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

[TDM]

Quote:
As per my engineering courses, work was defined as force times distance. It's just as much work, in probably a shorter period of time, to go up the the coop with a bucket loader and muck the whole thing out on the spot.

As per my ventilation course, my coops are fine. You assume that the only air movement is passive, however here the wind blows through the coops. The birds actually roost under an insulated bonnet where air movement is less and more heat is retained. The air moves across the floor, drying out the wet droppings, and passing out the other side.

 

[teach1rusl]

Cupman - I would suggest that you make it through this winter, see how your birds do with the space you have. Find out if they stay inside a lot more, or still go out when the weather tanks. Then, if all looked good and worked out great, add more birds in early spring. I wish more people would start out with less birds/more space and go through one season of local bad weather (whether it's winter storms or hurricane season) before adding to their flocks. I'll bet I don't pick up a dozen droppings from my coop (other than scraping my droppings boards each morning and unless I have chicks out there) from March to December. But December through February is a whole nother story. Those birds spend a LOT more time inside during the winter months, despite the pop door opening at first light/closing at dawn.
Or consider keeping a really large flock through spring, summer, and fall, and then processing a bunch of the older chickens before winter hits???

 

[Duramaxgirl]

Quote:
As per my engineering courses, work was defined as force times distance. It's just as much work, in probably a shorter period of time, to go up the the coop with a bucket loader and muck the whole thing out on the spot.

As per my ventilation course, my coops are fine. You assume that the only air movement is passive, however here the wind blows through the coops. The birds actually roost under an insulated bonnet where air movement is less and more heat is retained. The air moves across the floor, drying out the wet droppings, and passing out the other side.

Yes but 10 chickens at 2sq ft per bird is going to need to be cleaned out way more often vs 4 sq ft per bird. They are more likely to be kept in a healthy environment if the cleaning/work load for their care taker is less demanding.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

I'm running at just under 2 sq ft per bird, and they are healthy and stress-free. I think it helps that I have mellow Australorps, only one roo, a big yard, and mild AZ winters.

The deep litter method works very well for me. I muck out the coop twice a year, more because I want the compost than because of disease or smell concerns.

 

[Asrai]

I would also take a look at what the laws are in your area. Where I live its a requirement to have 4sf per bird.

 

[TDM]

Quote:
True, I keep forgetting some people live under zoning regulations. I read they did that in some urban areas to keep people from having a lot of chickens.