10X8 coop with 25X10 run...how many chickens? *Pic heavy*

[NicInNC]

Just curious as to how many chickens we can have. They free range most of the day if that makes a difference. The only time we keep them in the run is if it's raining or hawks are out.
Here is the coop:

Yes, that is a bunny in the one nest. He is no longer allowed in the coop because the chickens are petrified of him. Plus, the shavings aren't healthy for Peter (the bunny).

 

[stuckinthecity]

Wow. I've got to say WONDERFUL coop, I wish I had something like that here in my backyard. I love the inside as well; the nest boxes look like some you'd find in an old chicken coop. It's beautiful! and I think people go by 2 square foot per chicken in the house, and 4 square foot per chicken in the run.

 

[Mahonri]

You could handle 22 in there.

 

[NicInNC]

Quote:
Thank you! My DH built it and he did a GREAT job! I'll make sure to tell him that you said he did good.

We still have a little work to do. I haven't painted the trim in the back and there is another window in the back that we need to get hardware for so we can open it up in the warmer months. I also want to get poop boards under the roosting board so they'll stop pooping all over the top of the nesting boxes. Plus, I want to paint the nesting boxes. DH made those also.

 

[FreedomLover]

Average per chicken is 4 sq ft. coop and 10 sq ft run. Run is a bit "flexible" if you free range. So I'd say, based on that, 20 chickens.

It is a nice looking coop

haha! love the chickens roosting on the rafters, although it might leave one open for "bombs" on occasion!

Why are the shavings bad for the rabbit? As far as the chickens being afraid of him, after the video I saw a couple days ago on YouTube ... I wouldn't doubt it! LOL

 

[rancher hicks]

Well I just want to say I like the coop w/ the rabbit. My girls used to roost in the rafters but pooped on the water and feeder so I blocked it off. That and they needed more clearance to land. I have glass windows and they broke a couple. Chickens don't climb down they jump and land like bombs.

The 10 sq ft. per bird in the run is excessive. I have run that's 8x24, and w/ a 10 sqft ratio I would only be able to have 3 chickens.

 

[NicInNC]

Quote:
Thanks! I was NOT happy about the rooster and two hens getting up in the rafters. I even clipped their wings, but they still manage to get up here. They hop onto the roosting board and then from there they get into the rafters. I got bombed one night last week when I was in there candling eggs that my broody is on.

I've read that shavings are bad for rabbits. He is now housed in the old chicken coop that we modified to make into his home. He is litter box trained and so we just put down newspaper and change it twice a week. He used to stay in the house, but seems much happier now that he's outside where he can run around. The bottom part of his home is on the ground (with hardware cloth so he can't dig out but he can still eat the grass growing) and then there is a ramp leading up into the inside of his house.

 

[NicInNC]

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I'm going to have to block the top off because I do NOT want them up in the rafters. Thanks for the compliment and advice!

 

[teach1rusl]

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??? How so??? at 192 sq. feet of run space you could somewhat comfortably keep 19 chickens???? Where'd the 3 chickens come from???

ETA: And NIC...I agree with a max of 20 that someone else mentioned, since your weather probably doesn't get too cold in winter.

 

[stuckinthecity]

Woops, sorry I was wrong about the square foot, Lol. I knew it was four square feet for something!