I am going to be having some chickens at my new house need help with a coop design

[fisher101]

Hi i am going to be moving from a apartment to a house here in the next couple months i am looking for a coop to hold a few chickens in a big or small space i want it to hold around 20 or so chickens maybe

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Heres some ideas:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/category/chicken-coops.12/
You will need at the very least 2 square feet per bird so a minimum size of 40 square feet for 20 birds. More room is always better so you can add more to your flock

 

[123RedBeard]

2 sq ft per bird may work for bantams ... I'd suggest atleast 5 sq ft per chicken in the coop ... atleast 20 sq ft per chicken in a run ...

You gonna want a "Large" size ... at above link.

 

[lilmillefleur]

The 'rule of thumb' is 4 square feet per chicken in the henhouse, and 10 square feet per chicken in the run. It's always best to go as big as you can. Here's some great articles to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-coop-dos-donts-and-things-to-consider.72114/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box.47697/

 

[BuffOrps32]

The 'rule of thumb' is 4 square feet per chicken in the henhouse, and 10 square feet per chicken in the run. It's always best to go as big as you can. Here's some great articles to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop.47774/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-coop-dos-donts-and-things-to-consider.72114/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-nesting-boxes-how-to-build-a-nest-box.47697/

Great advice here!

 

[fisher101]

I will take a look at the plans and see what my wife likes and get on it as soon as we can thank you guys i had a coop about 30 by 80 for my chickens before but had to get read of them because of us moving

 

[Ridgerunner]

Try not to think in terms of coop space versus run space in isolation. Chickens don't understand the concepts of coop space or run space, they just know if they have the total space they need when they need it. How you manage them and give them access to outside can make a difference. If you like to sleep in on mornings instead of letting them out of the coop pretty early you might need more room in the coop than otherwise.

The climate where you are going can have a big effect on how much room you need. If they have access to the outside practically every day of the year then you may not need as much coop room as you would if they are stuck inside for days on end because of the weather. This is typically winter time. So we know climate, where are you moving to?

Many building materials come in standard 4' or 8' dimensions. If you are buying new you can often save cutting and waste by basing your build on those dimensions. Your roof will need a slope so rainwater runs off, that slope requires longer materials than for walls. Cut-offs can often be used to build nests or such. You will never get by without some cutting and waste but maybe you can minimize that.

I encourage you to go bigger than you think you need. I find the more I crowd them the more behavioral problems I have to deal with, the harder I have to work, and the less flexibility I have to address issues. Don't underestimate the benefit of flexibility, that can be a great stress reducer when something unexpected happens.

Good luck, it sounds like an adventure.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

2 square feet per bird

If you hate your chickens I guess.

More space, twice as much as you think you need. Big coop big run, if you are starting with 20 who knows once chicken math sets in.

Gary

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

If you hate your chickens I guess

Oh look. I negative post and opinion...on the internet. Never seen that before.

Like I said....minimum. It depends on the breed. More is always better.

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Hi i am going to be moving from a apartment to a house here in the next couple months i am looking for a coop to hold a few chickens in a big or small space i want it to hold around 20 or so chickens maybe

Congrats on moving out of apartments. I hate living amongst people with little to no privacy.