How Big a Coop Do 23 Chickens Need?
23 standard-size chickens need a 92 sq ft coop, a 230 sq ft run, 230 inches of roost, and 6 nesting boxes.
| Bird type | Coop | Run | Roost | Nest boxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard breeds | 92 sq ft | 230 sq ft | 230 in | 6 |
| Bantams | 46 sq ft | 184 sq ft | 184 in | 6 |
| Heavy breeds | 115 sq ft | 230 sq ft | 276 in | 6 |
Rates: 4 sq ft coop and 10 sq ft run per standard bird (Virginia Cooperative Extension; Colorado State University Extension). Run figures assume birds are confined; free-range flocks need only the coop numbers.
What that looks like in practice
For 23 standard chickens, a 6 × 16 ft coop covers the92 sq ft floor requirement with 4 sq ft to spare. Floor space means usable floor — don't count feeder footprints or the area under nest boxes mounted lower than 18 inches. The 230 sq ft run works out to roughly a23 × 10 ft enclosure attached to the coop.
Inside, plan 230 inches of roost — 5 four-foot roost bars mounted higher than the nest boxes — and 6 twelve-inch nesting boxes in the darkest corner. These are extension-guidance minimums for healthy birds, not luxury targets: cold climates, bossy roosters, and pecking-prone breeds all appreciate more room.
Keeping different birds, or planning to free-range? Use the full Coop Size Calculator to adjust for bantams, heavy breeds, and run type.