Can I add more chickens to my small coop?

[photo chick]

I currently have 6 full grown large breed chickens in a 4x6 coop. When they are all roosting there seems to be a lot of room, room to add more chickens. But when they're down pecking around it's pretty crowded. The nesting boxes are exterior so the only thing on the ground is the water but it's still quite busy in there. Currently I let the chickens free range because I didn't finish the run before the snow came last year. Now I'm realizing that the run design is way too small and I'm going to have to either redesign or continue to let them free range. I'd like to add maybe 3 or 4 more chickens. Do I have room?

 

[teach1rusl]

Not in VT you don't, as I'd guess you guys get decent winters, and the birds have a high likelihood of being stuck in the coop quite a bit (even if the pop door IS opened for them). Folks in the deep south, desert areas, etc. can get away with what normally appear to be an "overcrowded coop" situation, because their birds literally spend no time indoors except to lay an egg and to roost, year round. And your run should be at least 60 sq. ft. for 6 LF birds (since you mentioned it looks a bit tight). If my birds were to be contained to a run all of the time, I'd want much more than that myself...

 

[photo chick]

Thanks...that's kind of what I was thinking too - sigh. I wish I'd built the coop a little bigger. We get a lot of snow and it's very cold here. We do plow a trail for the chickens so they can walk around a little bit but they rarely want to come outside in January and February. In March they get sick of it and get brave. This year the snow was up to my waist and has only now just started melting.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
You're far from alone; I see this all the time on here. I have way more than the minimum for both coop and run (really a large fenced yard) and really, really like the freedom it gives them. Plus the convenience for me in the coop; I keep a lawn chair in there, along with all supplies, and have a small pen in there as well. Adding a few feet doesn't really change materials costs a lot.

Maybe you can get away with a few more, after you enlarge the run, when warm weather takes hold, until the cold returns. At least this would give you some time to plan and build a larger coop.

 

[farmer_lew]

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone, before they build their coop, it would be "Build it bigger!" Your case is a classic example of why. I agree in that if you make the run larger, you could probably get away with a couple extra chooks during warmer weather until you can build a bigger coop, or enlarge your current one. Just remember, 4 sqft/bird in the coop and 10 sqft/bird in the run, at a minimum. And, also remember, go bigger! Chicken Math can/will strike at any time.

We are ALL smitten with it!

 

[cottage19]

Quote:
Everyone who catches the chicken bug should print your post out and tape it to their fridge!

We built a hen hilton for our 7 girls and they have plenty of room and a secure, roomy run. They free range every day so you would think all here would be wonderful BUT now I've decided that it would be nice to have just "one or two" more...

So...we're now planning to build a 2nd coop/run to house another 6-10 birds. I figure if I add only 2 new chickens each year I should be good until 2015 at least. Well, that's the plan anyway...