8x6 coop for 16 chickens?

[3KillerBs]

Yep, I've read both, and probably a lot more. Thanks for writing them and making those cute illustrations! I've just been reading as much as I can about this. I'm thinking I'm going to take off some full panels off the shed on the wind-sheltered side and replace it with hardware cloth. But I think I'll also include that shade screen stuff to get the benefits of shade as well.

That sounds great!

 

[BeefQuesoritto]

I'm southeast of Tucumcari.

 

[ZiaEggcelente]

8x8 would be better if you can, that's 4sq feet a bird, which is better unless you live someplace really temperate

Ok great advice I was thinking about 8x8 but wasn’t sure if it would be too deep to clean out? This is my first year with chicks so I’m starting ground up and want to do it right and also affordable. I bought two plans thinking about taking aspects of both to build. Considering ventilation etc. thank you!

Run size and coop size are related when it comes to capacity of your flock.

If you have a large coop and small run, your chickens will still be miserable. But if you have a decent size coop like an 8x6 combined with a large run or free ranging, you can get away with more birds.

If you had an 8x6 coop, depending on how it’s laid out, their could be three 8 foot roosts.. that’s 24 feet of roosting space. 8x6 is 48 sq ft, if using the 3 sq ft per bird rule, it’s not crazy to say there’s enough space for 16 birds.

this is helpful. I will go 8x8 to be safe. When planning the run, does 8x20 sound reasonably sized? We will free range when home only. It’s a predator heavy area and I am building a new house on the lot as well so there’s some familiarity I just won’t have until move in (April 10). Chicks are 2 weeks. We don’t have a perimeter fence in the 5 acre lot yet.

 

[BeefQuesoritto]

Yeah, absolutely going to have a predator proof run. I'm building some runs for quail and a rabbit colony set up, too, so having each run predator proof is important. We have badgers, foxes, skunks, and some small weasels along with the ubiquitous coyote. OP may also have those depending on where in SE NM they're at. So, a dug in apron of hardware cloth is definitely a good idea. Inside and outside the run for good measure. Going to run some hot wire around the bases, too.

This thread has good info on electric fencing. Grounding for electric can be difficult in a dry area when using a grounding rod, but there's other ways to ground a fence. If you're running multi strand, you can alternate which wire is hot and which one is ground. I don't like that as much because it depends on an animal coming into contact with several strands in order to receive a shock. You can also run welded wire along the ground, so that when a critter steps on it and comes into contact with the hot wire, they close the loop and get shocked. I'm lucky enough to be able to use a grounding rod, but offering these additional grounding tips just in case you're drier.

Some things I'm wondering about is the general lack of humidity and how that plays into our ventilation needs, as we're unlikely to ever have a humid coop or muddy run. I've been looking for posts from people in similar dry, hot states with higher population density to get ideas. My main concern is, when cutting holes in the shed for ventilation, am I just letting the heat of the sun in? So, I'm thinking about adding solar blocking screen material in there along with the hardware cloth, and having heat-minimal lighting inside like LED's so it's not just a dark cave inside.

What I've seen in a couple Arizona threads is the suggestions of timed misters in the run and coop with sand bedding. I may try that!

 

[ZiaEggcelente]

I got a little confused on what you meant by this, because I'm working with a shed that already exists. So, I am cutting holes in it, because it's already there, and building a new coop is not currently a possibility. But I get what you mean, now. If / when I upgrade to a not-shed coop, I'll keep that in mind for sure.

This is what my land looks like, so there's just no deep shade at all, for now. So, I have to create it.
View attachment 3441362

Any hole I cut is going to let some sun in, because the sun's everywhere, here. This is what I have set in stone for now as far as what I'm going to cut for ventilation, and what I hope the air will do.

View attachment 3441382



Yeah no kidding. This was last month here.
View attachment 3441365

I see a lot of three sided structures for sheep, goats, with the opening facing away from prevailing winds. I think that could work, but yeah, wind is the main issue here, haha.

Where are you located. Looks slightly similar to my area