[b]Someone who knows what the *HECK* the are talking About![/b]

[HEChicken]

Quote:
Not necessarily. Depends on the size of the bird. A big Orp would kill itself or break a leg trying to jump down from that height. No way mine could even get up there, much less get down. If you have bantams, yeah, high roosts are okay. So much depends on the breed/size of chicken. They like to look out the window when they roost, too.

Good point. I guess I always think in terms of the birds I have and not the other varieties that are out there. I don't have bantams but don't have huge breeds either. I guess I would rephrase my response to say, "make sure the roosts are higher than the nest boxes" then.

 

[Cats'n'Chicks]

Thanks so much to everyone for your invaluable input!

Everyone is saying that i should go from 6x6 to 8x8.
I know everyone also says that chickens are as addictive as M&Ms, and that you'll get more than you thought in the beginning.
my goal is to have up to 8 chickens.
given that, 8x8 seems too big for 8 chickens. but would you suggest going from 6x6 to 8x4?

 

[Schroeder]

Ok, but we told you so! What about a little spot to store a couple of feed drums? What if you need to isolate a chicken in her own dog crate for a few days? There are so many reasons to go bigger and the price differential would be minimal. Just saying....

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Build as large as you can or be ready to build more coops

They can never have too much room. What if your weather turns super nasty.............for 10 days? Would you rather be "stuck" in a 6x6 room or an 8x8 room?

Cats'n'Chicks :

Thanks so much to everyone for your invaluable input!

Everyone is saying that i should go from 6x6 to 8x8.
I know everyone also says that chickens are as addictive as M&Ms, and that you'll get more than you thought in the beginning.
my goal is to have up to 8 chickens.
given that, 8x8 seems too big for 8 chickens. but would you suggest going from 6x6 to 8x4?​

 

[dsqard]

Cats'n'Chicks :

Thanks so much to everyone for your invaluable input!

Everyone is saying that i should go from 6x6 to 8x8.
I know everyone also says that chickens are as addictive as M&Ms, and that you'll get more than you thought in the beginning.
my goal is to have up to 8 chickens.
given that, 8x8 seems too big for 8 chickens. but would you suggest going from 6x6 to 8x4?

Nope 8X8 is not too big for 8 chickens. I only have 9 in mine right now but I am working on more. I say go for the 8X8 since chickens are MORE addictive than M&M's. You sincerely will be glad you did. I built two coops last year and bought one. The last one I built was the 8X8 and I wish I had started with that one. Would have saved money that way.​

 

[Mervin]

Quote:
Not necessarily. Depends on the size of the bird. A big Orp would kill itself or break a leg trying to jump down from that height. No way mine could even get up there, much less get down. If you have bantams, yeah, high roosts are okay. So much depends on the breed/size of chicken. They like to look out the window when they roost, too.

I agree. My birds roost about 2 feet off the floor. That allows me to put ventilation up high and still be able to keep the draft off of them.

Like someone else said, extend the overhang. I would use the soffit you create to vent the coop from the top. The "Purina" coop illustrates what I mean much better than I can describe. I'm all about the ventilation. Personally, I'd much rather a coop be cold (not drafty) than humid. Many, myself included, believe it drastically reduces frost bite and respiratory problems. I try to stick to about 1 sqft of ventilation per 10 sqft of floor space or there abouts. I am actually considering an open-front design for my next coop project.

Purina Coop

 

[teach1rusl]

There's really no such thing as "too big a coop" for a number of birds. I have 6 LF hens and a bantam roo (7 birds) in a 6 x 8 coop, and often wish (and kick myself) for not going with an 8 x 8. "Extra" space can be used for: Metal garbage for feed storage - Plastic garbage can for DE storage - "Extra" space is wonderful. You'll love it come winter time too!!

 

[Judy]

I am always recommending 8x8 and, no, wouldn't change to 8x4. You will use the space, and so will the chickens, I promise you. Isolation pen for sick hen, broody pen, feed storage, room for the birds to fly hrozontally (and safely) off the roosts, simply a chair to sit and watch them -- so many things. Not to mention, 8x8 is NOT too much room for 8 chickens. Unless you are in a tropical or warm subtropical climate, in which case you need a 3 sided coop, anyway.

Someone mentioned scraping poop off walls behind the roosts. That is easily avoided by making the roosts no closer to the wall than 12".

Did I miss it or did you never tell where you are or what type chicken?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Eh?

No.

a) no such thing as too big.

b) that is still just HALF what I give my chickens in the coop (plus ample roofed run), and having seen their behavior at all these different stocking densities, would never go back to the mroe crowded condition even though yes you can certainly keep chickens that way without major carnage if you want.

seriously!


Pat

 

[jasonm11]

Quote:
Not necessarily. Depends on the size of the bird. A big Orp would kill itself or break a leg trying to jump down from that height. No way mine could even get up there, much less get down. If you have bantams, yeah, high roosts are okay. So much depends on the breed/size of chicken. They like to look out the window when they roost, too.

I have two roosts, one about 5' for my fit chickens and one at 18" for my fat fluffy butts. How is that? Any issues you can see? The hens like it.