Knowing what size chicken coup and building your own chicken coop is not as difficult as you may think. Some basic woodworking skills and a little bit of patience is enough for you to be able to provide a home for your chickens that will house them adequately and keep them happy and healthy.
What size chicken coop to build is determined largely by the size of the breed of chickens you intend to get and the number of chickens you want. Bantams require 2 sq. ft/bird, standard large fowls require 4 sq. ft/bird and extra large ones need 6 sq. ft/bird. These are just the minimum measurements. If your budget and the space you have allows, you can always build bigger.
Planning on keeping your chickens in the coop all the time? These numbers should be higher. Whether they are small or large birds, a minimum of 10 sq. ft/bird should be good enough.
These minimum chicken coop requirements are essential to your chickens’ well-being. Too little space would make them aggressive. Be generous to them in terms of space and they will be happier and healthier.
Building an enormous chicken coop for just a few birds, however, is not entirely recommended. Too much space for too few chickens would mean they have a hard time keeping warm at night.
What size for chicken coop door
A door can be as simple as a piece of plywood on a frame of 1-by-2 with hinges and a simple latch. Make sure it is made large enough for you to enter and exit easily even when you are carrying eggs or a basket. You may need to check on your chickens 2 times a day or more so your chicken coop should be easily accessible.
If you have a chicken run or let them roam freely, they can access the coop using a “pop” door. It is simply a hole cut in the coop about 12 inches tall and 14 inches wide. The extra width allows for 2 chickens to pass through the doorway. This will also be wide enough for 1 bird to pass through even if one hen loves to sit in the doorway!
How tall should chicken coop be?
A chicken coop should be tall enough for you to enter and exit without straining your back. You should be able to stand up in it. You will also be cleaning it so have enough room to move around. Ensure it is tall enough to not be buried in snow.
Attach a chicken run
Attach a chicken run to your chicken coop so they have extra space to roam. Double the measurements as required. Bantams need 2 sq. ft/bird in the coop, they would need 4 sq. ft/bird in the run. Standard large fowls that need 4 sq. ft/bird in the coop would need 8 sq. ft/bird in the run. Extra large chickens that need 6 sq. ft/bird in the coop would require 12 sq. ft/bird in the run.
You will need to put a few accessories in the coop for your chickens.
A roosting perch is where the chickens sleep at night. You can always find them huddled together in the perch to keep each other warm. You should provide 8-12 inches of perch per bird; 2-4 inches wide for their comfort, because they are flat-footed when they perch; and should ideally be 18-24 inches high from the floor. Any higher and they run the risk of leg or foot injury when jumping down.
A nesting box is where the chickens would lay their eggs. They do not necessarily need one in order to lay eggs. The box will just make it safe so the eggs won’t get stepped on and makes it convenient for you to collect the eggs. One nesting box for every 2-3 hens that measures 12 inches tall, wide and deep, and at least 10-20 inches off the ground is sufficient enough.
You shouldn’t forget, of course, the feeders, waterers and dust bath for them. A chicken typically eats about 400 grams of feed per day, so a feeder that holds that much feed will sustain 1-3 chickens. Waterers should be as generous as feeders because as much as chickens feed frequently, they also drink constantly throughout the day. A dust bath box is equally important as chickens need to clean themselves with dust to stay healthy.