Building coop, need advice on nest box

[Bassbum2]

I looked it up, u need 10 square feet per large bird, and u are at 4 per bird. Your coop can technically hold 1 bird, with 16 square feet.

From what I have read, it is 2 to 4 square feet per bird in the coop and 10 square feet per bird in the run.

Russell

 

[Irishhenman]

I looked it up, u need 10 square feet per large bird, and u are at 4 per bird. Your coop can technically hold 1 bird, with 16 square feet.

Those figures are completely off, in mild climates you can 1 sq foot per chicken, if the run Is big or they free range. 4sq feet per large fowl bird is fine for cold climates. You do however need 10 sq feet per bird in the run minimum. one of my biggest coops is a 4x4 coop and it has nine birds in it, and it could easily fit another 3-4 but my hens only use it to sleep and lay. The nest boxes are internal as well. They are perfectly happy.

As to the original post, 4x4 is good for 4 chickens, I would make the nest boxes external. Insulation is not necessary and it would not make any difference in a well ventilated coop.

 

[countrygirl345]

Those figures are completely off, in mild climates you can 1 sq foot per chicken, if the run Is big or they free range. 4sq feet per large fowl bird is fine for cold climates. You do however need 10 sq feet per bird in the run minimum. one of my biggest coops is a 4x4 coop and it has nine birds in it, and it could easily fit another 3-4 but my hens only use it to sleep and lay. The nest boxes are internal as well. They are perfectly happy.

As to the original post, 4x4 is good for 4 chickens, I would make the nest boxes external. Insulation is not necessary and it would not make any difference in a well ventilated coop.

Well, those werent my figures, so are such terms such as "completely off" really nescessary?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Well, those werent my figures, so are such terms such as "completely off" really nescessary?

I think you are taking it a little personally - especially if they weren't "your figures" - the fact of the matter is that the assertion made was completely off.

 

[countrygirl345]

Yes, I realize that now, so does anyone know what it is for real?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes, I realize that now, so does anyone know what it is for real?

Irishhenman provided some really good information regarding that in his response.....in climates where the birds will be indoors for a good portion of time 4 sq ft per LF bird inside plus 10 sq ft outside. These figures can be adjusted up or down depending on climate, type of birds being kept, temperament of the individual birds, etc and are just "minimum" guidelines as more is always better in regards to the space you make available to your birds.

 

[JustHenny]

good gracious, lets gentle down a bit. Each chicken NEEDS one square foot inside. As any poor battery hen can tell you. But more is better. And if someone has ten sq feet per bird, well, lucky bird! Many places will give different info. Mother Earth News says 2 sq foot inside and 4 sq foot outside space, minimum. I say go with your gut. If they look cramped, or health concerns creep up, reduce flock or expand.

 

[Kataloo]

If you put a piece of corrugated metal roof on the the outside of the nest box area, it draws heat from the sun there. Even in winter. Just make sure its metal or dark colour and bind the edges with duct tape or something as they can be VERY sharp. Places like menards and lowes usually carry or can order for you. And then in summer you can remove if necessary.

Thanks for the corrugated metal roof tip. That is very helpful and I will try to do that, although the rest of the roof will be shingles. I wonder if that would attract the heat as well.

I have done a lot of research here and elsewhere on the space requirements. My girls will have 4 square feet in the coop and over 10 square feet in the run. I think they will be happy. I am not worried so much about the chickens in the winter, but I don't want to have their water freeze. I hope to only have to go there two or three times a day during winter months. I am making the solar panel to help achieve that goal, plus it sounds like a fun experiment.

 

[jcinadr]

I don't fully understand the concept of attracting heat. Tin is a great conductor of heat. When the sun is on it it will absorb heat (abet black in theory should absorb more), but since it tends to be thin and a great conductor - the opposite side gets hot fast and convection will do a great job heating up the inside of the metal box. Net effect is uninsulated tin buildings tend to bake in the summer.

That said, convection should also move heat out of the building when it is cold and dark. I think that is along the lines of touching your tong to a metal pole on a double dog dare.

 

[Kataloo]

good gracious, lets gentle down a bit. Each chicken NEEDS one square foot inside. As any poor battery hen can tell you. But more is better. And if someone has ten sq feet per bird, well, lucky bird! Many places will give different info. Mother Earth News says 2 sq foot inside and 4 sq foot outside space, minimum. I say go with your gut. If they look cramped, or health concerns creep up, reduce flock or expand.

I've tried to go on the larger side of the recommendations of space. I don't plan to let them free range a lot cuz I live by a field with predators. There are hawks overhead, racoons, weasels, and of course my 2 dogs. I think I will give them an hour each day of free ranging when I can be out with them to keep an eye out, mostly for the dogs than anything.