Basics

[Danielmc]

So, another newbie not bothering to check the FAQs and wants to ask the basic "how much space do my chickens need" question... super annoying, I know! But rest assured that I have looked but am still confused as all over the internet I am finding very different information, I am afraid!

So am just trying to get some general guidance to get me started.

I am not much of a DIY-er, and so I was thinking of getting something pre-made. Saw this one on Amazon, for example. I couldn't link to it because I am a newbie, however you will find it on amazon.co.uk under the name: ChickenShack RS-716L Large Chicken Coop and Run

If I had to guess, the dimensions given are of the run as well, not the entire thing, but I am not quite sure. They claim it can hold up to ten birds. I would have guessed more like four or so.

What do all think (given that this would be in northern-ish Scotland and thus the winters can be a bit chilly)?

Thanks for the help!

 

[citychickx6]

To me it looks like it could do 2 to 3 medium to large birds. I would try and find something larger if you can. With indoor time in the winter fighting can be a real danger.

Oh and

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Found it. Now if you had Banties or Silkies, you might be able to do 10 in it. But full size standard hens, you are right, 4 would be a safer bet. In the picture, it looks like all the floor space is covered by roost bars. Does that mean they walk from the roost right into the nest box? And I have my feeder & water inside, I see no space to put a feeder in that unit.
They have picture of two separate coops. Picture 2 is a pitched roof, picture 1, 3 & 4 are a peaked roof.
Pict. 2, run is bigger & there is the under coop where they can be protected from rain/snow.
Pic. 1, 3 & 4, smaller run, closer to the ground, shorter ramp, outside nest box.

I's say, find someone who will build one for you, because you know, you will want more, so if you build it bigger, the more you can have.

 

[OregonChickenGal]

Welcome to BYC! Sq ft per bird in the coop is at 4sq ft each. But it also depends on how much time they will spend in the coop. More time, more space needed.

 

[ChicKat]

Welcome Danielmc

After hanging around this forum for a while, I think that there are a number of different approaches to keeping chickens. I see that the coop you are looking at is in the UK, and I think that the UK approach is a little different than the one in the USA.

In the second coop pictured, it showed a removeable tray. for intensive housing, frequent cleaning is important, and a removeable poop tray makes this easy. That house was also elevated and it looked like there was a place beneath where the chickens could shelter. Not 100% certain why they show a couple different models for the same product number.

I think one factor, among many, is the disposition of your chooks (which you won't know until after you have them). Some are so mild mannered that they can be kept closer together, and some are so high-strung that there needs to be much more room to avoid ruffling feathers. I think any of the game or wilder chickens will require more space even if they are smaller birds. I have a sexlink, and two barred rocks and they are the best of buddies. In my other coop I have a Leghorn (Ideal 236) and she is kind of "mean", so it would have been nice to have more space around her (like a few miles)--- no I am exaggerating there.

Another factor is your climate. In mild climates, chickens prefer to be outdoors just about all the time. They will go in the "coop" to lay eggs, and to roost for the night to be safe from predators. If yoiu get a lot of rain--you may even want to cover the roof of the run to give them more dry area. For folks in very, very cold climates, I guess the chickens actually spend more time inside. (mine only sleep and lay eggs inside, so if I were to expand it would be more toward the run and not the coop, but some folks, I believe have their chickens living indoors.

If you also have garden space to 'free range' your chickens then there is less pressure on just the coop and run that you have. if you are in the UK, you may want to check out the Omlet Go, classic and Cube. I have a Go and a Classic and I think they are great. I believe that the Omlet Forum has items for sale all over the UK, and you may get some good engineering, without the high price. One nice thing about plastic, is that you needn't repaint and refinish yearly, another good thing is that there are fewer places for mites and other chicken pests to hide, they are insulated and easy to clean. I guess I better be careful, I start sounding like an advertisement.

 

[Danielmc]

Thanks everyone! Indeed strange that they show two products, however I am guessing it is the first one since there are more photos of that one than the other - but I could be wrong of course.

I'll have to look into the Omlet Go, classic, and cube that you mention and see what they are like.

During the winter there will be days in the negatives with a few periods of snow, so I guess there will be a decent amount of time spent inside the coop. It also rains a LOT in Scotland, haha.

We have a garden so they'd be able to roam free whenever possible, especially during the warmer months when they might actually WANT to be out. I would just be worried about predators! Is this more just an issue for the night time?

I'll keep looking. Wouldn't mind something bigger, but it would be nice to keep the price down as much as possible!

 

[7L Farm]

Bigger is always better. Birds need alot of space. I have 5 coops & raise alot of different birds. I have one chicken coop that is 330 sq ft three sided coop that I house 16 pullets in. The 16 pullets love their coop & lay alot of eggs. They are chickens I hatched & are very friendly. They follow me & jump up in my lap & seem very content. So, I suggest a big coop for happier & healthier birds . JMO

 

[Danielmc]

How does it work in terms of just letting them go around the garden? Is this really dangerous for them in terms of foxes etc?