Anything I should add to coop?

[kengboss21]

This is my recently built chicken coop it’s 4’x8’ and about 5 feet of headroom at the taller end. Is there anything I should add to decrease stress and promote healthy chickens? I own 6 chickens but want to cap it out in this coop at around 8-10

Features
Exterior Water Box
2 Exterior Nesting Boxes
PVC Feeder
Hanging feeder (for the little one)
Long roost (right side) with connecting perches and bridges for them to hang out on.

I do let my chickens out daily for about 5 hours so I’m wondering if eventually this will be able to hold 10 chickens given the outdoor time I give them.

 

[aart]

What does it look like from the outside....and what is their outdoor environment??
Plans to keep the water thawed?

I do let my chickens out daily for about 5 hours so I’m wondering if eventually this will be able to hold 10 chickens given the outdoor time I give them.

No, few hours outside does not make up for a crowded coop, I'd keep it at 6.

 

[Sally PB]

How close is the roost you have to the wall behind it? If it's too close (under about 12"), the wall will become splattered with poop. Mine have hit the wall and it's about 24" away.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I do let my chickens out daily for about 5 hours so I’m wondering if eventually this will be able to hold 10 chickens given the outdoor time I give them.

Any reason they aren't allowed to be out during all daylight hours? Is it because you don't have a dedicated run area for them?

Build a run of sufficient size and you can probably bump it to 8 birds. You might need to add another nest box if that happens, though some flocks share nest space readily (mine do NOT).

 

[aart]

Maybe another roosting pole - other tan that it is beautiful chicken coop. How many chickens do you have?

Thank you I have 6, I will check it out tomorrow see where I can possibly add more roost space. Thanks

It's about more than just how many roosts you can jam into a coop.

 

[kengboss21]

Cool, thanks for the advice

They have a pretty decent yard about 1,500 square feet of grass and garden to roam, as well as a compost pile. The waterer is heated

 

[kengboss21]

Any reason they aren't allowed to be out during all daylight hours? Is it because you don't have a dedicated run area for them?

Build a run of sufficient size and you can probably bump it to 8 birds. You might need to add another nest box if that happens, though some flocks share nest space readily (mine do NOT).

Yea no dedicated run yet so when they are out they free range all over the yard, although I will up their free range time starting tmr I will let them out from 9am(when I wake) to sunset

 

[RogueTek]

Thank you I have 6, I will check it out tomorrow see where I can possibly add more roost space. Thanks

Not sure if I saw a roosting bar in the photos. If the plywood catwalks are where they are roosting, you may consider screwing down a 1.5" (38mm) branch on the catwalk for them to roost on. If they roost on the flat, they can develop sores and issues like Bumblefoot. Agree with others on getting them out on all that grass, but understand, one step at a time... I used four-foot fiberglass electric fence stakes (the step-in kind), zip ties, and some nylon deer netting to make a good temporary run for mine when I was getting started. Cheap and easy to move and rearrange, as well as put away when needed. Great for an impromptu quarantine as well. All in all, looks really cool, and would love to see the outside, too!

 

[GirlsHuntToo]

Maybe another roosting pole - other tan that it is beautiful chicken coop. How many chickens do you have?

 

[kengboss21]

Maybe another roosting pole - other tan that it is beautiful chicken coop. How many chickens do you have?

Thank you I have 6, I will check it out tomorrow see where I can possibly add more roost space. Thanks