🐔 Chicken Coop Size Calculator
Find out how much coop space, outdoor run space, and how many nesting boxes your flock needs to stay healthy and comfortable.
What this calculator does
The chicken coop size calculator gives a general starting point for how much indoor coop space, outdoor run space, and how many nesting boxes a backyard flock needs.
The formula
Widely used backyard poultry guidelines recommend about 3 square feet of coop floor space per standard-size bird (2 square feet for bantams), plus roughly 10 square feet of run space per bird if the flock has access to an outdoor run. Nesting boxes are typically shared, with one box recommended for every 3 to 4 hens, and a roosting bar allowing about 10 inches of perch length per bird.
These are general planning figures. Climate, breed temperament, and how much time your birds spend free-ranging can all change the ideal space, so treat this as a starting point rather than a strict requirement.