Size and build the chicken coop
A coop must give enough floor space, perches, nest boxes and ventilation. Crowding causes pecking, disease and stress.
How
- Floor space (Oregon State Extension): at least 3 sq ft (0.28 m2) per bird if birds also have an outdoor run; 8 to 10 sq ft (0.74 to 0.93 m2) per bird if they have no outdoor access.
- Perches: 5 to 10 in (13 to 25 cm) of pole per bird, about 2 ft (60 cm) off the floor and about 10 in (25 cm) apart.
- Nest boxes: about one per four hens, each roughly 12 x 12 x 12 in (30 cm cube), in a darker part of the coop.
- Ventilation: use high openings such as gable or eave vents to remove ammonia and moisture, without draughts on roosting birds. Add fans only for hot or humid spells.
- Use the coop calculator to get floor area, perch length and nest count from your bird number.
Do these first
Sources
- Living on the land: Backyard chicken coop design (EC 1644). Oregon State University Extension Service, accessed 2026-11
- Backyard Flock Production. Oklahoma State University Extension, accessed 2026-11