Be honest....

[Erin80]

Thanks everyone!! My chickens are generally outside, so they use the coop to lay and sleep mostly. We will see how it goes with the six newbies....I have no tolerance for bullies, so if there is one in the group, they will be put up for sale online. I gave away 3 of my barred rocks in January because they were bullying a few of my others......and I really didn't want or need 5 barred rocks. It has been SO much more peaceful since they left. We shall see........
A coop expansion isn't totally out of the question either....just need to get my husband on board....that's always the hard part!

 

[Chasingcars]

DO you all live places that are so cold chickens don’t come out? I have a regular sized coop 6x5ft with 3 nesting boxes with 10 hens in there at the mo sometimes a few more plus a Guineas pig who just likes to sleep there instead of her house...they spend pretty much all their time , regardless of weather , outside...they also have a wooden gazebo, climbing perches in a sort of jungle gym with lots of shelter and about 1/4acre mixed grass, tree, flowers area..Unless they are sleeping or laying an eggs they’re mooching in the above. We have no disease, health problems or fighting...but my coop sounds tiny compared to all yours!

Ps Snow and -9 last week...all the ladies still out!

 

[bobbi-j]

DO you all live places that are so cold chickens don’t come out? I have a regular sized coop 6x5ft with 3 nesting boxes with 10 hens in there at the mo sometimes a few more plus a Guineas pig who just likes to sleep there instead of her house...they spend pretty much all their time , regardless of weather , outside...they also have a wooden gazebo, climbing perches in a sort of jungle gym with lots of shelter and about 1/4acre mixed grass, tree, flowers area..Unless they are sleeping or laying an eggs they’re mooching in the above. We have no disease, health problems or fighting...but my coop sounds tiny compared to all yours!

Ps Snow and -9 last week...all the ladies still out!

When it's deep, mine aren't fond of going out in the snow. Sometimes I will spread straw on the snow outside of their pop door to lure them out, but they will only walk where the straw is. If there is no snow on the ground, they'll usually go out, unless it's double digits below zero.

 

[BantyChooks]

When it's deep, mine aren't fond of going out in the snow. Sometimes I will spread straw on the snow outside of their pop door to lure them out, but they will only walk where the straw is. If there is no snow on the ground, they'll usually go out, unless it's double digits below zero.

x2. This winter there was two weeks straight of highs about -17C and lows much colder. The chickens still came outside, at least for a bit. What does keep them from coming out is the snow---they can't walk on it, they sink in and look hilarious. They're good with under 1/3m though.

 

[Erin80]

x2. This winter there was two weeks straight of highs about -17C and lows much colder. The chickens still came outside, at least for a bit. What does keep them from coming out is the snow---they can't walk on it, they sink in and look hilarious. They're good with under 1/3m though.

X3. Ours hate the snow! I do brush off their ramp and throw hay and scratch down and that always gets them out, but they won’t walk on the snow.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

DO you all live places that are so cold chickens don’t come out?

It never really gets "cold" here, on the coast of Ca. But we can get some down pours of rain with wind blowing so hard it rains upside down. And I mean buckets, not sprinkles.

That being said... I have had heavy predator load this year for the first time in 8+. I find my flock tucked inside unexpectedly a lot lately. Probably the rooster crying wolf about song birds. No but seriously, 2 broody's lost 3 chicks last week. And I saw a hawk perched on top of my tractor with chicks in it... after seeing it sitting 2 feet in front another small (prefab) coop less than 25 from my kitchen window.

So some people have reason to need to confine their birds. This comes down once again to every set up and situation might be different.

I keep my food and water OUT of my coop, under a covered run. I want to clean inside as seldom as possible. Which in summer might be several weeks while in winter might only be a week.

Given the opportunity... my lovely birds, every single one, from every coop, and tractor, from every generation... would post up on my back patio! And of course make a majority of their thoughtful deposits right there. They just love to be near by.

 

[Foster's Freehold]

Yeah, if you wanted them to poo in one place, it certainly wouldn't be where they choose. I feed fermented, so they get bowls in the morning, then a little scratch in the deep litter in the afternoons.
I too have high predators around here, going to try to encourage crows to roost in the big trees, make a frickin Ft.Knox of a coop. Movement lights outside, hot wire, aprons, locked doors etc etc.

 

[PirateGirl]

It's winter here for 8 months or so of the year. The chickens really don't seem to mind the cold, but when the wind gets up to 50mph or more and it's snowing sideways they do choose to stay in their coops. I never lock them in. The door gets opened daily regardless the weather. It's always up to them. There were a handful of days this winter they didn't really venture out and I brought them food in their coop. I like to think they have enough space inside if they choose to stay in, and by keeping the pop door open it does allow for one to get away from the others (even if only temporarily) until things simmer down.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Mine don't like snow. They're ok with some rain (they have no choice, given our climate!) but prefer to stay in with heavier/prolonged rain.

My current coop is about 15 sq ft or so. I have a flock of 3 (was 4 before a hawk came along). Really want more chickens so we're having a new 60 sq ft shed built. I wanted enough space for 12 (have to subtract nest boxes and space for feeder, and the roost bars will be 12' total) but I'm actually planning on 8 to 10 chickens total (but since I plan on buying an extra chick each time we brood if they all survive it might end up around 12). So on those days that they don't want to come out, there'll still be plenty of room in there. Plus it'll give me space to put in a chick integration or broody pen when it's needed.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I have a 64 sq. ft. coop (8 by 8) & a 400 sq. ft. run. I normally have 12 chickens, but presently have 13 since that is how many survived last spring. We have lots of wind & sometimes snow. This year we have had 15 snow events & although most were 2 inches or less, the chickens don't come out until it is brushed away. I once housed 21 in this about 20 years ago. While there weren't big problems, there was a lot of extra cleaning with that amount. I think it is always best to have more room. I think my coop would be perfect if I kept 6-8. We built the coop for 12 chickens back in 93 even though it "could" hold 16. In the beginning I had 9 after we got rid of 2 of 3 roosters.