Can you do the math for me?

[Kidhenduckohmy]

So it has been a bad week. My hubby had a TIA and we found out his kidneys are failing. He is 37 and we have six kids. Anyway, we were planning on making our coop larger this month with his bonus. Well as life goes, we have a change of plans. We are just keeping the structure we have, just touching it up a bit. Peoblem is I purchased chickens for our big coup, and have become attached to some. So if current structure is 6'5" x 8'2" how many chickens is that? I keep trying to figure it out, but My mind must be gone because I keep getting a blank. My run is very large, so that is not a concern. We are planning on adding a overhang still which adds on about 4x 6, but just a roof, and in winter I was going to tarp two sides to add some protection in winter, but it is still outside. We currently have 31 chickens. So if someones mind is working better than mine is today, could you please figure out how many I can keep.

 

[Judy]

I'm so sorry.

I'd just leave off the inches, which won't make a lot of difference. 6x8=48, divided by 4 = 12 chickens. 4x6=24, divided by 4 = 6 chickens. So the two coops will hold approximately 18 chickens, going by the 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop rule of thumb.

But so much depends on how the space is used. You mentioned they have a large yard. Do they use it in the winter, or are they snowed out of it? I wouldn't keep anywhere near 18 chickens in those two coops IF they stay in the coop 24/7 for days or weeks at a time. If they are outdoors, and have roost space at night, they might do fine if you keep more than that in that space.

I'll link a couple of threads, one an excellent post on space, and another about an open air coop that is intended to be used in the North. The coop link is not because I'm suggesting you build it, but to demonstrate that they don't necessarily need the cold protection that some think they do. Also an article on ventilation, because freedom from humidity and ammonia buildup is so important -- and your "outdoor" space certainly provides that. I hope they will help you find a way to keep the chickens you want.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/700308/coop-and-run-size/0_20#post_9504811

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/445004/woods-style-house-in-the-winter/0_20

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/winter-coop-temperatures

 

[Kidhenduckohmy]

In the winter they stayed in the coop. They were allowed to come out, but chose not too. I guess the kids and I will have to figure something out. I will have to also do more thinking.

 

[RWise]

Remember chickens can take cold better than hot! One of my coops is nothing more than an old camper shell with legs to hold it off the ground and 2x2's to roost on. (OK its a rooster pen) All it is is a place to sleep that covers them so the owls and hawks don't get them. It was cheep, a leftover from a pick up I no longer have, but anything for now to cover them, tarps in the winter to cut down wind would be fine, you still want ventilation! I do not have real cold weather here, a few years ago it dropped to 20 below for a few minutes but that is rare.