How to choose the right size chicken coop for your flock.

One of the most common questions we get is: "What size chicken coop do I need?" Whether you're new to chicken keeping or adding to your flock, choosing the right size coop is one of the most important decisions you'll make. The good news? It doesn’t have to be complicated.

We’re a family-run business that builds coops designed for real backyard chicken life, and in this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know to pick the perfect size for your birds. Let’s keep it simple, casual, and real—just like chicken keeping should be.

Start With the Basics: Space Per Bird

The general rule of thumb is about 8 square feet per chicken in the run area. That gives your birds enough space to move, scratch, dust bathe, and avoid pecking order drama. Inside the hen house, they need about 1 foot of roost bar each for sleeping comfortably.

If your chickens are going to be free-ranging most of the day, you can get by with a little less space in the run. In fact, you can often double your flock size in a standard coop setup if they’re only using the coop for roosting and laying eggs.

Our Standard Build

Our standard coop build is 6x13 feet, and it comfortably holds 8 chickens using the 8 sq ft rule. That size includes both a hen house and a fully enclosed run. If you're planning to let your chickens free-range during the day, that same size coop can work for up to 16 birds, since they'll be spending most of their time outside the run.

We always recommend thinking a little ahead. Chicken math is real—you start with 4 and suddenly you're up to 10. If you think you might expand your flock, it's better to go a little bigger from the start.

Things That Affect Coop Size

There are a few other things to consider when choosing your size:

• Rooster or no? Roosters can take up more space and cause more pecking order shuffles.

• Add-ons like a duck house, extra nesting boxes, or feeders can take up some square footage.

• Climate matters too—if your birds are going to be cooped up during snowy or super hot days, they’ll need more indoor space.

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We’ve Got You Covered

We design every coop with function, comfort, and real-life chicken habits in mind. Whether you need a small setup or something custom, we can build it. Our coops are made for the deep litter method (aka less cleaning) and come with optional features like predator screens, extra roost bars, Dutch doors, and more.

Still not sure what you need? We’re happy to help you figure it out. Just tell us about your flock, your space, and your plans—we’ll take it from there.