Build a bigger run or free range?

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About 8 x 7 feet = 56 feet / 4 = 14 birds if that is the coop, the inside the building part.

I am afraid you are measuring the whole set up, the inside part where the birds would sleep at night, (coop) and the daytime run. I am afraid that the coop part is probably about 36 inches x 48 inches, and the rest is the run. If so, this set up would hold about 4 full size chickens. Often times the run is open under neath the coop, so the runs space would be adequate for 4-5 birds. Add a little free ranging and this would be a happy flock.

You can cheat on the run, if you free range, but you really cannot cheat on the coop space. At night they will all try and get into the coop, and try and roost.
You can only cheat on the run if you free range from sun up to sun down. And that will lead you open to predators.

It is so unjust of these manufactures to misrepresent the number of birds like they do. You are not the first to follow their recommendations, and find it does not work.

I think you need to reduce the numbers until you can get a bigger set up.

Mrs K
 
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I agree with Mrs K, you're measuring the outside of the entire enclosure but the numbers are a little more deceptive. The actual coop you have right now is far smaller than the enclosure. The part that isn't enclosed is actually the run. Without the exact numbers we can only guess, and my guess is also, this is maybe a 4 chicken coop, tops.

That said, IF you're willing to put in some work, you can at least turn the entire thing into a coop for approximately 14 birds. You will still need run space roughly equivalent to 10 sq ft per bird, or allow them to free range during the day, to make this work.

- Disassemble the floor and inside wall of the coop section along with any roost bar that's in there - basically you want the entire unit to be a big empty box.

- Get plywood or cut plastic panels to cover up any of the wire areas that would be exposed to winds/rain - you don't want to panel up the whole thing but just the sides that face most of the winds or rain in your area. If bad weather isn't a huge problem in your area just covering 1 side should be enough.

- Run a new roost bar (or 2) lengthwise across the body of the structure. You need approx. 12" of usable roost space per bird.

- Take the ramp and see if you can re-fit it to lead to the existing nest boxes. I cannot see how many nest boxes you have but you want roughly 1 box per 3 to 5 hens.
 
rosemarythyme said:
I agree with Mrs K, you're measuring the outside of the entire enclosure but the numbers are a little more deceptive. The actual coop you have right now is far smaller than the enclosure. The part that isn't enclosed is actually the run. Without the exact numbers we can only guess, and my guess is also, this is maybe a 4 chicken coop, tops.

That said, IF you're willing to put in some work, you can at least turn the entire thing into a coop for approximately 14 birds. You will still need run space roughly equivalent to 10 sq ft per bird, or allow them to free range during the day, to make this work.

- Disassemble the floor and inside wall of the coop section along with any roost bar that's in there - basically you want the entire unit to be a big empty box.

- Get plywood or cut plastic panels to cover up any of the wire areas that would be exposed to winds/rain - you don't want to panel up the whole thing but just the sides that face most of the winds or rain in your area. If bad weather isn't a huge problem in your area just covering 1 side should be enough.

- Run a new roost bar (or 2) lengthwise across the body of the structure. You need approx. 12" of usable roost space per bird.

- Take the ramp and see if you can re-fit it to lead to the existing nest boxes. I cannot see how many nest boxes you have but you want roughly 1 box per 3 to 5 hens.
Click to expand...
Don't forget that ventilation is a critical need in any coop, an other sadly neglected issue in all of the pre-fabs I've seen. The ventilation needs to be above roosting space so the birds don't sit in a draft. (not possible in a pre fab with only 2 - 3' of space from coop floor to top of coop walls.) The more densely populated a coop is, the more ventilation is needed. They put out a lot of moisture in their respiration and their poo. In freezing weather, that moisture condenses and freezes on what ever surface it lands on, be that walls, ceiling (where it can then melt and drip back down on the birds) or the birds themselves.
 
It has four large nest boxes and they treat the entire thing like their coop. They roost in the rafters and it does have the run underneath the coop. It doesnt look huge but its not horribly small either. I think it we build a run around the coop and close in the entire thing except for vents,
Or I should say about 9 inches from the ground for vent,
Then it will work fine. Then add 4 more nesting boxes and two large roost bars. Its been incredibly easy to clean.

400
 
mamaofmany said:
It has four large nest boxes and they treat the entire thing like their coop. They roost in the rafters and it does have the run underneath the coop. It doesnt look huge but its not horribly small either. I think it we build a run around the coop and close in the entire thing except for vents,
Or I should say about 9 inches from the ground for vent,
Then it will work fine. Then add 4 more nesting boxes and two large roost bars. Its been incredibly easy to clean.

400
Click to expand...



Sounds like a plan. Remember 1 nest box to 4 hens. 1 foot of rooster per chicken. Thats the way i did mine anyway. Floor space isnt quite as much as others like at 8x8 but i made 8 nest boxes and 3 roosts thats are 8 foot long. Right now it holds 26 with room to spare.
 
Craigslist, chicken and dumplings, chicken noodle soup, etc.

People always need roosters. They get pullets from the feedstore and later decide they want a rooster
 
lazy gardener said:
Don't forget that ventilation is a critical need in any coop, an other sadly neglected issue in all of the pre-fabs I've seen. The ventilation needs to be above roosting space so the birds don't sit in a draft. (not possible in a pre fab with only 2 - 3' of space from coop floor to top of coop walls.) The more densely populated a coop is, the more ventilation is needed. They put out a lot of moisture in their respiration and their poo. In freezing weather, that moisture condenses and freezes on what ever surface it lands on, be that walls, ceiling (where it can then melt and drip back down on the birds) or the birds themselves.
Click to expand...

Agreed. This is why I suggested only covering up the sides that need it, so the end result is a mostly open air coop. At least I think that should work where the OP is located. A removable panel system would be ideal, but if that's not possible then at least covering up the side(s) that get the most wind and rain that should be enough.. Of course in areas with really severe weather or long spells of bad weather that won't work, but even with several days of snow this year I was able to get by with covering one side of my coop leaving 2 sides open.
 
for free - and don't ask questions.

With that little girl in the picture, I would get rid of all roosters for a year or two, until you get some more experience. Roosters can be a crap shoot, and a lot of them can be mean, and they tend to attack children first, especially if they share a play space.

Mrs K
 

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