How Big a Coop Do 5 Chickens Need?

5 standard-size chickens need a 20 sq ft coop, a 50 sq ft run, 50 inches of roost, and 2 nesting boxes.

Figures reviewed against university extension guidance · Last reviewed July 2026

Bird typeCoopRunRoostNest boxes
Standard breeds20 sq ft50 sq ft50 in2
Bantams10 sq ft40 sq ft40 in2
Heavy breeds30 sq ft50 sq ft60 in2

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 5 standard chickens, a 4 × 5 ft coop covers the20 sq ft floor requirement. Floor space means usable floor — don't count feeder footprints or the area under nest boxes mounted lower than 18 inches. The 50 sq ft run works out to roughly a5 × 10 ft enclosure attached to the coop.

Inside, plan 50 inches of roost — 2 four-foot roost bars mounted higher than the nest boxes — and 2 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.

Other flock sizes

Sources