Chicken Coop Plans | Free PDF Download - Construct101 (2024)

FAQs

How many chickens can you have in a 10x10 coop? ›

A chicken needs about 4 square-feet per bird inside the coop. That means a 10x10 coop would comfortably hold 25 birds. Remember, they also need about 10-12 inches per bird to roost on at night.

You need an 8'x12′ to 10'x12′ sized coop for 30 chickens. Since you need anywhere from 90 to 120 square feet per bird in the hen house, that means that an 8'x12′ coop would work on the small end, and upwards of 10'x12′ would be best on the higher end for a flock of 30 chickens.

Most of the advice online for helping your chickens survive the winter is to eliminate drafts in your coop. That's all well and good: I put bales of hay around the outside, seal up the window with plastic, and cover up the gaps in the door frame. I think this mostly eliminates the draft.

Small chickens get 8 feet of square feet per bird. Medium chickens get 10 feet of square feet per bird. Large Chickens get 12 feet of square feet per bird.

To ensure that snakes and other predators cannot break into a coop from underneath, it's important that the coop is raised off the ground 8 to 12 inches—enough to allow the chickens to walk beneath.

Bar length will vary by flock size, but plan for approximately ten inches of roosting space per chicken (although they are likely to perch close together for stability and warmth). Less space may be needed for bantam breeds, but allow enough to avoid competition for roosting room.

Our 10×20 chicken coop can accommodate 25-30 chickens.

A good rule of thumb is a ratio of one nesting box for every four chickens. Constructing boxes from found materials can save on costs and give character to the backyard coop.

Usually, the chicken door should be located on the south facing side of the chicken coop. If designing a large coop, include a full-size door to make it easier for you to access the coop and clean the coop. Windows should be located on the east and west facing sides of the chicken coop.

What is the best base for a chicken coop? ›

Ground cover within the coop can be anything from wood chips, straw and grass to bare ground. Organic materials tend to break down quickly and plain sand is a popular choice for its durability. Whatever you choose, make sure the chickens may easily scratch and dig.

If you want to insulate your coop a safe material to use is 1.5″ styrofoam sheets. If possible, these should be placed BETWEEN the walls/siding and the ceiling/roof.

How much is needed? More than you'd think! In warm weather climates, the general rule of thumb is 1 square foot of ventilation per 10 square feet of coop floor space. In cold climates, all open vents should be well above your bird's highest roosting point and under a cover so snow cannot get in.

Keep the Air Moving

Setting up a fan in the coop or run will help your chickens significantly. It will cool the surrounding air and reduce humidity. This is a particularly helpful strategy for chickens that are housed in enclosed coops and runs, as a natural breeze may not always reach them.

Roof Gap or Floating Roof: Leave an approximate 3-inch gap between your coop and its roof at its front and its back, or at each side, or build a floating roof affixed to the base of your coop but not attached to any of the sides. Basically, create a gap so that air can flow through.

If you had 2 Leghorn chickens, you would likely get a dozen eggs a week from them. But if you want a prettier egg basket and a flock of more colorful, unique breeds of hens then you will probably need three hens to get a dozen eggs per week.

If the flock is kept in an enclosed chicken coop, you would need 10 square feet of space per chicken. This means that if your eight chickens are free-range, they would need a coop that is 32 square feet. Meanwhile, if your eight chickens are enclosed, the coop would need to be around 80 square feet.