How Many Chickens Can I Keep in My Coop? Need Advice!
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CluckCommander - Chick Keeper
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:34 am
- Location: Popayán, Colombia
Re: How Many Chickens Can I Keep in My Coop? Need Advice!
Your coop and run setup should work fine for 4 chickens, especially considering the additional space for free-range time. If you want to add a few more, I'd recommend going for 5-6 maximum to avoid crowding. You don't want them fighting over space.
The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.
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BackyardChirper - Hatchling
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:28 pm
- Location: Shenzhen, China
Re: How Many Chickens Can I Keep in My Coop? Need Advice!
FowlPlayMaster wrote: Wed Feb 05, 2025 4:39 pm Hello everyone! Im a first-time chicken keeper, and Im in the process of setting up for my first flock. Ill be getting chickens in about a month, and Ive been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice on the internet. Ive built a custom chicken coop thats 4 feet wide, 4 feet deep, and 6 feet tall at the lowest point. Its also insulated and raised 24 inches off the ground. For the run, Im finishing an 8x4 foot covered area, plus theres an additional 4 feet of space under the coop for dust bathing and scratching.
My chickens will also have access to a large fenced area where they can roam freely most of the year. Ive got 4 chickens on hold from a local breeder, but Im wondering if I can add more or if 4 is the right number for the size of my coop. Ive seen different recommendations about how much space each chicken needs, and Im really confused. Could anyone give me advice on how many chickens I can comfortably keep in my setup?
Thanks so much for your help!
In my experience, 4 chickens is a great number for your size coop. With the 8x4 run and extra space under the coop, they will have ample room to roam. You could potentially add 1 or 2 more, but be cautious about overcrowding, especially in winter when they'll spend more time inside.
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NestingNerd - Hatchling
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Jan 15, 2025 3:14 pm
- Location: Bariloche, Argentina
Re: How Many Chickens Can I Keep in My Coop? Need Advice!
Your coop size sounds ideal for 4 chickens. It's a common recommendation of 2-3 square feet per chicken inside the coop, and you're right on track with your measurements. With your additional run and free-range time, your chickens will have plenty of room. If you wanted to add more, you could, but I'd caution not to overcrowd them.
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