Advice about coop, roosting bars, chicken math, etc

[NetherLeeFarm]

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!)

• 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.

My only concerns...
- 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!

Edited to add a PS re: ventilation since so many of you are concerned about it. Ventilation is great and more than adequate - never had an issue even with 12. You really can't see it in the photos but ventilation space runs nearly all around the coop up top. There's also ventilation space between the siding boards, enough for small amounts of air flow but not enough for wind. The run pop door is open year around, and the polycarbonate panels on the coop door and behind the roosts are removed in the warmer months to allow cooling and air flow. Thanks for your concerns though!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Technically you probably have space but whether the existing birds will remain "happy" with the facilities if you double the size of the flock, you won't know until you try it. They could all get along just fine, or you could have conflict - you never know when it comes to living creatures.

You mentioned needing to rearrange the roosts - how many linear feet do you realistically expect to have once that's done?

I'm having a hard time figuring out your ventilation - looks like you have a door that's hardware cloth and are those open louvers behind hardware cloth in the roost area? More birds = more ventilation needed, so if those aren't open at all times you're looking at double the amount of moisture generated

 

[Three Stents]

For 12 chickens, you need at least 24-48 sq ft for the coop (2-4 sq ft/bird) and at least 120 sq ft (10 sq ft/bird) for a run, but ideally much more space for the run if they can't free-range, aiming for 10+ sq ft per bird for a happy flock, with plenty of roosting bars (10 inches per chicken) and nesting boxes. Bigger is always better, especially for the run, as chickens need space to forage and express natural behaviors to avoid stress and aggression. I don't see
much ventilation in the coop.

 

[RubelliteRose]

I think that you could potentially add a few extra chickens, but not up to 15. I have found that each new group I add tends to form a subgroup within the flock instead of becoming a single cohesive group. The presence of a group of 7 and a group of 8 will require more space to exist peacefully than a single group of 15. It will help that your roosts are separated from each other, but the run appears to be a rectangle with no way for the groups to be out of sight of each other.
Your coop is beautiful! For ventilation though, the usual standard is 1 square foot per full sized adult. I see openings between the boards of your siding, but I don't think that will be enough if you add more hens. Here is an article that illustrates ventilation placement: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/repecka-illustrates-coop-ventilation.77659/

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

You mentioned needing to rearrange the roosts - how many linear feet do you realistically expect to have once that's done?

Ventilation isn't a concern. I updated my original post to provide more info. This would be mostly new birds, and the roosts would still be the same linear feet (18' total for 3 roosts but I know they likely won't use the bottom one so more likely 12'), just rearranged or somehow rebuilt to avoid poop issues.

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

Thanks for everyone's input. Please see my original post - I updated it for those of you who are concerned about ventilation. Hard to see in the photo, but no issues with it.

I've had 12 plenty of times, usually during spring/summer months when I'm raising a new flock with some of my older layers, and I've never had an issue. But they get a lot more daylight and free-range time during those seasons, of course.

I think many of you are right that I technically have the set-up but it's always a 'let's see what happens' game. @RubelliteRose and @rosemarythyme are spot on when they say each flock (and hen) is different.

 

[Ridgerunner]

My only concerns...
- 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?

In NW North Carolina they should have access to the outside most days, even in the dead of winter. It's not like they are out there with their tape measure marking off their private 4 square feet in the coop and daring anyone else to intrude. Having enough room is more about being able to separate from others if there is a need. It is more about quality of space than square feet. With access to the outside and that loft, fifteen chickens should have plenty of quality room, much more than 4 square feet each. I strongly believe the more room the better, up to a point, but I think you would have enough room after integration.

With living animals you never know for sure what will happen, you just don't get guarantees. You just don't know with animal behaviors. You will have to work harder with more chickens in there, more poop to deal with for example. But I think you could house 15 in there after integration, which will be in the summer.

- 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.

I can see how you are restricted in that end by that door. You have 6 feet across there. If it were mine I'd be happy with 12 feet of roosts for 15 chickens. Again, they are not out there with tape measures assuring no one is encroaching on their roost space. Your seven are using that one 6 feet long roost now. Are their tape measures faulty?

- 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.

No ideas there except keep removing them, painful as that is. If the chickens could easily get to them I'd expect them to eat the wasps but the chickens probably haven't realized a snack is available.

 

[Penpal]

As for the bees, mix a little peppermint oil with water and put in a spray bottle. Spray a little on the nest boxes (not just into the air). You don't need to saturate the boxes, just a dab here and there.

Bees hate peppermint, chickens don't notice.