Can someone explain the 4sq ft per bird in the coop to me?

[Ridgerunner]

I don't see a run confining them. From your posts in other threads on this topic, you don't confine them. Exactly as Elmo said, under very specific conditions what you are talking about can work very well. But the vast majority of people on this forum confine their chickens.

Instead of cherry picking one specific thing from a highly specialized method and generalizing that over all conditions, you really need to look at the specific case and see what works for you. Can you envision what your photo would look like in Minnesota in January? Especially if it is in a small urban backyard?

 

[TDM]

Quote:
Are you implying we don't have bad winters here in the Michigan Upper Peninsula?

The organic chicken farms up here run about 1.75 square feet per bird.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

I have several coops and I think with time you'll learn what works for you. I have worked with 4+ square foot and under that as well. What I've noticed is when they have 3.5-4+ sq ft per bird they don't peck each other and there is less fighting. As well as mentioned above it makes for a much cleaner coop and easier maintenance. If you want more chickens then I would just add and find out what works for you. The only problem I've had is adding to many and finding out that I needed to lower my quickly before I had real problems with pecking. Here in Idaho its cold in the winter so keeping with the 4sq ft works best for me. I have really large runs as well way more Then the 10 sq ft recommended on here.

 

[TDM]

Quote:
How is maintenance any easier? If you have 10 chickens, you will have to remove 10 chickens worth of manure regardless of whether it is two or four feet per bird. Mucking out manure is a routine farm chore. I could argue the other way that it is better for the bird because when they group together, the coop remains warmer and they enjoy a more restful sleep. When you have hundreds of hens, not every hen is at optimal health. It is nice to huddle together for more warmth.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Quote:
Are you implying we don't have bad winters here in the Michigan Upper Peninsula?

The organic chicken farms up here run about 1.75 square feet per bird.

Yes I'm thinking that people that have chickens for mass egg production (nothing wrong with it

don't mind hens with bare backs and missing feathers from over crowding pecking issues. I on the other hand like my birds in tip top feather condition. Not because I'm wierd.... Well maybe I am. I still see them as chickens not people (I've enough of those to care for as it is!) I just prefer to not see feather picking. Which I have had and to some extent still do have. All from over crowding.

 

[JackE]

Quote:
Are you implying we don't have bad winters here in the Michigan Upper Peninsula?

The organic chicken farms up here run about 1.75 square feet per bird.

I have an 8X16' coop myself. Ain't no way I'd want 80 birds in there. I guess if you want to pack them in like sardines you can go with 1.75 square foot per bird. I can only imagine in the wintertime, when the chickens have to spend days or weeks in the coop, the frost buildup that would occur in a closed up small coop with 70, 80 chickens in it. Have you been through a winter with your setup yet? I don't see where you have enough ventilation for the number of birds you have in those coops.
Jack

 

[TDM]

Quote:
Oh, and by the way, Dr. Woods who designed your coop made a twenty by twenty coop for 150 chickens. That's 2.67 square feet per bird.

Why on earth would a chicken have to be cooped up for days or weeks? Don't you clear the snow away from around the barnyard, or plow out the chicken run? You must really think farmers are stupid people.

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Quote:
How is maintenance any easier? If you have 10 chickens, you will have to remove 10 chickens worth of manure regardless of whether it is two or four feet per bird. Mucking out manure is a routine farm chore. I could argue the other way that it is better for the bird because when they group together, the coop remains warmer and they enjoy a more restful sleep. When you have hundreds of hens, not every hen is at optimal health. It is nice to huddle together for more warmth.

Here is 2 pictures of my coops interior. My husband built these for me to catch almost all night time poo they work like a charm and I only clean out my coops once a year because of them. The easier one makes it to maintain the more likely it is going to be. That's why he made them for me. And its is very easy to keep clean. Clean for a chicken coop that is

I have only 67 chickens right now. I've had many more before. When I see a sickly hen/roo it is culled immediately. Although with 100s of hens one could easily miss a sick bird. So your suggestion would seem a smart one in your case.

 

[JackE]

Quote:
Why on earth would a chicken have to be cooped up for days or weeks? Don't you clear the snow away from around the barnyard, or plow out the chicken run? You must really think farmers are stupid people.

[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/90607_snowblower.jpg[/URL]

No need to get testy. I'll ask this, on those cold mornings, when you go out to let those 70 to 80 chickens out of those coops, How frosty is it inside there? Any frostbite problems? I don't see how you can't. But what the heck,(SarcOn) they're only chickens.
Jack

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Quote:
Oh, and by the way, Dr. Woods who designed your coop made a twenty by twenty coop for 150 chickens. That's 2.67 square feet per bird.

Why on earth would a chicken have to be cooped up for days or weeks? Don't you clear the snow away from around the barnyard, or plow out the chicken run? You must really think farmers are stupid people.

[URL]https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/90607_snowblower.jpg[/URL]

Nice machine! We have a 32 HP kubota. It helps with many chores around here. unfortunately my hubby is to busy working to plow the chicken runs although its a good idea. I hope some day to call my self a farmer...

all we keep so far is a few cows and chickens.