If your backyard space is limited, avoid chicken breeds like Dorkings because they don’t do well in confinement ( 4). You will find some breeds do better in small spaces than others. Is it going to be all adult hens? Are there going to be pullets? Mixed breeds? Will you have a rooster? All of these are going to impact the final coop size. ![]() You should always figure out what your backyard flock would consist of. As for roosts, you should leave 5-10 inches of roost space for each bird on the pole. The average nesting box size is 12 inches X 12 inches (1). You should allot one nesting box for every four to five hens. So, how many nesting boxes should you have? Nesting Box and Roost: What Are The Required Sizes?Īside from coop space, don’t forget about the nesting boxes – especially when you’re keeping chickens for egg production. Keep in mind that if you have a large flock size, you will need a spacious chicken coop and run – regardless of design. Just make sure your chickens have adequate protection from predators and weather. If you are in the country, you can have free-ranging chickens to avoid the run altogether. You can move it around your garden and let your backyard chickens fertilize the field. The run space is usually underneath the coop, but some plans have the run beside the house. This type of coop is movable and floor-free. If your outdoor space is limited, opt for a chicken coop tractor design. Some chicken owners utilize chicken coops with a portable run to avoid filth and minimize bedding changes, especially during winter. So, six chickens multiplied by 10 square feet, you’ll get 60 square feet, or a 6ftx10ft run. ![]() You can use that square footage with the formula from above to figure out the size of your run. The City of Portland, OR, recommends 10 square feet of outdoor space per chicken (3). How Big Should The Chicken Run Be?Īside from coop space, you should also have the right size for the run. Backyard chickens need a run, nest boxes, and roosts. But, remember, the result is just for the hen house. That would be 6 chickens X 3 square feet. When computing for the chicken coop room size, always take into account the chicken math.įor example, you want six standard-sized chicken breeds, and you intend to keep them in a hen house with an outdoor run. You take the number of chickens you plan on having, and you multiply it by the number of square feet each chicken needs. Calculating how big your coop needs to be is easy peasy. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of doing math. Now that we know how to figure out how many square feet for each chicken, it’s time to determine the size of our hen house. And, behavioral and health problems can arise when you have too many birds in one space. Whatever chicken breed you’ll choose or currently have, always keep in mind that there is a pecking order. Orpingtons like to have about 3.5 square feet per bird (3). 75- 1 square foot making it perfect for an urban flock ( 3).įor large breeds, you want to figure towards the higher end of the scale. But how much less space? You can figure that a small bantam breed only needs. Obviously, the smaller birds take up less space. Your Brahmas and your Orpingtons are much larger than breeds like Seabrights and Bantam Silkies. Space requirements for chickens can also depend on the breed. Are Space Requirements The Same For Large Breeds And Bantams? Some places like Portland regulate how many chickens you can have based on the size of your land ( 2). In the US, chicken law varies from state to state and town to town. But, don’t forget that there are city regulations. Whether or not you believe in chicken math, always keep it in the back of your mind that there is a chance you’ll be expanding your flock. But why? Several factors come into play to answer how much space a chicken needs.įirst, will the chickens spend their entire lives inside the hen house, or are you planning to part-time free-range them? If they aren’t going outside, they will need more space in the chicken coop ( 1). You’ll find answers ranging from 1 square foot per chicken to 4 square feet per chicken. Whether you are looking at free chicken coop plans or thinking about the best coop kit, figuring out how much room do chickens need isn’t quite cut and dry. Space Requirements for Chickens: How Much Space for Chicken Flock size So, how much room do chickens need? Let’s find out. Otherwise, you’ll spend more money on chicken coop upgrades and renovation. But watch out for the mysterious phenomenon called chicken math. ![]() You would be surprised how little space you need to keep chickens. How Much Space Do Chickens Need? How Many Square Feet Per Chicken?
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