Can I make this coop 2 stories?

[dazzleme]

Hi I have 5 chickens right now but want to get a few more, so I wanted to know what you all think as far as making more space. The coop is tall and less then a year old so I don't think I can extend it other then making a second floor? Would that give more space? Its just over 6 feet by 4 feet. I wish I would have just made it bigger, but we didn't know any better. Here are a few pics of the coop and the run. Also I wanted to cover part of the run if not all, whats your advise on that? Thanks.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Can't you add on to it outside, at the same level? Another story doesn't give you more square footage. They need vertical room to fly up and down to roosts.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Can't you add on to it outside, at the same level? Another story doesn't give you more square footage. They need vertical room to fly up and down to roosts.

X2 Extend it on the sides would be a better move.

 

[nminusyplusm]

Also it looks like there's not really usable room under those nest boxes for them to hang out and they are eating up quite a bit of your floor space as it is. You might want to raise them up or bump them out. If you raise them, make sure to raise the roosts above them too.

 

[dazzleme]

Also it looks like there's not really usable room under those nest boxes for them to hang out and they are eating up quite a bit of your floor space as it is. You might want to raise them up or bump them out. If you raise them, make sure to raise the roosts above them too.

Do you think if I put the nesting boxes on the outside that would be enough space for a total of 10 chickens?

 

[nminusyplusm]

Do you think if I put the nesting boxes on the outside that would be enough space for a total of 10 chickens?

No. Bumping out the nest boxes would give you room for 6 chickens max.

Each bird should have 4 sq ft *minimum* of coop space and 10 sq ft minimum of run. Your coop area would truly be 4' x 6' *if* you bumped out the nest boxes.

 

[nminusyplusm]

And honestly, the carpentry involved in bumping out nest boxes isn't substantially different from just adding on more coop.

If you really want 10 chickens (and who amongst us wouldn't? ) do it the right way from the start. It's a lot easier than having to fix it after you have pecking, bullying and other overcrowding issues.

 

[nminusyplusm]

It's hard to tell from these pics but it looks like you need more ventilation too.

 

[dazzleme]

It's hard to tell from these pics but it looks like you need more ventilation too.

The roof line is open and the door stays open all day. Its actually pretty ventilated.

 

[nminusyplusm]

The roof line is open and the door stays open all day. Its actually pretty ventilated.

Do you mean that little bit of light coming from under the roof in photo #2? And you close that door at night, right? If so, you need a lot more ventilation.