How big a coop do you need?
Crowding is behind most backyard-flock problems - pecking, disease and stress all start in a coop that is too small. Pick your bird and how many you keep, and we'll size the coop floor and the run, with a little room to breathe built in.
Run / outdoor space: at least 60 sq ft (about 5.6 m²).
A coop around 5 × 5 ft would do it.
These are sensible minimums with a little headroom - more is always better, and birds that free-range part of the day are happier still. Numbers assume standard adults; heavy or flighty breeds, hot climates and birds kept in full-time need more. Vertical roosts and nest boxes are extra to the floor space above.
Choosing a coop? Four coops with runs are compared, with the makers' hen counts checked against this space, in best chicken coops with runs.
Coop-building gear
The calculator gives you square feet; these are the parts every build ends up needing.
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