I did a lot of research to find the best recommendations for square footage etc. before I began building my coop. I thought I would compile it all here for future reference.
Square footage:
4 sq. ft. of floor space per chicken (Note: I found recommendations as small as 2 sq. ft. per chicken, however, more space will mean less fighting/picking)
Roosts:
8" to 12" of roost space per chicken (depending on the size of your breeds)
Use 2x4's ON THE FLAT as roosts (4" side is the side your chickens will roost on). At this width, chickens can drop down over top of their feet in the winter, so their toes don't freeze. You may need to add supports to long lengths, or with heavy breeds.
Roosts should be 12" apart horizontally so the chickens don't poop on each other.
The height at which roosts begin depends on your personal preference and the athletic abilities of your chickens.
Ventilation:
1 sq. ft. of ventilation per 10 sq. ft. of floor space (assuming you are at your capacity of 4 sq. ft. per chicken) - this is for passive ventilation.
Pop door size:
12"x12" is pretty standard for large fowl breeds, but extra large breeds may need more height. My own pop doors are 12x16 and 16x16. It's easy to make a door smaller, but much more difficult to make it larger after you've framed it in and sheeted it!
Outdoor runs:
10 sq. ft. of run space per chicken (this would be for permanent runs. You can get away with less space if you're using a portable coop that is moved frequently) - but more space is better!
Fencing:
Chicken wire will not keep predators out.
Nestboxes:
12"x12" would be the minimum size. You may want to go larger for big breeds.
One nest box for every 4-5 hens.
Nipple waterers:
One nipple for every 4-5 chickens.
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Links and resources:
Flight netting for tops of runs, best price I found (even after shipping): http://www.qcsupply.com/
Nite Guard Solar Predator Control light: http://www.amazon.com/Nite-Guard-NG-001-Predator-Control/dp/B0014FGT8C
On-line Poultry Supplies in Canada
http://www.berryhill.ca
Square footage:
4 sq. ft. of floor space per chicken (Note: I found recommendations as small as 2 sq. ft. per chicken, however, more space will mean less fighting/picking)
Roosts:
8" to 12" of roost space per chicken (depending on the size of your breeds)
Use 2x4's ON THE FLAT as roosts (4" side is the side your chickens will roost on). At this width, chickens can drop down over top of their feet in the winter, so their toes don't freeze. You may need to add supports to long lengths, or with heavy breeds.
Roosts should be 12" apart horizontally so the chickens don't poop on each other.
The height at which roosts begin depends on your personal preference and the athletic abilities of your chickens.
Ventilation:
1 sq. ft. of ventilation per 10 sq. ft. of floor space (assuming you are at your capacity of 4 sq. ft. per chicken) - this is for passive ventilation.
Pop door size:
12"x12" is pretty standard for large fowl breeds, but extra large breeds may need more height. My own pop doors are 12x16 and 16x16. It's easy to make a door smaller, but much more difficult to make it larger after you've framed it in and sheeted it!
Outdoor runs:
10 sq. ft. of run space per chicken (this would be for permanent runs. You can get away with less space if you're using a portable coop that is moved frequently) - but more space is better!
Fencing:
Chicken wire will not keep predators out.
Nestboxes:
12"x12" would be the minimum size. You may want to go larger for big breeds.
One nest box for every 4-5 hens.
Nipple waterers:
One nipple for every 4-5 chickens.
--
Links and resources:
Flight netting for tops of runs, best price I found (even after shipping): http://www.qcsupply.com/
Nite Guard Solar Predator Control light: http://www.amazon.com/Nite-Guard-NG-001-Predator-Control/dp/B0014FGT8C
On-line Poultry Supplies in Canada
http://www.berryhill.ca
