Coop Advice

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Jw0027

Jw0027

Hatching
May 29, 2016
3
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Hi,
I'm deliberating whether I should buy a 6' x 4' shed to serve as a coop for some chickens. I'd prefer to have at least 6 hens. My question is how you would recommend constructing the roost(s) and nesting boxes in such a space, and whether it is possible to design in such a way that can accommodate 8 hens while also having a waterer and feeder??

Thanks,
James
 
Here is a link to the shed in question. The seller is offering it for $100 (with supplies such as a lamp, waterer, and feeder). They previously used it for meat birds and have two small windows cut into the sides. My thought was to modify the front to include a door out to the run that would be 500 square feet or so. Any thoughts on how to turn this into a chicken friendly coop would be much appreciated.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rubberma...jlIyuO-YEwcFmjDmrAcPMhoCrdXw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
I'm not sure where you live so. If you live in a warm climate and intend for them to sleep in it only you could use it for a coop. I've had 6 birds in a 4 x 4 x 4 cube shaped coop but they only sleep in it. My new coop is even smaller and only houses 4. If they are going to have to be confined to it in bad weather for long periods then I would suggest not. The 500 sq ft run would be more than adequate for 8 birds. Easiest way to add roosts/nesting boxes would be build a free standing interior frame to hold the roosts and nesting boxes. Forget attaching them to the plastic. $100 would go a ways towards building something else.
 
Jw0027 said:
Hi,
I'm deliberating whether I should buy a 6' x 4' shed to serve as a coop for some chickens. My question is how you would recommend constructing the roost(s) and nesting boxes in such a space, and whether it is possible to design in such a way that can accommodate 8 hens while also having a waterer and feeder??

Thanks,
James
Click to expand...



I have a 4x8 metal coop had it for years. I kept as many as 26 birds in three level coop with no problems and they stayed in the coop all winter never venturing outside hardly ever.




Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I live in Vermont, so we have some really rough winters. I plan on getting some really hardy breeds so I'm hoping they'll want to go outside of the coop even when conditions are bad. Seems like I'm hearing some conflicting thoughts on just how many you can fit into 24 square feet. Is it unwise to simply roll the dice and go for 8 birds in that space, and then wait to see if there are behavioral problems and adjust from there?
 
Jw0027 said:
I'm hearing some conflicting thoughts on just how many you can fit into 24 square feet.
Click to expand...


What you can fit and what you should fit are two entirely different things... You could fit 30 or more chickens in that 24sqft coop if you battery caged them...

To avoid behavioral problems and stress it's best to provide 'standard' sized chickens about 4 sqft of coop space and 10 sqft of run space per bird...

Sure you can pack them in tighter, but don't be surprised if they develop behavior problems or stress at some point...

You can of course fudge the numbers a bit, but I doubt you will find many that complain their coop or run is too big for the birds enjoyment and well being, while on the other hand there is no shortage of post here complaining about the coop being too small and/or their chickens exhibiting behavioral problems or stress related issues that most times are directly related to housing conditions...
 
You could use it strictly as a roost space. Put the food water and nest boxes in a different place. You can close off part of the run, so it doesn't get windy or wet etc. But it might just be easier to build from scratch.
 

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