What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[alih]

I know this question has been asked umpteen times before but as my walk-in-run dream grows ever more real a possibility I realise that I don't understand the maths....apologies . Can someone please tell me what the ratio of chickens per foot/metre squared is ok. My WIR would be at least 12ftx 6ft x6ft but more likely 15 ft long. I will be keeping the girls in most of the time so of course want them to have plenty of space. Is it 1 chicken per 10sqfeet? If so does that mean 7 would be ok? Or is that too much of a squash? I of course ask only in the name of research, not because I only have 5 chickens and more may "fall" into the run if it's big enough. Many thanks

[meezers]

If you go for 12ft long I would say 6 chooks would be enough- my first WIR is a little smaller than that, but my chooks are out most of the day. 7 would be fine in a 15ft long run - and you could add a platform to increase the area further.( if you added a LARGE platform, then maybe you could squeeze in 8- not that I want to put ideas in your head or anything )

[Yolky]

I think 1sq metre per bird is the recommendation. On another forum I go on they always recommend 2sq metres though.

[alih]

ok that confirms pretty much what I thought - would rather underdo it despite terrible temptations!!! indeed! Thanks guys