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How Big Should a Chicken Coop Be for 25 Chickens?

Quick answer: Twenty-five hens need 100 sq ft inside and 250 sq ft of run, from 25 × 4 and 25 × 10. A 10 × 10 ft floor is the 100 sq ft example. The indoor minimum of 37.5 to 50 sq ft stays marked a minimum, not a recommendation.

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Figures for this flock

FigureAmountSource
Coop floor100 sq ft25 × 4 sq ft. The 4 sits inside eXtension 3-4 sq ft and Minnesota Extension 3 to 5 sq ft.
Indoor minimum, not recommended37.5 to 50 sq ftPenn State Extension laying hens 1.5 sq ft and large chickens 2 sq ft; Maryland Extension uses that same table; Utah State Extension 1.5 to 2.0 sq ft.
Run250 sq ft25 × 10 sq ft. eXtension recommends 10 sq ft outdoors; Penn State Extension and Maryland Extension list 10 sq ft for large chickens.
Laying-hen run minimum200 sq ft25 × 8 sq ft. Penn State Extension and Maryland Extension list 8 sq ft of run for laying hens.
Nest boxes, one per 4-5 hens5 to 7Minnesota Extension, Utah State Extension, and Maryland Extension. Full breakdown: how many nesting boxes per chicken.
Nest boxes, Penn State count82 for the first 4 hens, then 1 per 4 more (Penn State Extension).
Roost, Utah 6-10 in150 in (12 ft 6 in) to 250 in (20 ft 10 in)25 × 6 in to 25 × 10 in (Utah State Extension).
Roost, Penn State 6 in150 in (12 ft 6 in)25 × 6 in (Penn State Extension).
Roost, Maryland 6-7 in150 in (12 ft 6 in) to 175 in (14 ft 7 in)25 × 6 in to 25 × 7 in (Maryland Extension).
Feeder space50 to 75 in75 in (Penn State Extension); 50 to 75 in (Maryland Extension). Weekly pounds are below; cost math is in the feed cost guide.
Nipple drinkers4 to 51 nipple per 6-8 birds (Penn State Extension).
Waterer1 five-gallonA five-gallon waterer covers up to 75 hens, and 25 is under 75 (Maryland Extension).
Feed per week75 lb25 × about 3 lb for a 6-pound hen (Minnesota Extension).

Penn State Extension says that with more than 25 birds, put feeders in separate areas. A flock of exactly 25 is not more than 25, so that sentence does not yet apply. The 30-chicken page is the next count, and there the rule does apply. Inches of trough for a single flock are on the feeder space page.

If the climate does not allow year-round outdoor use, eXtension says the interior space requirement increases. The source does not publish how many extra square feet, so this page does not invent an add-on. The 100 sq ft figure stays 25 × 4.

How to size it

Twenty-five is the last flock in this set that is not yet over Penn State's separate-feeder line.

  1. Coop floor. 25 × 4 = 100 sq ft. eXtension publishes 3-4 sq ft indoors (25 × 3 = 75 to 25 × 4 = 100). Minnesota Extension publishes 3 to 5 sq ft (25 × 3 = 75 to 25 × 5 = 125). The 4 sq ft figure used on this site sits inside both ranges.
  2. Indoor minimum, not recommended. 25 × 1.5 = 37.5 sq ft and 25 × 2 = 50 sq ft. Penn State Extension lists 1.5 sq ft for laying hens and 2 sq ft for large chickens, Maryland Extension prints the same table, and Utah State Extension lists 1.5 to 2.0 sq ft. Stay above that floor.
  3. Run. 25 × 10 = 250 sq ft from eXtension. Penn State Extension and Maryland Extension also list 10 sq ft of run for large chickens. Their laying-hen run line is 8 sq ft, and 25 × 8 = 200 sq ft.
  4. Nests, two published counts. Minnesota Extension, Utah State Extension, and Maryland Extension say one nest per 4 to 5 hens. One per 5: 25 ÷ 5 = 5. One per 4: 25 ÷ 4 = 6 with a remainder of 1, so round up to 7. The range is 5 to 7 boxes. Penn State Extension starts with 2 nests for the first 4 hens, then one more per 4 additional hens. 25 − 4 = 21 additional hens, and 21 ÷ 4 = 5 with a remainder of 1, so add 6. The total is 8 nests.
  5. Roost length. Utah State Extension 6 to 10 in is 150 in (12 ft 6 in) to 250 in (20 ft 10 in). Penn State Extension 6 in is 150 in (12 ft 6 in). Maryland Extension 6 to 7 in is 150 in (12 ft 6 in) to 175 in (14 ft 7 in). Divide inches by 12 to get feet.
  6. Feeder, nipples, water. Penn State Extension feeder space is at least 3 in, so 25 × 3 = 75 in. Maryland Extension is 2-3 in, so 25 × 2 = 50 to 25 × 3 = 75 in. Penn State Extension says 1 nipple per 6-8 birds. At one nipple per 8 birds, 25 ÷ 8 = 3 with a remainder of 1, so round up to 4. At one nipple per 6 birds, 25 ÷ 6 = 4 with a remainder of 1, so round up to 5. Plan 4 to 5 nipples. Maryland Extension says a five-gallon waterer can accommodate up to 75 hens, and 25 is under 75, so 1 waterer covers the flock.
  7. Feed. Minnesota Extension says a 6-pound hen eats roughly 3 pounds of feed each week. 25 × 3 = 75 lb per week. That is one 50-lb bag plus 25 lb (75/50 bags) per week.
  8. Example footprint. 100 sq ft is 10 × 10 ft. 250 sq ft is 10 × 25 ft.

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Related

FAQ

How big should a chicken coop be for 25 chickens?

Mark 100 sq ft of coop and 250 sq ft of run for 25 standard hens. That is 25 times 4 sq ft and 25 times 10 sq ft. The indoor 4 sq ft rate sits inside the eXtension 3-4 sq ft range and the Minnesota Extension 3 to 5 sq ft range.

Do 25 hens need feeders in separate areas?

Penn State says to put feeders in separate areas when there are more than 25 birds. Exactly 25 is not more than 25, so the rule is not in force yet. It applies on the 30-hen and 50-hen counts.

How much feed do 25 hens eat per week?

25 times about 3 lb is 75 lb a week, using Minnesota's figure for a 6-pound hen. That is one 50-lb bag plus 25 lb.

What if the birds cannot go outside all year?

eXtension says that if the climate does not allow year-round outdoor use, the interior space requirement increases. It does not give a replacement number, so do not swap the 100 sq ft for a made-up winter floor.

Sources