Chicken Coop Size Calculator

Are you thinking of raising chickens in your backyard? Or, you may want to expand your current chicken coop. Maintaining the right coop size is vital to provide your chickens the optimal comfort and safety. It should not be too big or too small.

Do you have any idea about a chicken coop size calculator? Depending upon your chicken size and the number of chickens, you can easily calculate the ideal space required for a flock house. This article will give you a complete idea of how to calculate the size of a coop.

Why Do Chickens Need Adequate Space In A Coop?

Comfortable movements and healthy living are only possible if you ensure enough space in a chicken coop.

A lack of space in a flock house leads to stress and various types of illness. Multiple types of bacteria and mildew will attack the birds.

In addition, it will cause fighting between aggressive breeds. They will start pecking each other.

Plus, calm and shy hens will be frightened as they lack personal space. It may lead to less egg production.

How Big Does A Chicken Coop Need To Be?

The average size of a chicken coop depends on your chicken size, the number of chickens, and their personalities.

Here is a small table mentioning the ideal space required for a chicken in a coop if there is enough run space.

The Bigger, The Better!

If you have the plan to raise a vast number of chickens in the future, make the chicken coop a little bit larger than the calculation.

It will help you accommodate several new chickens until you build or set up another chicken coop.

However, everyone doesn’t have an unlimited budget. Making the coop size too big will cause additional money.  

Another important aspect is considering your chicken’s temperament. High-temperament birds need more space because they are more likely to fight with other aggressive flocks.

These chickens don’t want others to dominate in their own territory. As a result, you want to maintain the optimal space for all of them.

Larger spaces are better for active chickens, even if they are smaller. They always love to roam around the flock.

Chicken Coop Size Without A Run

If your living location is extremely cold, keeping a running space may not be practical. Extreme attacks from predators could be another reason.

In such a case, you want to increase the interior space and double it.

Here is a small table mentioning the ideal space required for a chicken in a coop if there is no chicken run space.

How Much Space Needed For A Chicken Nesting Box?

A chicken nesting box should have a dimension of 12 inches (30 cm) x 12 inches (30 cm) x 18 inches (45 cm).

The depth of a chicken nesting box needs to be a little bit deeper because the bedding material will cover a few inches.

This type of standard box can effortlessly accommodate four or five common chicken breeds.

However, larger or smaller breeds may need more or less space, depending on their size.

How Much Space Needed For A Chicken Roosting Perch?

A roosting perch or bar is crucial for chickens as they sleep on them and mate with other chickens.

The average size of a roosting chicken bar can be anywhere from eight to twelve inches per chicken, depending on its size.

But you don’t have to calculate the roosting perch size separately. Our chicken coop size calculator will give an accurate result after considering this aspect.

Is Smaller Chicken Coop Okay With Enough Run And Yard Area?

A good chicken run allows flocks to roam around, enjoy sunlight, and eat natural foods like grass, insects, bugs, etc.

If you can ensure enough running and yard space, your chicken coop doesn’t need to be larger. Just maintain the minimum amount.

Flocks will spend the day outside and visit the coop time-to-time to eat food, drink water, and rest.

However, chickens may prefer to stay inside the coop if there is not enough space outside.

In addition, maintaining the minimum space is crucial, especially for the winter season. Flocks will come out less due to the extreme cold.

The larger chicken coop will give birds optimal protection from bad weather, such as storms, hurricanes, ice, etc.

How Much Running Space Does A Chicken Need?

There should be at least six or eight square feet of run space per chicken. But larger or smaller breeds will need more or less space.  

If your chicken coop has less space than the standard version, keep a little more for the running area.

How To Use The Chicken Coop Size Calculator?

Using the chicken coop size is pretty simple. You just input some information and get the result instantly.

• Choose where will your chicken spend most of the time.
• Then, Input how many chickens.
• The calculator will instantly give the ideal size for all birds you want to raise.

The following table is a small sample regarding the rough space you need for a chicken coop based on the number of chickens. It excludes the running and yard space.

Summing Up

A plan is a vital aspect of everything, regardless of what you do. And considering the chicken coop size is no exception. Most chicken keepers should go for long-term forethought in designing the chicken coop, especially the size.

Maintaining the optimal space inside the flock house is crucial to keep your chickens comfortable, healthy, and safe. We have already mentioned how the chicken coop size calculator works. Just input the detail and figure out your optimal result.