Raising chickens can be a fun bonding experience for the whole family. They’re birds with big personalities that make great pets, as well as supplying your scrambled eggs for the morning.
But, just like we need warm, safe shelter, it’s vital that your hens have a comfortable place to roost that is big enough for their optimum health. You’ll need to consider the climate, types of bird breeds, and the number of chickens you want in your backyard. These decisions all play a part in how big their coop needs to be.
What is the best chicken coop size per bird?
The quick answer to this question is that you will need approximately 1.2 metres per chicken in a coop. But that is the bare minimum, and various factors affect the necessary size of your chicken coop. When setting up your coop, you need to consider these variables, adding a few extra square metres per bird.
Size considerations for chicken coops
Chicken breeds
The chicken breeds you choose to keep in your coop will affect the size you need because some breeds are smaller than others. Another consideration is mixing breeds. Certain chickens don’t like other breeds of hens and can be aggressive towards them if confined in close quarters.
Number of chickens
The more chickens you want to keep on your property, the greater the chicken coop size needs to be. The chicken coops we offer at Pinnacle can comfortably house 3-4 chickens, maximum. When in doubt, start with fewer chickens and see how they react to their chicken coop size before adding more.
Weather
If your location experiences a lot of cold weather, including rain and snow, your chickens will spend longer in their coop. Chickens don’t like the cold, and if they are stuck in a small coop for too long, they can get frustrated and become aggressive toward other birds.
Free range
The approximation of space for chicken coop size assumes that your chickens will be roaming free during the day, with lots of room for stretching, flapping wings, and dust bathing.
Affection
When you’re raising chickens as pets, they need affection from their owners. Chickens that get pats are just happier birds, and when hens are happy, they are less likely to feel claustrophobic in their coop.
Rooster
If you have one or two roosters as part of your flock, you will need a bigger coop. Usually, one rooster is dominant, and the other rooster will need space to get away from him. Another alternative is to have separate coops for each rooster.
Cleaning
The smaller the coop you buy, the more frequent your coop cleaning will need to be. Chicken coop size affects cleaning because a bigger coop has more room for everything – including droppings. But faecal matter can quickly build up in a smaller coop, so keep this in mind.
The importance of allowing enough space in chicken coops
If you overcrowd your chicken coops, several problems can appear, including:
Stressed out birds
Chickens get more stressed when cooped up in confined spaces with lots of other birds. They are social by nature but can become antisocial under bad conditions. When chicken coops get too packed to the rafters, hens can get agitated.
Less egg-laying
When hens are psychologically taxed, they are not in a good position to lay many eggs for you. They need to be calm and happy to lay eggs.
Disease
Small spaces are more prone to disease, as they need to be cleaned more frequently to keep the coop healthy for your hens.
For healthy hens, choose Pinnacle chicken coops
Our chicken coops are sturdy, high-quality homes for 3-4 chickens per coop, which is a good range to start with if you are new to keeping backyard chickens. Features such as a removable metal tray, nesting boxes, and a waterproof roof make these coops a comfortable residence for your hens.
See our full range of chicken coops online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse.
