Can You Keep Young (8 wk) Chickens in Freezing Climates?

[aart]

6 by 4. I'm building my coop out of a book (with some adjustments of my own). The book says it can fit 12 chickens but it probably means: "Can fit 12 chickens with discomfort' I'm only getting eight so it should be good enough.

Typical doubling of population...8 will be uncomfortable too.
I'd not put more than 6 in there.

 

[KatyushaB]

Sheesh. Can't believe somebody would claim to be able to fit 12 birds if they can't even fit 8 comfortably. Luckily for me I am starting with 6 and getting 8 later on. So I will build a second coop before I get my other two. Thanks for letting me know, holy cow!

 

[aart]

Sheesh. Can't believe somebody would claim to be able to fit 12 birds if they can't even fit 8 comfortably. Luckily for me I am starting with 6 and getting 8 later on. So I will build a second coop before I get my other two. Thanks for letting me know, holy cow!

Very typical of prefab coops and coop plans...based on a common factory farming 2sqft per bird requirements.
The backyarders have doubled that to 4sqft in coop and 10 sqft in run, but that can be minimal depending on each situation....it's a good place to start but.....hard numbers do not always apply.
There's a good article linked in my signature on Space....check it out.

 

[lazy gardener]

6 by 4. I'm building my coop out of a book (with some adjustments of my own). The book says it can fit 12 chickens but it probably means: "Can fit 12 chickens with discomfort' I'm only getting eight so it should be good enough.

At most, it will only hold 6 chickens on a good day, when they can get out for fresh air. Shut them in there for a few cold winter days, and you are going to have some blood shed and some behavior issues that may not be fixed unless you cull some birds. Hate to rain on your parade, but better to do so than deal with hurt down the road. You are wise to build before you get birds.

Depending on your design, you could perhaps add on to the coop instead of building a second one. Check out the "woods coop". If you build your coop tall enough, you could do a shed roof, and add an extension.

 

[KatyushaB]

At most, it will only hold 6 chickens on a good day, when they can get out for fresh air. Shut them in there for a few cold winter days, and you are going to have some blood shed and some behavior issues that may not be fixed unless you cull some birds. Hate to rain on your parade, but better to do so than deal with hurt down the road. You are wise to build before you get birds.

Depending on your design, you could perhaps add on to the coop instead of building a second one. Check out the "woods coop". If you build your coop tall enough, you could do a shed roof, and add an extension.

Thank you for telling me this. Your information will make my rode to getting chickens a lot easier.

As of now, I am unsure about what I'm going to do. I might as well finish the coop I started. But as long as I don't have any chickens I'm not hurting anybody.

I do think for my situation building a second coop would be better. Simply because I am going to have eight birds, two of which will be ducks (I'm always going to prepared to separate them if needed). Ducks make a big wet mess out of everything. And since I was going to have to build a second coop anyway, I might as well keep all the chickens dry too.

 

[Jewellan]

I have seven baby Chicks. They are going to be eight weeks old on the 10th of November. I live in Reno Nevada and the temps at that time of year are at the mid thirties to hovering at freezing. These are hearty breeds ... Orpingtons and Marans They are 5 Weeks now and in my bathroom without a heat lamp. Can I move them outside to a coop on November 10th that is not insulated but free of drafts and any possibility of getting wet? They will be fully feathered.










This is the coop they will spend the winter in... Two large roosts in the main living area capable of holding 4 hens each. It's a little small but by the time they reach full growth I can give them more space.

 

[aart]

I have seven baby Chicks. They are going to be eight weeks old on the 10th of November. I live in Reno Nevada and the temps at that time of year are at the mid thirties to hovering at freezing. These are hearty breeds ... Orpingtons and Marans They are 5 Weeks now and in my bathroom without a heat lamp. Can I move them outside to a coop on November 10th that is not insulated but free of drafts and any possibility of getting wet? They will be fully feathered.


This is the coop they will spend the winter in... Two large roosts in the main living area capable of holding 4 hens each. It's a little small but by the time they reach full growth I can give them more space.

I'd put them out now......but that coop is way too small for 7 birds.

 

[QueenMisha]

I'd put them out now......but that coop is way too small for 7 birds.

x2. Especially since I'm seeing several cockerels amongst those photos.

 

[aart]

Quote: I saw the cockerels too...but I don't think there's enough to get rid of to reduce the numbers enough.

 

[QueenMisha]

I saw the cockerels too...but I don't think there's enough to get rid of to reduce the numbers enough.

How many are you seeing? I think I see three, maybe four. That coop looks like it would be adequate for three (barely), but you're right, four would be stretching it. Especially considering those are not small breeds.