There are a lot of websites advertising that 4ft x 8ft coops can house 15-20 chickens. This classic chicken coop is made in America, handcrafted by the Amish in Lancaster County, PA, using high quality materials. If they have no outside run you need to consider far less chickens. Also, the ideal hen to rooster ratio is 12 to 1. Speaking to the expansion you described, I would make it at least tall enough to walk in without bending over. Confinement Building the Chicken Coop Floor. In total, you will need at least 110 square feet (give or take a few feet) to keep six chickens. Are you free ranging the chickens during the day, pasture raising, keeping them in a secure run, or co… Using 2X2 lumber (actual dimensions slightly smaller), and with no angle lumber cuts necessary, it takes less than a couple of hours to frame a … Solid chicken coop that provides safety and comfort for 8 chickens. You want to ensure the food is getting eaten by the chickens and not other animals. Again not my photo, but will make similar roosts and nesting boxes. We have a coop, which they are always in which is 48 sq ft., plus a hen house that is above it, which they have access to during the day and sleep in at night which is 24 sq ft. We have 6 lg breed hens. Coops can be purchased online for between $150 to $200. For some people, it is the question. (This is the third post in our Raising Chickens 101 series.). This is a real question. Most chicken owners (and city regulations) say that chickens need a minimum of 2-3 square feet per chicken inside the coop, and 8-10 square feet for outdoor enclosures. In terms of the breed, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Australorps and Orpingtons are all great egg layers. But again, more is better and I always aim for 10 feet per bird. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Your cats, being barn cats, might tend to be more aggressive than the “average” domestic cat. Thus, a 4′ by 8′ coop would be adequate for about 8 birds. The actual chicken coop needs to be at least 3 square foot per chicken. Join BYC FREE here to see fewer ads, post questions, upload pics, & more! But chicken coops do not need to be kept toasty-warm and heat lamps are never safe to use with flying animals. ©2020 Murray McMurray Hatchery | All Rights Reserved. So I have a list of questions that may give a better answer for your situation: 1. This is 9 square feet per hen, which is close to our recommendation of 10 square feet per bird for confined chickens. You’ll have to make the determination as to the age at which to begin letting your growing chickens begin free ranging. The Quick(ish) Summary We Told You About! So a 10X10 coop can house 25 laying hens. FREE SHIPPING on Full Orders of Baby Birds! This is not my photo, but this is how basically my coop will look like, except full metal roof and all wood frame. Skimping on space requirements for a flock of chickens can cause stress, cannibalism, pecking, and sometimes even death. Of all the structures that may […] In an emergency, is it safe to eat the geese at my local park. There is "technically" room for 14, but 12 seems to be the magic number for me. We recommend a minimum of 5 square feet per bantam if they are kept confined, so a 5′ by 10′ coop could contain 10 bantams. The proper size of the coop depends on how many birds you have, what size they are, and whether you let them out to forage during the day or keep them confined to the coop. Normally, domestic cats will not harm fully mature chickens, but we have heard of feral cats harming even fully grown chickens. Chicken Coop Plans for 50 Chickens: Before You Choose Chicken Coop Plans for 50 Chickens Before you can delve into chicken coop plans for 50 chickens, you’ll need to determine a few things first. Given 4 square feet per bird, the chickens don’t look or act crowded. Bantams, being smaller, don’t need as much space per bird. A coop with a good feeding system makes the job easier. How many chickens are too many? Integrating could be problematic, or keeping breeds (or individual birds) that are flightier, more restless, etc. At what age or size will the chickens be safe to let outside to forage? These factors will help you decide which plans are best for your needs–and for your chickens. Roosts for bantams should allow roughly six inches of room for each chicken. Drill pilot holes and assemble the floor with 3 1/2″ nails, 2 1/2″ deck screws, and carriage bolts. No really. Featured here is the E-Z Frame 10X16 Chicken Coop and Run Kit. The question of how many chickens to buy depends on how many eggs you want (assuming you're raising chickens for eggs). Horizon Structures' Super Coop is the larger cousin to our best-selling Quaker model. To convert a dog house with kennel into a chicken coop and outside pen, all you need is time, muscle power, a few additional construction materials, and your creativity. That sounds about right to me, though I personally like giving them more space than minimum recommendation (so I'd advise 15-20 sq ft per bird in run vs the usual 10). For lighter breeds, like the White Leghorn, chickens that are allowed to forage outside during the day should have at least 3 square feet per bird, so a 4′ x 8′ coop could house 10-11 birds. So following on with our example of six chickens, the coop needs to be at least 18 square foot. By the time the birds are 15 weeks old we are keeping only 50 chickens in a coop (4 square feet per bird). Chickens will be happier and healthier if they are let out during the day to forage. ChickenCoopOutlet Large Metal 10x10 ft Chicken Coop Backyard Hen House Cage Run Outdoor Cage Brand: ChickenCoopOutlet. They take turns in smaller groups rotating out into a tractor and also "free" range for about an hour a day under close supervision due to predators. A coop will help ensure feeding protection. As we mentioned before they like to fly up so higher perches will keep them very happy. With that said, the average consensus for large birds is that the best number of nesting boxes you need is one box for every 3 to 4 chickens. Now you might think with chicken coops the bigger the better? In many areas, there is a limit of roughly six hens, and roosters are prohibited. It’s best to make sure your chickens have plenty of coop space. However, over the many years of keeping chickens I find these items to be necessary. This is not good for you or your chickens. Well this certainly isn’t the case. But yes I'd say 8 should fit in that set up as long as the birds are well socialized to each other. Each coop is made to order! Is this 8x10 chicken coop … If you have a specific number you have to stay under it makes it super easy to pick a coop size. then you can decide what size chicken coop to get. Keep in mind that there may be local ordinances that restrict the number of chickens you can have in your yard. In this case, a 5′ by 10′ coop would be adequate for 5 birds. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Feeding your chickens is an art in itself. Required Space: Determining how much space you need to build the chicken coop plays an important design objective. The chicken coop. ft per chicken to let it run. A few of the items listed are optional. Its durable wooden frame includes a house with doors on metal hinges. Our hoop coops are 10 feet wide by 20 feet long, or 200 square feet. The animal control bylaw lists 17 requirements that must be fulfilled to legally own a chicken coop in Revelstoke’s residential area. Price: $306.46 + $79.49 shipping: This fits your . Chicken Coop Necessities using Recycled Material. But there are several other factors that go beyond this common sense. So, if you want a dozen eggs a day, buy 18 hens. As I mentioned above, the minimum amount of space you should provide is 8 square feet per chicken in an outside run. Chickens that are confined should be given at least 7 1/2  square feet of space, so a 5′ by 10′ coop would be big enough for about 6 chickens. Sheri, you would use the combined square footage of the two areas together, since they have access to both: 48+24 = 72 square feet. The coop will be inside a 200x200 fenced paddock that the chicken will share with 2 sheep Looking to get some good layers and dual-purpose birds. However, for those that are particularly handy, building a chicken coop from scratch can be an extremely cost-effective option. If the coop is too small, manure will build up quickly in it, and ammonia levels in the air can become quite high. Accommodates comfortably up to 8 chickens. When you find out how many chickens you can have in your area (or if there is no limit...woo hoo!) Hi All, I am getting a coop built soon - 8x12 shed that i will then outfit as a coop inside. Thirsty Three Times Think Thickish, Sponsored Content, Contests, and Giveaways. Gene, please see this article on our blog for information about keeping chickens during cold weather: Answered September 23, 2020. 10ft x 10ft = 100 sq ft / 4 sq ft/chicken = 25 chickens. When sizing the coop, consider how many chickens you want or are able to care for. Most people have set a standard space for backyard chickens, i.e. For more information about raising chickens, see Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens. And as a chicken owner, you need to keep certain things in mind before planning how much space you should provide to the chickens. Bantams This is one reason they are popular in backyard flocks. Chickens will also tend to peck each other more, and they will be more subject to disease. So about 8 chickens in this kind of coop? It all depends on your individual birds/breeds/personalities. ft of coop space per chicken with 10 sq. We have a number of barn cats that have shown great interest in the chicks. by McMurray Staff | Aug 2, 2011 | Chicken Coops | 6 comments. Run. Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance. Many unique chicken coops have been built with a lot of imagination and a little of re-purposing and recycling materials. I have a combination open coop/run with 12 chickens (4 of them bantam size). Below, we give the minimum number of square feet needed per bird. Chickens prefer to spend most of their time outdoors, so providing as much space as you can for the run is ideal. There are a handful of chicken coop necessities which all chicken coops should have. How Many Nesting Boxes Per Chicken While there is no set formula for how many nesting boxes you need, it will depend on the size and breed of your chickens. For heavy breeds, like Barred Rocks or Buff Orpingtons, if you let your chickens out to forage during the day, then the coop that you put them in at night should have at least 4 square feet of space per bird. This is one reason they are popular in backyard flocks. 3.9 out of 5 stars 15 ratings. Or visit our Learning Center for articles on How To Raise Chickens. 2 square feet per bird is adequate if they are allowed daytime forage, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams. Preparing Your Flock for Winter, Part 1. For some people, it makes sense to have many chickens, especially since hens are amazing at producing eggs. The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. A little extra space is better though. There is "technically" room for 14, but 12 seems to be the magic number for me. Thankful Thursday. You must log in or register to reply here. At night, they need protection against predators, so they should be kept in a chicken coop or shelter. The pressure-treated base and flooring will keep termites, carpenter ants and rot at bay. NEW! 2 square feet per bird is adequate if they are allowed daytime forage, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams. Crouching down or being on your hands and knees isn't going to be fun if you need to spend any amount of time in there. 8x10 Super Coop This model is … The deck for this chicken coop will measure 4′ wide x 4′ deep. Therefore, if you are starting off with six chickens, you will need a coop that is at least 18 square feet, along with a run that is at least 90 square feet. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. This model is the perfect chicken coop for 40-45 chickens. I have a combination open coop/run with 12 chickens (4 of them bantam size). Chickens that are confined should be given at least 7 1/2 square feet of space, so a 5′ by 10′ coop would be big enough for about 6 chickens. The chicken run is a fenced-in area connected to the coop where chickens can roam around. JavaScript is disabled. How Many Chickens Can I Fit In My Coop? Chicken Coop Size. If you keep your chickens confined to the coop at all times, then you should provide 10 square feet per bird. In them, we start with 100 chicks at 8 weeks old. Your chickens should … But not for reasons one might think. More square footage is better. To determine the what size your coop needs to be, multiple that number by the number of birds that you plan to house in the coop. Bantams need the least space in the coop – they will need 2 square feet of coop space each. it's the same as my aquariums for my fish, and greenhouses and fenced gardens for plants - no matter how big you start with you'll wish it was bigger in no time at all. E very year, good chicken keepers who love their pet chickens unintentionally kill them, burn down their chicken coops, barns and homes and endanger their own lives with the use of heat lamps trying to keep their chicken coops toasty-warm. Begin with A and B, next build the legs, C and D, nail 3 1/2″ nails through C and into D. Back to the topic of the OP---I wouldn't put more than 8 in your set up even when you do an expansion with the run. Building a Chicken Coop can be fun, but there are 5 key details that you need to understand that will help you in deciding what size coop to build.. A second-hand coop can be purchased for even less. E-Z Frame Structure Kits make framing a building easy for anyone! Chickens need at the minimum 4 sq ft per bird inside AND 10 sq ft outside in a run. I don’t believe it’s this simple to determine the right square footage for all situations. This isn’t really true. It also includes a cage that provides some outdoor space for animals. Kristina Metzlaff and Jennie Sosnowski-Deschamps are among the many chicken owners reporting a series of uncomfortable confrontations with the City of Revelstoke’s bylaw enforcement department this year. Chickens play such an important role in the lives of people who love them. 4 sq. Is this just for the coop/run or does it include the hen house too? You'll get, on average, 2 eggs a day from 3 hens. There are many options for feeding your chickens. , they need protection against predators, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams and flooring keep. 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Measure 4′ wide x 4′ deep or act crowded 1/2″ deck screws, and carriage bolts it Super easy pick... Most of their time outdoors, so providing as much space as you have. - design, Construction, & more protection against predators, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house bantams! The least space in the coop – they will need at least 18 square foot per chicken 10.