subject: Building a Chicken Coop? How to choose the right size [print this page] The size of the chicken coop and the run that you build will determine the number and size of the chickens you are able to purchase.
One thing that has to be understood is that chickens come in 2 sizes: bantam and standards. Each size has different space requirements. As a general guideline to use per bird is a minimum of 4 sq. ft for standards and a minimum of 3 sq. ft. for Bantams.
This is only a loose guideline but keep in mind that an overcrowded chicken tend to get stressed. This can lead deaths among your birds.
There is also going to have to be access for people so regular maintenance can be done such as cleaning, feeding, changing of water and collecting of eggs.
Some other things to keep in mind when building a coop are:
Nesting boxes-Hens can be selective about where they nest to lay eggs and usually look for a secluded place to do it. Chickens will often choose a favorite nesting box. A good size for a nesting box is 1'x1'x1'.
Roosts-Chickens natural instinct is to nest up high to keep away from predators.they require One square foot of roosting space for each.
Food and water- these should always be available all the time. The waterers and feeders should be located away from the roosts and up off the floor to keep feces out of their feed and waterers.
TO be healthy and happy Chickens need access to a run or outdoor pen as part of the coop. Chickens need space to scratch around looking for food. Just like the coop, chickens require a minimal amount of space per chicken. A general guideline for space is 10 sq. ft for Standard Size Chickens and 8 sq. ft Bantams Size Chickens.another alternative is to let the chickens run free in the yard. Chickens will stay close to their pen so there is little risk of them running away.
Placement of the coop should be another consideration. The area that you put the coop and run should be on high ground. the coop should also be out of the wind and protected from the weather. Additionally the location of the coop should be out of direct sun as chickens do not like direct sunlight.
Building a Chicken Coop? How to choose the right size
