Chicken Coop: What Size Chicken Coop Do I Need?

There are 5 key elements to consider when determining what size chicken coop you need.

Space: How much space do you have? Do you live in an area where you have lots of available acres or do you live in an area where you only have a backyard? Backyard chicken coops are becoming more and more popular. These are the size requirements per chicken:

3 to 4 square feet per chicken in the coop (minimum)

10 square feet per chicken in the pen

250 square feet for free range chickens

City and/or County Ordinances: Be sure to check with the city or county as they may have certain restrictions or limitations. You may encounter restrictions such as height or size limitations. Some cities may not allow you to raise chickens.

Number of chickens: We have determined that our city allows us to raise chickens. Now that we know the space requirements per chicken, we can determine how many birds we can keep. It is recommended that you raise at least 3 chickens. So we have decided that we want 4 chickens. Most backyard owners have between 4 and 10 chickens. Always keep in mind that the number you start with has a tendency to get bigger instead of smaller. Most people who have backyard chickens really enjoy the experience. So if you set everything up correctly at first, you should have the same positive experience.

Cooperative size: Our chicken coop should be at least 12 to 16 square feet. The run must be 40 square feet. For 4 chickens, this would be a total of 52 to 56 square feet. This would require an area of ​​approximately 6′ X 10′. If you want more chickens, consider the space you have available and size them accordingly. If you are going to allow chickens outside during the day, space will be a factor if you have chickens in the backyard.

Safety: Is your chicken coop free of predators? Dogs, raccoons and other animals will dig under the fence to get to your chickens. You should consider building the fence into the ground to prevent predators from burrowing. You might consider pouring a concrete pad below the fence line. You will want at least 2 1/2 feet of clearance between the bottom of your chicken coop and the ground. This has many advantages and can provide shade for your hens on hot days.

Chicken coops come in all styles and sizes. You can build a simple square box house or you can have a very elegant house with fabulous architectural design. You may also want to consider a “Kit” instead of cutting your own wood.