Chook-A-Holic Cattle Panel Coop Questions

0wen

Songster
Mar 25, 2016
715
188
151
Southwest Virginia
Hello,

In the process of building a cattle panel coop based off of the Chook A Holic plans available here at BYC. Just wondering how many LF chickens it can comfortable hold. I know there is some suggested math to coop and run space somewhere but just looking for clarity.

The dimensions are roughly 8'8" by 16' - the chickens will have the full dimensions for a run. I'm also contemplating building an elevated coop/huddle box that will be roughly 8'8" x 5'. The chickens will also have plenty of free range opportunities so I guess I'm primarily concerned with the coop/huddle house space more than the run itself.

Suggestions on a max number of chickens in a roughly 43 sqft coop?
 
Hello,

In the process of building a cattle panel coop based off of the Chook A Holic plans available here at BYC. Just wondering how many LF chickens it can comfortable hold. I know there is some suggested math to coop and run space somewhere but just looking for clarity.

The dimensions are roughly 8'8" by 16' - the chickens will have the full dimensions for a run. I'm also contemplating building an elevated coop/huddle box that will be roughly 8'8" x 5'. The chickens will also have plenty of free range opportunities so I guess I'm primarily concerned with the coop/huddle house space more than the run itself.

Suggestions on a max number of chickens in a roughly 43 sqft coop?

Welcome to BYC
What is your general location/climate? What breed(s) are you considering keeping (there is a difference between large fowl like leghorns, sussex and brahma/cochin)? Will you have the feed/water station(s) inside the elevated coop area or outside in the general run area?

*generally speaking* the rule of thumb you'll hear is 4 square feet per bird inside the coop as a minimum (more is always better) - but there are many variables, such as those mentioned above, that can impact this being appropriate - so with your coop dimensions you'd be looking at 10 birds, but this is not really gospel.
 
Mixed flock:

4 Sumatra Bantams
3 Leghorn Bantams
2 Cream Legbar
2 Olive Egger mutts
1 Buff Orpington

I have a half dozen hatching eggs being shipped, but who knows if any of those will make it. Really just wondering if I can make due for a while with the hoop coop of if I should expand now. My plan is to ultimately move the bantams into their own tractor coop.

I'm planning on hanging nipple waterers in the run. I haven't finalized my thoughts on a feeder but likely something that hangs as well. Realistically, the chickens will free range at least a few hours a day on most days. I've never kept bantams though and not sure that I'll let them free range as I live rural and most neighbors keep cats or there are strays present. I assume that the larger fowl would offer some protection if the bantams are integrated, but not sure I'd want to risk it.

I live in VA and 0 is probably the coldest it gets and while it isn't rare, it's uncommon to have several single digit days in a row. The coop is close enough to an electric source that I could run a light for heat if I needed to. I know leghorn combs can be sketchy in cold and the hatching egg breed also has a single comb - I'm not opposed to running a heat lamp, I've just heard opposing information as to do or not.
 

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