by Dakota Storage Buildings, on February 07, 2023
Happy hens lay healthy eggs – but how can you ensure that your flock is comfortable? One of the best ways to ensure the happiness of your chickens is by providing them with the perfect chicken coop. If their home is insufficient, their quality of life will decrease resulting in limited egg production and depressed birds. Since a chicken coop is one of the most important aspects of raising chickens, we know that the buying process can be stressful. Let’s look at some of the most important things to consider when determining the size of your coop.
Key Features for Chicken Coops
A home should be cozy and have all the necessities for a happy life. Your chicken coop will serve as a home for your flock, so it should have all the important features to ensure that your chickens are well cared for.
Run
Time outdoors to stretch their wings and run around is an important part of a chicken’s life. When a coop has an enclosed chicken run, it provides a safe, secure space for the chickens to enjoy outside time. When a chicken is isolated in the coop, it can become depressed, affecting its ability to lay eggs. Enclosed chicken coops typically come with a fenced-in, secured run whereas free-range coops do not have a run.
Nesting Boxes
Your hens will not just lay eggs anywhere. Nesting boxes are ideal to ensure that your egg supply remains continuous. These boxes provide the hens with a clean space for egg-laying, guaranteeing you only receive high-quality eggs. A good rule of thumb is to have one nesting box for every 3 to 4 hens.
Roost
Most flocks huddle up at night to keep each other warm while they sleep. They also sleep off of the ground as a sense of security. A roost gives the flock adequate space to perch so they are not sleeping in soiled litter and dirt. The standard space is at least eight inches of roosting space for every chicken in your flock.
Ventilation
Adequately ventilated coops are essential for the health of your flock. With changing seasons and fluctuating temperatures, ventilation can regulate the temperatures inside the coop so the flock remains comfortable. When there is high humidity within the coop, chickens can have respiratory problems. Moisture can be eliminated by ensuring there is proper ventilation within the coop.
Finding the Perfect Size
The size of a chicken coop is one of the most important factors to consider when you are shopping for your flock’s home. You must carefully consider the number of chickens you have now, and the amount you plan to have in the future, to find one that is not too big or too small. One size will not fit every flock.
An easy way to determine what size coop best fits your flock is to do simple calculations. If you plan on your chickens to have a large run, they will need 2.5 to 4 square feet per chicken inside the coop. If you will have a smaller run, the coop will need to be larger at 5 to 10 square feet per chicken.
Small Flocks
It is typically considered that less than 15 chickens is a small flock. A 30 to 60 square foot coop would be a perfect fit for a small flock. While they still need room to run around outside, making sure that there is not too much extra space inside the coop is essential for keeping your chickens warm in the colder months.
Medium Flocks
Flocks with more than 15 chickens will need a little more space than small coops can offer. Having a medium-sized coop can give your flock adequate space while still having room for growth. If you plan to have around 25 chickens, a coop will need to be anywhere from 50 to 100 square feet. Be sure you calculate how much space is needed based on the number of chickens in your flock before purchasing a coop.
Large Flocks
Depending on your reason for raising chickens, you could have hundreds of chickens in your flock. Large flocks require an extremely large amount of space both inside and outside of the coop. In fact, if you plan to have a large number of chickens you may need to invest in a second coop for your flock. For 40 chickens, a large chicken coop would need to be 80 to 160 square feet.
Keep In Mind
Chickens are fragile animals. They need warmth and security to thrive. Predators can be a real concern so ensuring that your chickens are in a secure area is critical. Being proactive to defend your flock against predators is the best way to limit the number of casualties. Chickens require basic care to remain happy and healthy in their coop. Cleaning, replenishing their food, and other maintenance should only take around 15 minutes a day. Working the extra time into your morning routine can secure a well-cared-for flock.
Coops We Have to Offer
Dakota Storage Buildings offers a wide selection of pre-build Quaker Chicken Coops which will serve as the perfect home for your flock. From small to large chicken coops, we have you covered.
Enclosed
High-quality enclosed chicken coops will give your hens the proper space to lay their eggs. Our distinct design gives you maximum headspace so you can conduct maintenance without worrying about fitting into the space. However, just because you purchase an enclosed coop does not mean that your chickens will never leave their designated space. You can still let your flock out of the coop to roam as you see fit.
Free Range
When chickens are cooped up in a small space for extended periods of time, they can become aggressive. Free-range chicken coops encourage active and healthy birds. While the coop still provides the necessary protection from predators, the chickens have the freedom to roam during the day. Unlike enclosed chicken coops, the only protection your flock will have is inside the coop itself.
All of our coops, both free range and enclosed, utilize the highest quality materials to ensure a long-lasting coop. From lumber to paint, we specifically choose materials that will withstand outside elements and keep your flock safe. On the inside, our coops have specific flooring that will resist warping and decay. With these materials, your flock will have a comfortable, clean, and safe home.
A Home For Every Flock
Finding the best chicken coop for your flock is an important step when raising chickens. The size and style should be specific to the number of chickens and your desire on how to raise them. To have quality eggs, you need happy and healthy chickens. Their home is one of the most important factors in determining the quality of life for your flock.
Whether you choose a free range or enclosed chicken coop, Dakota Storage Buildings has the perfect coop for you! Shop our pre-built chicken coops today to find a home that will meet your flock’s needs.
