New to Chickenry

[DobieLover]

Is 5'x8' with raised roosting area 5'x5' inside not enough for a dozen cluckers??

No, it's not. They should have at least twice that amount of space. Three times would be far better.

 

[janiedoe]

Is 5'x8' with raised roosting area 5'x5' inside not enough for a dozen cluckers??

I would not put a rooster in there. Your hens need at the very least 10 to 15 sq ft each.
I allow even more space when housing roosters, mostly so that the hens have room to avoid them.

 

[CajunRoo]

No, it's not. They should have at least twice that amount of space. Three times would be far better.

They will have to deal with 5ftsq each until I open the door when I get home from work. I was told the tractor's capacity was 12 large chickens..

 

[Debbie292d]

They will have to deal with 5ftsq each until I open the door when I get home from work. I was told the tractor's capacity was 12 large chickens..

The 4-5 sq feet per chicken recommended a lot is speaking about sleeping room mostly as at night, they just sit in one spot. But when all locked up in that same area for days at a time, they'll start picking on each other. For example, here in Wisconsin, mine were locked up last winter for 2 weeks straight as we had -20F and lower temps with high winds.

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Welcome to BYC @CajunRoo

 

[DobieLover]

They will have to deal with 5ftsq each

They may or may not. Overcrowding is the number one reason for bad behavioral problems and hygiene and health issues. It is why battery hens are de-beaked. They are so overcrowded that they start to peck relentlessly at their flock mates causing injuries up to and including cannibalism.

 

[Kenneth Zweerink]

Thank's for sharing the picture your Chickens are Beautiful!

 

[triciayoung]

Is 5'x8' with raised roosting area 5'x5' inside not enough for a dozen cluckers??

No, it is not enough space

 

[triciayoung]

No, it's not. They should have at least twice that amount of space. Three times would be far better.

I would say 5 times the amount of space is good.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

@CajunRoo Welcome from New Orleans, howdy neighbor! So sorry to hear about your cockerel. hopefully you can take a little time to do some research on what type of Cock bird you wish to keep with the breeds you already have.
I don't know if this is doable, but could you add on to your tractor to give the birds a little more space?
There are some great articles on coop building here. you may want to take a gander