NetherLeeFarm
Songster
I've had chickens for a long time and it's taken years to build up to my current set-up, so I'd really love to be finished with it. But winter boredom and planning my annual chick order has me thinking dangerous thoughts lol.
I hope this post isn't TLDR because I'd love some advice. Based on egg needs/sales, I'd like to see if I can comfortably house up to 15-16 with no to very minimal changes.
I currently have 7 full-sized breeds (Marans, BAs, EEs, etc) - all hens, no roos and don't plan on any. Throughout the years, I've had as many as 12. At the time, I felt like that was pushing it during periods of harsh winter weather, but I can't remember if that was before we revamped and improved the coop a few years ago and added the covered run.
I'd love to know what you all think about my longtime set-up plus any advice to help a few small issues. Attached are photos with specs below along with my considerations/concern, so any and all advice is appreciated!
(Note: I took most of these photos right after a major cleanout - if only it always looked this good ha!)
- Based on math, it seems I should have plenty of space for 15 hens but I tend to err on the side of caution. Also, the dimensions given are for the overall footprint of the coop/run so some of the space is taken up with feeder, waterer, ramp, structural lumber etc. I'd rather have happy, healthy birds than a lot of birds, so what do you all think?
- If I can fit more hens, I likely need to reposition the roosts so they're not pooping on each other. Right now they're all roosting together on the top bar so it's not an issue, and I scrape off the lower two roosts and part of the ramp every day (dirty photo is right before doing that so you can see what I'm talking about). I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish this with my limited roosting area. It's inside the coop to the right of the door and if I expand outward, it would likely block the door and have them pooping more on the ramp, feed area, etc.
- In the summer months, we occasionally get wasps that like to build nests inside the top area of the nesting boxes. It's a pain (literally!) to try to spray and/or remove those in that area. We've talked about doing something different to discourage that but can't figure out what.
I'm open to any help and thoughts - much thanks in advance!
I hope this post isn't TLDR because I'd love some advice. Based on egg needs/sales, I'd like to see if I can comfortably house up to 15-16 with no to very minimal changes.
I currently have 7 full-sized breeds (Marans, BAs, EEs, etc) - all hens, no roos and don't plan on any. Throughout the years, I've had as many as 12. At the time, I felt like that was pushing it during periods of harsh winter weather, but I can't remember if that was before we revamped and improved the coop a few years ago and added the covered run.
I'd love to know what you all think about my longtime set-up plus any advice to help a few small issues. Attached are photos with specs below along with my considerations/concern, so any and all advice is appreciated!
(Note: I took most of these photos right after a major cleanout - if only it always looked this good ha!)
- Walk-in coop is 6x12 ft (72 sq ft) with one half divided into a loft (6x5 ft that adds 30ish additional sq ft).
- Loft holds 4 nesting boxes so some of the sq ft is taken up with those; loft also has a small, extra roost (that's never used along with 2-3 of the nesting boxes, of course).
- Under the loft is always open unless I'm incorporating pullets into my current flock, and then it's blocked off by a screen door for several weeks while that is taking place (always in the summer).
- One photo only shows 2 roosts but I've since added a third that's higher (see dirty roost photo); located in a 2x6 ft area to the right of the front door; top roost is mounted about 5 ft high.
- Covered walk-in run is 6x24 ft (144 sq ft) plus we free range in chunnels and moveable fencing areas when weather permits and we're not traveling, which is most days. Roosting in the run is dangerous with our winters here in the high country so unfortunately adding roosts there isn't an option.
- Based on math, it seems I should have plenty of space for 15 hens but I tend to err on the side of caution. Also, the dimensions given are for the overall footprint of the coop/run so some of the space is taken up with feeder, waterer, ramp, structural lumber etc. I'd rather have happy, healthy birds than a lot of birds, so what do you all think?
- If I can fit more hens, I likely need to reposition the roosts so they're not pooping on each other. Right now they're all roosting together on the top bar so it's not an issue, and I scrape off the lower two roosts and part of the ramp every day (dirty photo is right before doing that so you can see what I'm talking about). I'm not exactly sure how to accomplish this with my limited roosting area. It's inside the coop to the right of the door and if I expand outward, it would likely block the door and have them pooping more on the ramp, feed area, etc.
- In the summer months, we occasionally get wasps that like to build nests inside the top area of the nesting boxes. It's a pain (literally!) to try to spray and/or remove those in that area. We've talked about doing something different to discourage that but can't figure out what.
I'm open to any help and thoughts - much thanks in advance!
