Chicken coop plans for 12 chickens
12 standard hens need 48–60 sq ft of coop floor, 120 sq ft of run, 120 inches of roost and 3 nest boxes. The best fit is a walk-in coop: 8 × 8 ft coop and a 16 ft run.
Preview of the walk-in coop for 12 hens, standard breed, cold winters.
24 × 8 × 10 ft
Estimated materials $2,982 (estimate).
| Space check | Required | Provided | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coop floor (sq ft) | 60 | 64 | ✓ |
| Run area (sq ft) | 120 | 128 | ✓ |
| Ventilation (sq ft) | 6 | 7.4 | ✓ |
Change the breed, climate, roof or size and every cut is recalculated before you pay.
What 12 chickens need, by breed and climate
| Breed | Coop floor | Run | Roost |
|---|---|---|---|
| bantam | 30 sq ft | 60 sq ft | 72 in |
| standard | 60 sq ft | 120 sq ft | 120 in |
| large | 75 sq ft | 144 sq ft | 144 in |
| Climate | Coop floor | Vent | Insulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 48 sq ft | 4.8 sq ft | not needed |
| Cold winters | 60 sq ft | 6 sq ft | optional |
| Severe cold | 60 sq ft | 6 sq ft | included |
Other ways to house 12 chickens
Chicken run only
12 × 10 ft for an existing coop, with a hardware cloth apron against diggers.
Questions about a coop for 12 chickens
How big should a chicken coop be for 12 chickens?
Standard-size hens need about 4 sq ft of coop floor each, so 12 hens need 48 sq ft in a mild climate and 60 sq ft where winters are cold. The plan below uses 8 × 8 ft coop and a 16 ft run.
How big should the run be for 12 chickens?
At 10 sq ft per standard hen, 12 hens need 120 sq ft of run. Bantams need 60 sq ft and large breeds 144 sq ft.
How many nest boxes and how much roost space do 12 chickens need?
One nest box per 4 hens (at least 2 from 4 hens up), so 3, and about 10 inches of roost per standard hen: 120 inches in total.
How much does it cost to build a coop for 12 chickens?
The materials for this plan come to roughly $2,982 at typical big-box prices. Prices vary by store and season.