Coop size calculator
Enter your flock and breed size for the recommended coop floor and run area — based on the standard 3–4 sq ft/bird (coop) and 8–10 sq ft/bird (run) welfare guidelines.
Recommended coop floor 24 sq ft about 4 × 6 ft
Recommended run 60 sq ft about 6 × 10 ft
These are minimums for healthy, happy birds — round up if you can, especially for a covered run or a cold climate where birds spend more time inside.
Common questions
- How much space do chickens need?
- A common, welfare-minded rule of thumb is 3–4 sq ft of coop floor per standard hen, plus 8–10 sq ft per hen in the run. Bantams need a bit less (~2 sq ft coop); large breeds like Brahmas need a bit more (~5 sq ft). More space is always better and reduces pecking and disease.
- Is a 4x8 coop big enough for 10 chickens?
- A 4×8 coop is 32 sq ft — enough for about 8 standard hens at 4 sq ft each, so 10 is over capacity for the coop floor. It can work for 10 bantams, but for 10 standard birds, size up the coop or reduce the flock. Either way they will also need roughly 80–100 sq ft of run.
- What happens if the coop is too small?
- Overcrowding leads to feather-picking, bullying, higher disease and parasite risk, ammonia buildup, and drops in laying. When in doubt, build bigger — "chicken math" means most keepers add birds within a year.