Before building a chicken coop, the number one question you might have is how much space does a chicken need. That’s a valid question for most first-time chicken owners. But there are some other questions you need to ask yourself before starting to build your chicken coop.
Do you want your chickens to roam free or be enclosed in a chicken coop? This is the real question behind how much space does a chicken need in your coop. And the truth is that unless you’re looking to house hundreds of chickens, you don’t need as much space you think you do. This is especially great news for people who have smaller yards but who still want to raise chickens!
So, let’s look at a few questions you’ll need to answer before you can determine how much space a chicken needs in your yard.
Land
Acres of land aren’t required to raise a small flock of chickens. In fact, some people can raise chickens with very little space. While it is always a great thing to have land for your chickens to roam, it is not a necessity in the grand scheme of things.
There is a general rule of thumb to help you figure out how much space a chicken needs to live comfortably and that is for every chicken you need at least 3-4 square feet of space. For example, if you had four chickens you wanted to raise, you would need at least 12 square feet of space for the chickens to live. This does not necessarily have to include the yard space, but if you want to use this rule for that equation, too, you certainly can!
Backyards that have at least a 10’ by 10’ piece of land will be perfect for your new chicken family.
Chicken Coops
This part of the answer to how much space a chicken needs is similar to the above discussion but with a more specific tweak.
If you’re unfamiliar with a chicken coop (or chicken enclosure as some call them), they are the spaces where your chickens will roost and lay eggs. It’s very similar to your house. You put your head down there at night and trust your most valuable belongings to reside inside. That is exactly what a chicken coop is for a chicken.
However, when it comes to looking at the space needed to raise chickens, the chicken coop does not include the runs or yard space. So, when you build a chicken coop, you’ll need at least 3 square foot of space inside the coop. Again, if you had four chickens, you’d need at least 12 square foot of chicken coop space.
Keep in mind that chickens are not looking for large spaces to occupy their free time. If you have a smaller number of chickens, you want a coop that is smaller, too. Why? Because larger chicken coops make it more difficult for the chickens to get warm during the colder weather. But, if they are housed in a small chicken coop, they’ll be able to produce the warmth they need to survive.
Chicken coops should also have perches and nesting boxes for all of the chickens! Let’s explore what nesting boxes are and how they serve your chicken.
Nesting Boxes
Figuring out how much space a chicken needs in your chicken coop should also include nesting boxes. They are not just there for show. Nesting boxes are where all of the eggtastic magic happens and may even help with egg production.
Be sure to position your nesting boxes in an easily accessible location such as a back wall or someplace that you can easily reach the eggs that are laid by the hens. You could create a large open concept nesting box where all of the hens gather together to lay their eggs, or you could create separate nesting boxes for ultimate privacy.
One foot of cubed space per chicken is required when building your nesting boxes. This is an ample amount of space to allow your hens to feel comfortable and safe within the confines of their own home.
Roaming
When we talk about roaming with chickens, we’re not talking about long distance phone calls. Roaming is quite optional and definitely not a negative thing when it comes to chickens. This is where having larger yards is a plus because roaming is easier for your chickens.
Keeping your chickens outside in a run or fenced-in area can be a good idea, but there are some inherent drawbacks to it as well. You will find that keeping your chickens outside requires serious thought and consideration during the colder months. Chickens cannot keep themselves warm out in the cold, which is why they need their chicken coops to keep them warm.
But if you are set on letting your chickens at least have fun roaming for a couple of hours a day, here’s a general rule to follow: 15 square feet of roaming outdoor space at the minimum. If you aren’t a fan of chickens roaming around your yard, you could enclose a space that has both their roaming area and their chicken coop all in one spot.
Choosing to let your chickens roam free (all day or occasionally) is your decision. You will have to assess your yard’s situation and determine if it’s possible to give them the roaming space you want them to have.
Got Space?
Now that you’ve figured out how much space a chicken needs, you could easily incorporate these fluffy friends into your family’s life!
Figuring out the location and how much floor space you do need are two of the biggest elements you must figure out first before starting to build/buy. If and when you start adding a chicken coop to your home, keep these factors in mind and give those chickens the space they deserve!
Raising chickens can bring joy and happiness to your family today! Figuring out how/when to house your new additions may not be the top priority to someone’s significant other, but it is a big decision.
You could opt for something smaller that gives your chickens more room to roam around, or you could choose to go for a larger chicken coop with little room to roam outside. Either way, do what’s best for your chickens and your backyard and watch the magic happen!
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