How Much Space Chickens Really Need: A Homesteader’s Guide
As farmers, we often joke that chickens are the gateway animal to raising livestock. They’re fairly low maintenance animals and can be kept almost anywhere—including small spaces. However, the size of your space still determines how many chickens you can keep. So, how much space do chickens need, anyway?
Back when my husband and I had a very small space in the city, we were just getting our feet wet with living the homestead lifestyle and wanted to raise a few hens for eggs. The funny part is, we unknowingly ended up with a illegal rooster that ended up crowing all day long. Yeah, we had no clue what we were doing.
Thankfully, things have changed a lot since then! It was a million little steps forward and about 1.5 million little steps backwards or sideways, but God has been so good and gracious to bring us to where we are today. We live surrounded by a community of like-minded homesteaders who also are raising livestock. We even get to keep our dairy cows on my mom’s adjacent property.
Our own plot of land where we grow gardens and keep our chicken flock is exactly one acre. We have a fairly large stationary coop where we hold about a dozen hens, and we also let them out to free range from time to time.
The Essentials of Chicken Space Requirements
Let’s get right to it. As a homesteader, I’ve learned that a good rule of thumb is to provide at least 2-3 square feet of space per chicken inside the coop, and 8-10 square feet in the outdoor run.
Personal space is vital for chickens, as it directly impacts their social dynamics and the pecking order within the flock. Without enough room, chickens can become stressed and exhibit aggressive behavior. Adequate space allows for them to move about and behave naturally, reduces the risk of feather picking, and promotes overall physical health and mental well-being for the flock.
Understanding and providing the right amount of space for chickens is essential for keeping backyard chickens. The numbers I’ve mentioned here are kind of the bare minimum.
When evaluating exactly how much space to give your chickens, there are few other factors that are a good idea to keep in mind.
Designing the Perfect Chicken Run
As a homesteader, I understand the significance of a well-designed chicken run. It’s not just about a secure environment; it’s about ensuring our flock has a stimulating space where they can roam freely, promoting their physical and mental health. Offering a variety of terrain and shelter is essential in a chicken run, including open areas and shaded spots.
One hundred percent free-range chickens have the benefit of roaming as they please. However, if your flock will be in a stationary coop all or most of the time, they will need a run!
When it comes to space, a chicken run offers much more room compared to a small coop. Yes, you need a covered area and confined space for your flock to rest at night. But chickens also need enough space to scratch, dust bathe, and flap their wings freely. Providing them with a larger coop, along with an outdoor area where they can roam and explore, encourages healthy exercise and social interactions.
It’s important that a flock’s outside areas mimic a natural free-range environment. All of this is essential for them to be happy and thriving.
Choosing the Right Chicken Breeds for Your Space
The personality and size of your chickens comes into play when choosing the right space for a flock. Some breeds require more room to thrive, while others are suitable for smaller spaces. For example, bantam chickens like silkies or Dutch bantams are well-adapted to living in confined areas, making them ideal for small backyards. On the other hand, large breeds like Rhode Island Reds or Sussex are more active, requiring ample space to roam and exhibit their natural behaviors.
Researching specific breeds and their space needs is crucial before making any decisions on the size of your chicken coop and run. Evaluating your available space and desired breed characteristics will help in choosing the right chickens for your homestead.
Expanding space and Preparing for Future chickens
It’s wise to account for the potential growth of your flock as you plan out your space. Obviously, a small space is going to equal starting with a small number of chickens. You want to ensure that each bird has enough room to thrive.
However, if you have the potential to add more space and expand your flock in the future, it’s usually easier to go ahead and plan for that now. When we built our existing coop and run, we were able to design it in a way that we could easily extend the run later to give our flock more space and add more chickens as needed. When the time comes, we will simply lengthen the existing run. There is also plenty of space to expand into a bigger coop as well.
One last thing to consider when expanding your flock (and designing your space in general), is having a plan in place for quarantine or separation purposes. When introducing new chickens to the flock, it’s a good idea to have a temporary separate area in case of disease, and to get any new chickens acclimated to the existing ones. Gradual introduction techniques really help to minimize stress and keep a harmonious environment.
Maximizing Smaller Spaces for Backyard Chicken Coops
There are plenty of ways to make the most of smaller areas when it comes to your chicken house and its size! Utilizing stackable components or implementing multi-level coop designs can optimize the use of limited space.
Other ways to maximize efficiency when you have little space:
- Multi-purpose structures: Creating multi-purpose structures, like combined coop and composting areas, can maximize space while serving dual functions for both the chickens and you, the homesteader.
- Natural elements: Incorporating natural elements, like planting climbing vegetation or providing hanging objects for pecking and perching, utilize and enrich vertical space within the coop.
- Personal balance: It’s crucial to strike a balance between keeping enough chickens to meet personal goals and ensuring they have enough space. Research space-efficient breeds and plan for adequate square footage to help achieve an equilibrium.
Simple chicken coops to start your flock with
If you’re ready to jump in and purchase your first chicken coop, there are a couple of good options you can find on Amazon. Remember you will either need a movable coop, or at least a little bit of space to let them free range on nice days.
| Best Choice Fir Wood Chicken Coop (3-5 Chickens) | BestNest 25 Yr Plastic Coop (7-8 Chickens) |
|---|---|
 Purchase on Amazon |  Purchase on Amazon |
When it comes to space requirements for chickens, it’s crucial to understand the impact on their well-being. Continued learning is key as you learn the ins and outs of chicken keeping. You’ll gain experience as you go! Providing a suitable environment for chickens is rewarding, and it contributes to their happiness and health.
Love this! All of your info is so helpful and I am definitely pinning for later!
Love this! I want chickens so bad, but the hubby is worried about attracting coyotes and such. We have a 15lb Havanese pup and don’t want to worry about her getting hurt or worse. Maybe someday…