Coop size

[penguin24]

My husband built me a coop. The actual outside run is 6 feet by 12 feet. The house is 3 feet by 3 feet by 4 feet tall. How many chickens can I comfortably house without issues? We have three nesting boxes that are not taking up any of that space as well.

Thanks!!

 

[Poultry parent]

one nest box can accommodate up to 5 hens. and about 3 square feet per bird, less if they are bantams more if they are really big

 

[Poultry parent]

barred rocks are full sized birds so for them it would be about 3 square feet, birds like jersey giants need more. however i have 7 chickens in a 18 square foot coop and they do fine, they have a 20x20 run, so you could probably do 4 or 5 maybe.

 

[TerryH]

Sorry to bother everyone, my wife and I, were given 5 chicks from a friend,ome pf hhos hens did not want them after she hatted them. They were 3 days old when we got them and now they are almost 2 weeks.
Anyway, while they are in thehouse I am working on getting them a coop. I am not sure what size i need for the 5 of them. Could someone please take a look at this one and tell me what they think please.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Pawhut-Deluxe...d-Poultry-Hen-w-Ramp-/391367610777?nav=SEARCH

You really should start your own thread but that will never work for 5 chickens. It's entirely too small. Approximately a 20 sq.ft coop and 50 sq.ft. run will be required for your 5.

 

[penguin24]

So if it 3 square feet per bird I am looking at about 3 chickens? They are barred rock so I am pretty sure they are the full size birds.

 

[penguin24]

Here is my dilemma...we currently have 9 chicks. Some are a barn mix and some are barred rock. They are only 3 weeks old..can we house all of them in there until we can figure which are roos? We know we have 2 or 3 hens for sure..the rest are a waiting game!

 

[Poultry parent]

sure. roost space is very important about 7'' per bird, if they have plenty of run space they will probably be okay, you just don't want 2 roosters in that size coop

 

[penguin24]

In the end we will have no roosters as we live in town

 

[Poultry parent]

ah. well do make sure they have enough roosting space

 

[penguin24]

Just went out and measured and I think the roosting space will not be an issue. Now, one more question. Feed and water..inside or outside the house? The door to the run will likely be open all the time in the summer and opened in the morning and closed at night in the winter..do they need access in their house or would it be ok outside in their run? They will also be let out into the yard for at least an hour a day...way too many things to think about!!