Bad idea to add 2 girls?

[Euphman06]

I know this has been asked a billion times, and my research shows different opinions...

My coop is 4x4, my run is 11x4. I have two roosting bars (4' in length) inside the coop.

I have 4 speckled sussex hens, but like most backyard chicken people, I want some more fluffy butts. Would adding 2 (6 in total) be overcrowded? I don't want to add if I'll just be causing problems.

I'd be greatful for any opinions, and sorry to those tired by this question since I'm certain it's asked a ton of times. Thanks!

 

[MarkJr]

Yes it would be crowding them. Right now, coop and run are within the rule of thumb guidelines.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes. Each chicken should have 4 square feet of space in the coop and 10 in the run. Your current coop and run are just right for 4 and would be over-crowded with 6.

Some chickens will tolerate closer confinement than others, but keeping chickens at high stocking densities requires more intensive maintenance and can easily lead to health and/or behavior problems.

 

[Euphman06]

Looks like I'll be drawing up coop blue prints again, lol

 

[Ridgerunner]

Would adding 2 (6 in total) be overcrowded? I don't want to add if I'll just be causing problems.

Never be afraid to ask a question on here no matter how many times it has been asked. We are each in different situations, the answer for one person may be different from the answer to another.

I personally do not believe in hose magic numbers for room for chickens or really much of anything else tp do with chickens. If you follow the link in my signature below you can see why. It might even help in your coop and run redesign.

I would not add any more chickens to your set-up. Integration itself takes more room than they need to live in peace after they are integrated. In Pennsylvania you probably often don't have the advantage of that run in winter, which means they can be pretty cramped just in that coop section. It might work for you but I think you would be asking for trouble to try to add more.

My suggestion is to decide how many you eventually want to end up with and design for that. Then build it a little bigger than the absolute minimum. Extra room gives you extra flexibility to deal with issues, if you build the absolute minimum you are both more likely to have issues and it can be very stressful to deal with any issues that come up. A bigger run will help a lot too.

I'd keep the old coop. It can come in handy when you integrate and gives you a place where you can isolate a chicken if you need to. More flexibility.

Good luck!

 

[Mrs. K]

Or, consider selling two of your birds now. If you have had them a year, they will still be good layers, and you should be able to get 10-15 dollars for them. Then add 2 new chicks. This will actually be better for your flock and egg production. Not all of your hens will be the same age. Truthfully you should add birds and subtract birds each year.

Older birds produce larger eggs, but a few less than the year before. Generally take a good break during the dark days of winter. Adding chicks early in the spring, and they will be laying by that time, and will lay through that first winter.

Chicken math will work well, if people ADD and SUBTRACT!

Mrs K

 

[50-45-1]

A 4X4 coop seems small.
Here in Michigan our daytime temp for the next few days aill be in the teens and single digits at night.
Chickens confined in the coop now for a couple days.
Now in Florida a coop may only be for roosting safely at night. So you see your location plays a part.

 

[3KillerBs]

Here in Michigan our daytime temp for the next few days aill be in the teens and single digits at night.
Chickens confined in the coop now for a couple days.

Why do you have them confined? Or do they just choose to not go out?

 

[50-45-1]

Why do you have them confined? Or do they just choose to not go out?

Temp in the teens plus wind and some snow. My chickens have tall straight combs, worried about frostbite. Today sun is shining. I have shoveled snow away, put down straw and they are out. Temp is 26. My coop is 11 X14 walkin with windows and ventilation. Water and food are inside. so confining on frigid winter days is no problem. OP,s coop is 4x4. Different story.