how many chickens can i have...?

[painful100]

I just got a coop today. Its a bit dirty, and I plan to clean it out very well, but its solid and pretty cool I think. It measures 4'2 long by 2'10 inches wide. What do you guys think? How many chickens can I have? Thanks (PS I plan learn a lot and get prepared before jumping in. Going to make some adjustments to this coop, make the top able to lift off so i can clean better. And how does the ventilation look? Thanks peeps

 

[bj taylor]

looks like a coop for two. it'll be real cute when you get it all fixed up. i can't tell about the ventilation

 

[Fleabuskitty]

It is approximately 12 square feet. If you are going to free-range or will have a run with >10 square feet per bird, then that will work for up to 6 chickens (they will have 2 square feet each because they will only use it for sleeping. However, if you will have a smaller run (<6 feet each), you might want to give them more space inside and therefore have only 3 (4 square feet each in there).

 

[painful100]

I was hoping to make a large run that I can walk inside, and to free range them around my property. I would love to be able to have 4-6 if you guys think that would be humane.

 

[perchie.girl]

I was hoping to make a large run that I can walk inside, and to free range them around my property. I would love to be able to have 4-6 if you guys think that would be humane.

Looks good and very sturdy. Small is OK if thats only the place they roost. Its A very good start...

Um Oh and welcome to.....

from San Diego.

hee hee.

deb

 

[painful100]

Thank you kindly....im sure ill be back with many questions.

 

[Fleabuskitty]

If they'll have a large run and free-range, 4-6 would be perfect

 

[ScottM]

Also plan for roosting space, I've heard ten inches a bird is tight, a foot each would be best.

 

[painful100]

was thinking I would put 2 roost sticks across, one higher than the other. You can see the coop is slanted so one can be raised slightly. 3 birds per stick should be enough, right?

 

[Fleabuskitty]

I personally try not to have roosts directly above each other, chickens poop a lot at night and bathing poop-covered chickens is not fun

But if they are at an angle where that can't happen, two should be fine - if each is four feet long that gives them each a little over a foot of roost space.