Big enough for 3 Easter Eggers?

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Hi Folks,

First ever coop here - we have 3 Easter Egger pullets on hold until we finish our fence going around this coop.

I know bigger is better, but we went as big as we could for the space we have. Will 3 EE's be okay? They'll be out of the coop during the day inside the fence (30x15 ft area). In the picture, the fence is against the tree, but it will be a longer area than shown.

The coop itself is around 2.5 x 3 with 2 nest boxes. Chickencoopsnw lied to us about the size but I digress....it's all set up now... The run attached to the coop is 6x3.5 ft and does go under the coop area. I'll insulate around the run for wintertime so that just becomes part of their coop.

Btw, we did reinforce the coop with water seal, a frame around the bottom, extra vent holes, etc. We won't have more than 3 EE's in this set up (They seem to be lighter boned birds, I chose them.)

I am really trying! The size I was told on the phone for the coop was different than what I got. I didn't realize until it was set up. I hope this will work for a year or 2. Thoughts?

 

[Sublight]

Most people say 3-5 sq feet of space per chicken. Seems a little small. But try it, see how it works out.

And looking at it, you may be able to got to lowes and get some more wire, and extend it out of one of those squares, to give them a little more room if needed.

 

[Pork Pie]

During winter time, when the chickens are likely to remain in the coop, it will not be sufficiently large. If you are able to totally cover half of the run with something that you can remove when the weather improves, and add a roost then you may get away with it. Personally, I'd only keep two chickens in a coop that size.

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Thanks for the replies - yes, we're going insulate around it for the winter and add a roost in the caged area.

I wish they had been honest about the inner coop size...

I'm thinking if 3 turns out bad, we'll rehome one and keep a pair. I also know that in winter they like to huddle together, so everyone has been telling me 3 is best to try at first.

Thanks!

 

[Sublight]

Thanks for the replies - yes, we're going insulate around it for the winter and add a roost in the caged area.

I wish they had been honest about the inner coop size...

I'm thinking if 3 turns out bad, we'll rehome one and keep a pair. I also know that in winter they like to huddle together, so everyone has been telling me 3 is best to try at first.

Thanks!

I know its irritating to hear it, but go to Lowes/Home Depot, and buy a few 1x2's. Untreated they are 2 bucks or so per 8 ft board. get a small amount of paint matched to what you have. Get a roll of the same wire, and a few screws. You can probably expand it enough to hold 3 easily for about 50 bucks. Then no worries.

I see having chickens as a fluid experiment. Im always changing something.

 

[jennyf]

Since the run is roofed I bet you'll be fine--they'll just hang out there if space in the coop is tight. Especially since they'll have been raised together and it sounds like they'll have lots of space during the day.

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

I know its irritating to hear it, but go to Lowes/Home Depot, and buy a few 1x2's. Untreated they are 2 bucks or so per 8 ft board. get a small amount of paint matched to what you have. Get a roll of the same wire, and a few screws. You can probably expand it enough to hold 3 easily for about 50 bucks. Then no worries.

I see having chickens as a fluid experiment. Im always changing something.

That is a great idea, and probably what we'll end up doing. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Cl2Abbeyrd]

Since the run is roofed I bet you'll be fine--they'll just hang out there if space in the coop is tight. Especially since they'll have been raised together and it sounds like they'll have lots of space during the day.

Thanks, I think we'll try for 3 and watch them closely. We can always extend the run a few feet if necessary as someone else mentioned. Good to know we have a few options to work with.

 

[Sublight]

Since the run is roofed I bet you'll be fine--they'll just hang out there if space in the coop is tight. Especially since they'll have been raised together and it sounds like they'll have lots of space during the day.

I like what you said there. Especially the part I bolded/underlined. This is a great point. If you add more later, then you may have problems. Old chickens are mean to new chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

That coop is dinky, but with some work you can probably make it work well enough I think that it'll last you a while. If you treat the entire thing as the coop by removing the inside walls of the coop (might not be possible depending on how it's built, and might not be necessary either, given the headspace), running a longer roost in the space, and covering up some of the wire walls as needed for weather protection you'll have a serviceable open air type coop.

Your run space is quite good so your chickens will be more forgiving of the tighter coop space.