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In recent years, the number of people looking to raise a very small flock simply to feed their family has risen dramatically. Typically, you find coop information for full-blown homesteaders, small farms, and even the big farms with thousands of birds, but the small family looking to raise a few chicks in the backyard has some questions, too.
One of the big questions is whether or not a super-small coop is going to be enough for the handful of chickens the average homeowner wants. Usually, that’s a 4x4 coop for 6 chickens.
So, is a 4x4 coop big enough for 6 chickens, or are you going to have to sacrifice more of your space to keep those fresh eggs coming in?
Let’s dive into the details.
While we know that you want to meet your needs reliably without sacrificing half your yard to the chickens, a 4x4 coop for 6 chickens is not typically big enough. Especially if they’re the standard or larger breeds. With standard chickens, 4x4 is just barely enough to meet the minimal requirements for 4 chickens.
If you go over that limit and overcrowd the coop, you risk making the chickens uncomfortable or even making them sick from crowding-related illnesses.
Now, that does not mean that you are doomed to give up substantial space for a small number of chickens, and you don’t have to raise just a couple of small chickens that don’t meet your needs.
There is a better way to maximize output and minimize space effectively.
The information we gave above is mostly for stationary coops. The traditional house-style coops that never move, and the ground gets worn down permanently from the chickens living in the same spot.
However, you can make more efficient use of a small space with a modern mobile chicken coop.
You still want to ensure that you’re giving your chickens room and treating them ethically, but there are some things that a mobile coop does that alleviate the issues with smaller coop sizes.
One of the biggest problems with 4x4 coops for 6 chickens is that those chickens can’t move much. There are only 16 square feet in a 4x4 coop, and each chicken is supposed to have at least 4 square feet for themselves.
Every animal needs space to move around, or they start to experience very negative side effects.
Well, a mobile coop is going to provide the same square footage as an equally sized stationary coop, but there’s a big difference. You can give the chickens more movement, and this is just one of the many mobile chicken coop benefits that make life easier for both you and your flock.
As you move the chickens around, they get to stretch their legs more and get a little more exercise in than if they just pecked around in the same couple of feet of space all day.
Another big issue with a small stationary coop is that the chickens will destroy the ground and forage everything available extremely quickly. Worse, they’re cramped, and it’s nearly impossible to keep their living area clean enough to prevent disease.
Well, one of the main strong suits of a mobile coop, even if the coop has plenty of space for the chickens, is that you move it around to fresh spots.
This keeps the chickens on clean ground ripe with bugs, grass, plants, and everything else they need, and they’re not sitting around building up fecal matter that makes them sick.
Of course, this does still depend on you and your ability to stay on top of your flock’s needs, but it gives you a little more wiggle room to ethically raise your chickens in a smaller space.
You can only push the limits so much before you’re being unethical and cramping your chickens. Even with the benefits of mobility.
However, there is another way that a mobile coop makes it easier with your limited space. Even if you have to opt for a bigger coop in general to accommodate your chickens appropriately.
Even if you have to upgrade to a 4x8 or larger to accommodate the chickens, you can move your coop around to keep accessing the entirety of your property instead of fully dedicating an area to the chickens.
Your yard doesn’t feel as cramped, even with a bigger coop, because you can move that coop around as needed.
This is a benefit instead of a chore. If you move them around properly, they work as a lawnmower that simultaneously fertilizes your lawn. So, it’s great for the chickens, and it’s great for you.
This is especially true because of how small the extra space requirement is. Like we said, a 4x4 coop provides 16 square feet, which is only enough for 4 standard chickens. A 4x8, which isn’t significantly larger, has 32 square feet of space, and you can move that around to minimize how limiting it is on your property.
We’ve addressed the finer details, and you definitely can make it work with the versatility of a mobile coop. Especially if you’re raising smaller chickens.
However, we do recommend buying one that’s sized appropriately for the number of chickens you have. Choosing a coop that fits your needs means you won’t have to compromise on space or comfort, and it makes caring for your flock much easier in the long run.
If you have the space to add just a slightly larger coop to house those 2 chickens beyond the size limit, it’s always best to provide that.
With that being said, it becomes much easier if you use a mobile coop. A mobile setup helps you overcome many of the challenges that come with smaller coop sizes, as long as you put in the effort to keep the flock moving to fresh ground. You still cannot push the limits too far, since the chickens will always need enough indoor space at night, but mobility gives them more freedom during the day and makes their environment healthier overall.
Of course, the quality of the coop you’re using plays a big part in this.
That’s why we offer high-quality mobile chicken coops in three convenient sizes - 6x8, 10x12, and 12x12, so it’s easy to find the one that best fits your flock and your yard.
Chicken Ranger is here to help you make the right choice with a coop that’s practical, durable, and designed to keep your chickens comfortable.
To learn more about our options or get personalized guidance for your setup, contact us today, and let’s find the perfect fit for your flock together!