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How Big Should a Chicken Coop Be for 30 Chickens?
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Figures for this flock
| Figure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Coop floor | 120 sq ft | 30 × 4 sq ft. The 4 sits inside eXtension 3-4 sq ft and Minnesota Extension 3 to 5 sq ft. |
| Indoor minimum, not recommended | 45 to 60 sq ft | Penn 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. |
| Run | 300 sq ft | 30 × 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 minimum | 240 sq ft | 30 × 8 sq ft. Penn State Extension and Maryland Extension list 8 sq ft of run for laying hens. |
| Nest boxes, one per 4-5 hens | 6 to 8 | Minnesota Extension, Utah State Extension, and Maryland Extension. Full breakdown: how many nesting boxes per chicken. |
| Nest boxes, Penn State count | 9 | 2 for the first 4 hens, then 1 per 4 more (Penn State Extension). |
| Roost, Utah 6-10 in | 180 in (15 ft) to 300 in (25 ft) | 30 × 6 in to 30 × 10 in (Utah State Extension). |
| Roost, Penn State 6 in | 180 in (15 ft) | 30 × 6 in (Penn State Extension). |
| Roost, Maryland 6-7 in | 180 in (15 ft) to 210 in (17 ft 6 in) | 30 × 6 in to 30 × 7 in (Maryland Extension). |
| Feeder space | 60 to 90 in | 90 in (Penn State Extension); 60 to 90 in (Maryland Extension). Weekly pounds are below; cost math is in the feed cost guide. |
| Nipple drinkers | 4 to 5 | 1 nipple per 6-8 birds (Penn State Extension). |
| Waterer | 1 five-gallon | A five-gallon waterer covers up to 75 hens, and 30 is under 75 (Maryland Extension). |
| Feed per week | 90 lb | 30 × about 3 lb for a 6-pound hen (Minnesota Extension). |
Penn State Extension feeder space is 3 in × 30 = 90 in, and Maryland Extension is 60 to 90 in. Those inches have to be split across separate areas, not hung as one 90 in trough, because the flock is over 25 birds. Nipples stay a single system: 30 ÷ 6 = 5, and 30 ÷ 8 rounds up to 4, so plan 4 to 5 nipples. One five-gallon waterer still covers the flock, because Maryland Extension goes up to 75 hens and 30 is under 75.
The example floors are 10 × 12 ft for the 120 sq ft coop and 15 × 20 ft for the 300 sq ft run. Nest counts are 6 to 8 on the 4-to-5 rule and 9 on the Penn State Extension count, so the boxes are a wall of their own. The full box article is linked from the table.
How to size it
Thirty is the first page in this set where the feeder is no longer one line of trough.
- Coop floor. 30 × 4 = 120 sq ft. eXtension publishes 3-4 sq ft indoors (30 × 3 = 90 to 30 × 4 = 120). Minnesota Extension publishes 3 to 5 sq ft (30 × 3 = 90 to 30 × 5 = 150). The 4 sq ft figure used on this site sits inside both ranges.
- Indoor minimum, not recommended. 30 × 1.5 = 45 sq ft and 30 × 2 = 60 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.
- Run. 30 × 10 = 300 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 30 × 8 = 240 sq ft.
- Nests, two published counts. Minnesota Extension, Utah State Extension, and Maryland Extension say one nest per 4 to 5 hens. One per 5: 30 ÷ 5 = 6. One per 4: 30 ÷ 4 = 7 with a remainder of 2, so round up to 8. The range is 6 to 8 boxes. Penn State Extension starts with 2 nests for the first 4 hens, then one more per 4 additional hens. 30 − 4 = 26 additional hens, and 26 ÷ 4 = 6 with a remainder of 2, so add 7. The total is 9 nests.
- Roost length. Utah State Extension 6 to 10 in is 180 in (15 ft) to 300 in (25 ft). Penn State Extension 6 in is 180 in (15 ft). Maryland Extension 6 to 7 in is 180 in (15 ft) to 210 in (17 ft 6 in). Divide inches by 12 to get feet.
- Feeder, nipples, water. Penn State Extension feeder space is at least 3 in, so 30 × 3 = 90 in. Maryland Extension is 2-3 in, so 30 × 2 = 60 to 30 × 3 = 90 in. Penn State Extension says 1 nipple per 6-8 birds. At one nipple per 8 birds, 30 ÷ 8 = 3 with a remainder of 6, so round up to 4. At one nipple per 6 birds, 30 ÷ 6 = 5. Plan 4 to 5 nipples. Maryland Extension says a five-gallon waterer can accommodate up to 75 hens, and 30 is under 75, so 1 waterer covers the flock.
- Feed. Minnesota Extension says a 6-pound hen eats roughly 3 pounds of feed each week. 30 × 3 = 90 lb per week. That is one 50-lb bag plus 40 lb (90/50 bags) per week.
- Example footprint. 120 sq ft is 10 × 12 ft. 300 sq ft is 15 × 20 ft.
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Related
- Chicken coop size calculator — any other bird count.
- Coop size for 25 chickens
- Coop size for 50 chickens
- Feeder space per chicken
FAQ
How big should a chicken coop be for 30 chickens?
Count 120 sq ft of coop and 300 sq ft of run for 30 standard hens. That is 30 times 4 sq ft and 30 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.
Where do the feeders go for 30 hens?
Penn State says flocks of more than 25 birds need feeders in separate areas. 30 is over 25. Penn State feeder length is 90 in and Maryland is 60 to 90 in, split across those areas.
How many nipple drinkers for 30 hens?
Penn State is 1 nipple per 6-8 birds. 30 divided by 6 is 5. 30 divided by 8 rounds up to 4. Plan 4 to 5 nipples. A five-gallon waterer still covers 30 hens because Maryland's limit is 75.
How many nesting boxes for 30 hens?
30 divided by 5 is 6 boxes and 30 divided by 4 rounds up to 8, so the 4-to-5 rule is 6 to 8 boxes. Penn State is 2 for the first 4 hens plus 7 more, which is 9 nests.
Sources
- eXtension Small and Backyard Poultry, "Space allowances in housing for small and backyard poultry flocks". https://poultry.extension.org/articles/getting-started-with-small-and-backyard-poultry/housing-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks/space-allowances-in-housing-for-small-and-backyard-poultry-flocks/. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
- University of Minnesota Extension, "Raising chickens for eggs" (reviewed 2025). https://extension.umn.edu/agriculture/animals-and-livestock/poultry/raising-chickens-for-eggs. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
- Penn State Extension, "Small Scale Poultry Housing" (updated June 25, 2026). https://extension.psu.edu/small-scale-poultry-housing/. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
- University of Maryland Extension, "Housing Requirements" (updated May 11, 2022; space table from Clauer, 2009). https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/housing-requirements. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.
- Utah State University Extension, "Housing Backyard Chickens" (peer-reviewed fact sheet, 2008). https://extension.usu.edu/poultry/research/housing-backyard-chickens. Accessed Oct 2, 2026.