4x8 playhouse type coop, 3 hens okay?

[junglegal]

They will not be able to free range, illegal in the city. More humane for 2 hens or could 3 live in harmony?

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Would you have a run? The coop is plenty big for 2 or 3 hens if you build them a nice big run.

 

[junglegal]

no run, the coop is all enclosed, 32 sq ft of foraging space.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

then no...Chickens need to have a run or free range space to live happy!

 

[True Grit]

Mine are going to be stuck in the coop and run all winter and so far they're fine. I have 5 in a 4x8 playhouse coop and run. The coop is off the ground so they can go under the coop.

 

[patandchickens]

If you can raise the "house" part of the coop (the enclosed indoor portion) up so they can use the ground underneath it as part of their run, then you would have whatever's the square footage of the playhouse as your indoor portion (4x4?) and 32 sq ft of run. Which is not bad at all for 3 hens.

If you can't do that, and are stuck with only 32 sq ft total, you can try 3 hens if you want, there are a reasonable number of people who've kept chcikens at that stocking density without major problems, just recognize there is more chance of problems arising than if you had just 2. (OTOH with 2 chickens you're in the awkward position where if you lose one of them you really oughta get another hen to keep the survivor company and then you get into all those social-order working-out-the-food-chain kind of pecking issues, whereas if you start with 3 hens, you can lose 1 and still have "a flock" rather than a lone and lonely hen).

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[junglegal]

Here is a pic of the coop, before the wire going on...again, can't free range.

 

[eKo_birdies]

nice coop, i think you'll be fine w/ 3. give 'em treats like pumpkins, squash, head lettuces, etc and they should be good.

sorry you aren't able to free range where you're at

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Many folk don't let there chickens out of the run. With 10 sq feet per bird of run recomended by those that like happy chickens you've plenty space for 3 chickens. Heck I'd even have 4 in that set up without any dithers about thier health. Mine are in same space and of late (winter and no bugs so travel to neighbors yards attempting to forage) can only come out to stretch for one or two hours a day. 7 chickens and no problems. Laying rate is still top notch too. If we are working in the yard they stay around and can leave em out longer but unattended and they are searching for what there is very little of this time of year.

8x4 tractor with coop attached:

 

[Tdub4chiks]

I have 4 in my coop/run and it is a lot smaller than yours. I will build a bigger run next spring, but my girls are doing great.