Chickens need adequate room to be comfortable, happy, and healthy. If you don’t offer your flock the correct space, it may lead to many difficulties. Your hens may suffer from pecking, stress, cannibalism, parasite infection, and other ailments.
How big should a chicken coop be?
This depends on how much you love your chicken.
Chickens are friendly and enjoy company, but overcrowding your hens can increase stress levels. Allowing chickens to forage throughout the day will make them happier and healthier. They should be maintained in a chicken coop or shelter at night to protect them from predators.
Length, size, and whether birds are allowed to forage throughout the day determine coop size.
In a tiny coop, manure builds up rapidly, and the ammonia levels in the air may skyrocket. This is bad for you and your hens. Chickens will also be more prone to sickness and pecking one other. Make sure your hens have enough coop room.
Below is the minimal square footage per bird. Multiply that figure by the number of birds you want to put in the coop:
· Bantams:
Smaller bantams need less area per bird. This is why these backyard flocks are appealing. The minimum area per bantam should be 5 square feet per bantam. If permitted to forage throughout the day, a 4′ by 8′ coop might hold 16 bantams. If contained, a 5′ by 10′ coop might house 10 bantams.
· Light-breeds:
For lighter breeds, like the White Leghorn, a 4′ x 8′ coop may hold 10-11 birds. Chickens permitted outdoors during the day should have at least three square feet of space for each bird. If you have six hens, you’ll need a 5′ x 10′ coop that provides at least 7 1/2 square feet of area.
· Heavy-breeds or Hulking:
If you allow heavier breeds like Barred Rocks or Buff Orpingtons out to forage during the day, their night coop should contain at least 4 square feet per bird. A 4′ x 8′ coop would be plenty for eight chickens. If you keep your hens in a coop at all times, allow 10 square feet per bird. A 5′ by 10′ coop would be plenty for 5 chickens.
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