"Garden coop" question

[mama2my4]

Have you built one? The plans say it is good for up to 8 hens. How accurate do you think that is? We are planning on attaching the nesting boxes going outside, so that will help right?

Trying to figure it out, because I cannot tell my hubby he needs to build two.... Expanding the run would be a good option for us though, if need be.

Thanks!

 

[Judy]

From what I've seen, I would not put more than half the advertised number of chickens in ready made coops.

 

[CSWolffe]

I would suggest only putting three, maybe four hens in that space. And I would still suggest letting them out to forage for a few hours every evening. I have a much bigger coop, with a run about that size, and my girls got bored over the winter and began plucking each others feathers out. I had to double the size of the run AND let them range about the yard every evening. I'm glad I did, my girls are much happier now.