Are you looking to keep chickens? Wondering how much yard space you need to afford to them? Perhaps you want to work out how different numbers of birds affect the size coop you need? Well either way, this chicken coop size calculator will help you quickly work the minimum chicken coop size you need, per number of birds you intend to keep:
Chicken Coop Size Calculator
How to use: To work out how much square footage your chicken coop needs to be, enter the number of bantams or regular sized chickens you intend on keeping below. Then the calculate button. (Note You can keep both bantams and regular-sized chickens or just bantams, or just standard-sized chickens.)Enter the number of bantams:
Enter the number of regular-sized chickens:
Minimum coop size: square feet
Disclaimer: This calculator should be used for information purposes only and is based on recommendations provided by Avarian veterinarians and experts.
Note: The square footage calculation provided is for the coop area, only. The results do not include the run or any general roaming area, which you will also want to provide to your chickens and be as liberal as possible with.
How To Use This Calculator
To use this calculator, simply enter the number of bantams, and regular hens you intend to keep. Definitions of each can be found below
Defining Bantams
A bantam is a chicken of a small breed.
Due to their smaller size, they are typically best for smaller backyards and areas, and you can keep more of them per the same area than regular size chickens.
The American Bantam Association cites over 400 breeds of bantam in total. Though the most commonly kept include:
- Belgian d’Anver Bantam
- Booted Bantam
- Japenese Bantam
- Rhode Island Reds
- Light Sussex
- Maran
- Barbu D’Uccle
- Sebright
- Old English Game
Defining ‘Regular Sized Chickens’
Regular-sized chickens in this context are any other breed of chicken, which are typically larger and not categorized as such.
What The Results Mean
The results of this calculator will provide you with the recommended floor space dimensions of your coop for the number of birds you intend to keep.
You’ll note that you can keep more bantams per square footage. This is because these birds are ¹/₄ to ²/₃ the size of regular-size chickens.
The calculator provided above will allow you to keep your chickens in the coop for longer, and most of the day, since it affords them plenty of roaming space.
Suppose you only wanted to provide a coop for sleeping/roosting at night only. In that case, you may be able to provide a smaller coop (with 1 square feet per bantam and 3 square feet per regular-sized chicken compared to the 1 square feet per bantam and 10 square feet referenced in the calculator above).
Though generally, the more space you can afford in your coop, the better.
How Big Does A Chicken Coop Need To Be?
A Chicken Coop needs to be sufficiently large enough for chickens to roam and have space. The general recommendation is 4 square feet per bantam and 10 square feet per regular-sized chicken.
Though, the following factors will impact the square footage required:
- Number of chcikens you itnend on keeping,
- The breeds of chickens you intend on keeping,
- How long you intend to keep your chickens in the coop for,
- The other areas they may be able to roam, e.g. a run.
Want To Keep Chickens With Confidence?
Are you ready to keep and care for a flock with confidence?
Are you not sure what you need, what to do (and when)?
Are you in the research phase and keep getting confused by all the information?
Well, our instantly downloadable eBook will answer all of your questions.
From breed selection, coop optimization, predator and ailment prevention to egg maximization, this is the resource you need.
How To Work Out The Coop Size
When searching for pre-built coops you will often see them measured, or referenced in ‘… x ..’. For instance 4×8.
To work out how much coop space they provide you simply run the calculation.
For example:
So a coop size of 4 x 8, will provide you with 32 square feet.
This would therefore allow you to keep 5 bantams and 1 regular sized chicken.
5 bantams = 20 square feet required, 1 regular-sized chicken = 10 square feet required. Totaling = 30 square feet.
Why You Need The Right Coop Size
Having the right size chicken coop is not only efficient but will also afford your chickens a much better quality of life.
Consider:
- A coop that is too large can get too cold during the winter or other colder periods. It will also be more resource intensive to keep warm, clean, and will generally cost you more.
- A coop that is too small will cause overcrowding, which can result in bullying, pecking, and disease.
Ultimately, the square footage of your ideal coop will depend on the size of your flock and where you intend to keep them the majority of the time.
I am an experienced pet owner with decades of experience owning a number of different pets, from traditional pets like dogs and cats, to the more exotic like reptiles and rodents. I currently own a Cockapoo (pictured) called Bailey. I am also the main writer and chief editor here at Pet Educate; a site dedicated to sharing evidence-based insights and guidance, based on my vast pet ownership knowledge, experience, and extensive research.