Chicken coop size calculator
Enter your number of hens. See coop floor, run, roost and nest box ranges in feet or meters.
| Coop floor | |
|---|---|
| Example coop footprint | |
| Outdoor run | |
| Roost | |
| Nest boxes |
Guidelines from extension services. They disagree with each other, so the tool shows a range.
Where the numbers come from
| Item | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coop floor per hen | 2 sq ft (Penn State) to 3 sq ft (UNH, Oregon State) | Oklahoma State gives 1.5 to 2 |
| Outdoor run per hen | 8 to 10 sq ft | Oklahoma State, Poultry Extension (10) |
| Roost per hen | 6 to 7 inches (Maryland) to 1 foot (UNH) | as listed |
| Nest boxes | 1 per 4 hens, or 2 for the first 4 and 1 per 4 more (Penn State) | as listed |
The Poultry Extension article notes that there is very little peer-reviewed research on backyard space allowances, so treat these as practical guidelines. Local rules may set their own limits on coop size and placement. Read more in coop and run space per chicken, and plan the whole flock with the flock planner.
Sources
- University of New Hampshire Extension: Producing Your Own Eggs
- Penn State Extension: Successfully Raising a Small Flock of Laying Chickens
- Oklahoma State University Extension: Backyard Flock Production
- Oregon State University Extension: Living on the Land, Backyard Chicken
- Poultry Extension: Space Allowances in Housing for Small and Backyard Poultry Flocks
- University of Maryland Extension: Housing Requirements