What you need for backyard chickens
We suggest 4 hens for a first flock. For 4 you need a coop with 16 sq ft of floor, a 40 sq ft run, about 3 ft of roost, 1 nest box, a feeder, a 2 to 3 gallon waterer and layer feed (a 50 lb bag lasts about 7 weeks). For 6, make that 24 sq ft, 60 sq ft, about 5 ft of roost and 2 nest boxes.
We suggest 4 hens for a first flock. Chickens are social, and a chicken should never be kept alone, so a small flock means no hen is left on her own if you lose one. A hen in her first laying year lays about two eggs every three days, so 4 hens give well over a dozen eggs a week. Check your local limits first.
Below is what to have ready, sized for 4 hens and for 6, using the same numbers we check every coop against.
The Fluff & Feed starter kit
These are the picks we'd buy for a first flock, from the products we've checked so far. Each one passed our checks for space, locks or cold rating, and each links to its full page.
| Need | Our pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coop | Producer's Pride Citadel | Its 37 sq ft of floor fits 9 hens by our numbers, so 4 or 6 have room to spare. (The maker says 14.) Every cheaper coop we could measure had floor space for 2 hens or fewer. |
| Coop, if budget allows | Carolina Coops American Coop | 24 sq ft inside, a 72 sq ft run and hardware cloth. It costs several times more than the Citadel. |
| Automatic door | Run-Chicken T50 | Locks against predators, runs on batteries, and opens by light or timer. |
| Door for very cold winters | ADOR1 | Locks, and is rated down to -20°F. |
| Waterer | Premier1 Heated Poultry Waterer, 3 gal | A good size for 4 to 6 hens, and the coldest rating of any waterer we list (-20°F). |
| Heater | Skip it | Most flocks don't need one. Here's why. |
Feeders, nest boxes, bedding and feed join the kit as the stores we work with send us their products. Nobody pays to be in it.
Everything else you need
Housing
| Item | 4 hens | 6 hens | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coop floor | 16 sq ft | 24 sq ft | Solid walls, vents up high, and latches a raccoon can't open. Check the floor area, not the hen count on the box: see coops that really fit 4 and 6. |
| Run | 40 sq ft | 60 sq ft | Wire with openings smaller than 1 inch, buried at least a foot deep. See protecting chickens from predators. |
| Roost bar | 3 to 3.5 ft | 4.5 to 5 ft | At least 9 to 10 inches of perch per hen. |
| Nest boxes | 1 (2 is nicer) | 2 | About 12 inches square, lined with shavings or straw. One box serves 4 to 5 hens. |
| Automatic door | Optional | Worth it if you can't be home at dusk every night. How to choose one. | |
Food and water
| Item | 4 hens | 6 hens | What to look for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feeder | Holds a few days of feed | A hen eats about a quarter pound a day. Look for one that limits spills and keeps rodents out. | |
| Waterer | 2 to 3 gal | 3 to 5 gal | Big enough that you're not refilling it daily. In cold places, add a heated waterer or base before the first freeze. |
| Layer feed | A 50 lb bag lasts about 7 weeks | About a 50 lb bag a month | Start layer feed at 18 to 20 weeks old. Use feed within one to three months of buying it. |
| Oyster shell | A small dish, always full | Extra calcium for laying hens. Offer it free choice in a separate feeder. | |
| Grit | A small dish | Extension services differ on whether hens on complete feed need grit. A small free-choice dish costs little. | |
| Treats | Optional | Scratch grains or mealworms, in small amounts alongside their feed. | |
Bedding and cleaning
Pine shavings, hemp or straw for the coop floor and nest boxes, and a shallow tub of dry dirt or sand where hens can dust bathe. For cleaning, a small shovel or scoop, a rake and a stiff broom. If smell is a problem, add an absorbent coop deodorizer.
Health and first aid
A basic kit: a poultry wound spray, electrolytes, Epsom salt and disposable gloves. Ask your vet what else to keep on hand.
- Mite and lice treatments are registered pesticides, and what you can buy varies by state. Follow the label.
- Antibiotics that matter in human medicine have needed a veterinarian's authorization since June 2023, so you can't buy them off the shelf. Medicated chick starter feed is still sold without one.
What happens next
Starting from chicks? Our week-by-week guide walks you from setting up the coop to the first egg, with what to watch for along the way. Once your flock is settled, the chicken care calendar covers the daily, weekly and seasonal jobs.
Check your town's rules before you buy. Many places limit flock size, and some ban roosters.
Sources
- NC State Extension: keeping garden chickens (flock company, eggs per hen, roost and nest space)
- Alabama Extension: feeding the laying hen (feed per hen, feed freshness, grit)
- Mississippi State Extension: backyard flocks (oyster shell)
- UNH Extension: protecting chickens from predators (wire openings, burying)
- FDA: antibiotics for animals move to prescription
- How much space do chickens need? (our coop and run numbers)
Questions people ask
How many chickens should a beginner start with?
We suggest 4. Chickens are social and should never be kept alone, and 4 hens in their first laying year give well over a dozen eggs a week. Check your local limits first.
How big a coop do I need for 4 chickens?
At least 16 sq ft of floor inside the coop, plus a 40 sq ft run. Many coops sold for 4 hens have far less floor than that, so check the floor area, not the hen count on the box.
How much feed do 4 chickens eat?
About a pound a day in total, so a 50 lb bag of layer feed lasts roughly 7 weeks. They eat a bit more in winter and less when they free-range.