12x10 big enough?

budda

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I shave plans for a 12x10 total run area with a 4x6 coop 2 feet off the ground inside. I plan to have a total of 6 hens and no more. There will be 3 boxes that hang out the rear of the 4x6. The roof is tinted roofing to let some sunlight in. Should I go with the galvanized tin or the tinted roof? Is this going to be big enough for 6 hens??
 
Bigger is always better when it comes to coops AND runs.

If you go with tinted or galvanized, try to keep the coop in the shade for most of the day... you don't want prematurely fried chicken.
 
Quote:
The coop is adequate sized for 6 hens, the run is generous. Usually recommended is 4sf per bird in the coop and 10 sf in the run.
I personally would like the tinted roof, but it can depend on your climate, and location.

Imp
 
Totally depends on your climate. If you're somewhere that doesn't have many miserable days when the chickens will want to stay indoors most of the time, AND does not get very hot and sunny in the summer, then it would probably be fine, with adequate ventilation. If you're somewhere with long cold winters or long very-rainy spells, a larger henhouse would be smart; if the coop will experience hot sunny summers, an opaque roof would be smarter (for a small coop like that, opaque plastic might be a bit better than metal if you have to choose between those two; or insulate under the metal). Generally transparent or translucent parts to let light in are much better situated in the WALLS than in the roof.

Three nestboxes is overkill, all you need for 6 hens is 2 boxes, or even just one size-and-a-half one. If the coop will be tall enough, it is much better to put the boxes INSIDE the coop (14+" above the floor litter, so the hens can still use the floorspace under them) with an outside access hatch to them if you want outside access. This is far easier and gives you all of the advantage of exterior boxes without ANY of the considerable disadvantages of them.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat
 

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