Chicken coop plans for 8 chickens
8 standard hens need 32–40 sq ft of coop floor, 80 sq ft of run, 80 inches of roost and 2 nest boxes. The best fit is a walk-in coop: 8 × 8 ft coop and a 10 ft run.
Preview of the walk-in coop for 8 hens, standard breed, cold winters.
18 × 8 × 10 ft
Estimated materials $2,747 (estimate).
| Space check | Required | Provided | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coop floor (sq ft) | 40 | 64 | ✓ |
| Run area (sq ft) | 80 | 80 | ✓ |
| Ventilation (sq ft) | 4 | 4.9 | ✓ |
Change the breed, climate, roof or size and every cut is recalculated before you pay.
What 8 chickens need, by breed and climate
| Breed | Coop floor | Run | Roost |
|---|---|---|---|
| bantam | 20 sq ft | 40 sq ft | 48 in |
| standard | 40 sq ft | 80 sq ft | 80 in |
| large | 50 sq ft | 96 sq ft | 96 in |
| Climate | Coop floor | Vent | Insulation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mild | 32 sq ft | 3.2 sq ft | not needed |
| Cold winters | 40 sq ft | 4 sq ft | optional |
| Severe cold | 40 sq ft | 4 sq ft | included |
Other ways to house 8 chickens
Chicken run only
10 × 8 ft for an existing coop, with a hardware cloth apron against diggers.
Questions about a coop for 8 chickens
How big should a chicken coop be for 8 chickens?
Standard-size hens need about 4 sq ft of coop floor each, so 8 hens need 32 sq ft in a mild climate and 40 sq ft where winters are cold. The plan below uses 8 × 8 ft coop and a 10 ft run.
How big should the run be for 8 chickens?
At 10 sq ft per standard hen, 8 hens need 80 sq ft of run. Bantams need 40 sq ft and large breeds 96 sq ft.
How many nest boxes and how much roost space do 8 chickens need?
One nest box per 4 hens (at least 2 from 4 hens up), so 2, and about 10 inches of roost per standard hen: 80 inches in total.
How much does it cost to build a coop for 8 chickens?
The materials for this plan come to roughly $2,747 at typical big-box prices. Prices vary by store and season.