Although it is uncommon, many people enjoy keeping chickens as pets. Something that’s not well known is that individual hens can develop unique personalities and become a part of the family, just like any puppy or kitten. If you’ve been thinking about adopting some chickens as pets, you may be wondering how much space they need.
A regular-sized chicken will need at least three to five square feet of coop space and over 10 square feet per chicken for outdoor runs. Smaller breeds like Bantams should have at least two to three square feet of coop space, and larger chicken breeds will need between 5 – 10 square feet.
Ensuring you provide the right amount of space for your chickens is essential to ensure they are happy and healthy. Chickens may live in flocks, but they enjoy having their own space. A smaller coop or outdoor area may decrease egg production and aggravate more aggressive breeds into bullying your other chickens.
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How Big Should A Chicken Coop Be?
Chickens, like any animal, need their space. When you crowd too many animals into the same area, their quality of life declines dramatically, and it makes for an easy breeding ground for diseases.
Assuming that you will let your chickens roam around outside most of the time, your chicken coop does not need to be excessively large. For a larger breed like Plymouth Rock, your chicken coop would need to have at least four-square feet per chicken.
For medium breeds such as a Leghorn, a minimum of three-square feet per chicken would be sufficient. The smallest breeds like Bantam do not need as much space and are happy with two to three square feet per chicken.
However, if your chickens are not going to be able to roam around outside, you will need to build a bigger chicken coop to accommodate their needs. You will need at least five square feet for the smaller breeds, eight square feet for medium breeds, and a minimum of 10 square feet for larger breeds.
How Much Outdoor Space Do Chickens Need?
The happiest and healthiest chickens have access to outdoor spaces that will let them roam around and forage for food. If you have roughly an 11-foot by 10-foot garden, you can easily keep up to six chickens in your backyard.
At a minimum, six chickens would need roughly 90 square feet of outdoor space. However, animal and free-range enthusiasts like to give their chickens double or triple this amount. The temperament and size of your chickens will play a significant role in determining how much space they need.
Larger and more aggressive breeds should always have double the space of regular chickens. If you crowd all your chickens into one area, they may spread diseases and start bullying each other or harming themselves.
How Big Should A Chicken Run Be?
If your chickens primarily live in a chicken run, you should ensure they have everything they need to keep them happy and stimulated. For smaller breeds, a chicken run would ideally have a minimum of 5 square feet per chicken. Medium breeds need 8 square feet of space, and larger breeds need at least 15 square feet per chicken.
You should also make sure you keep lots of hay and piles of leaves for your chickens to forage through. They will also need a space of dry dirt where they can have a dust bath.
Conclusion
While chickens live in flocks, they enjoy having personal space. It would be best never to overcrowd an area with chickens as this could cause issues in your flock and lead to a decline in egg production.
