Chicken Coop is done , is it big enough??

[Runfox]

Hey everyone, Well I just finished building my wife chicken coop. I had planned it for 6 chickens but of course chicks are cheap so she brings home 11. My chicken coop itself is 4x4 and is connected to a fenced run ares 10 x 10. I have 4 nesting boxes in the chicken coop. My thought is the chickens can scratch around the run area all day then go into the coop and roost at night.
I have a outside perimeter fence to keep predators from reaching in or getting near them. This is in my back yard,

This is my setup

My dog coop

the back side of the chicken coop in the backyard of our human coop

And that's the scoop on our coop's.

 

[NattiFan]

I'm not an expert, but I think your 11 girls are going to be cramped in that coop. It's a nice coop....I just think a little small for 11 girls. Good luck...maybe you'll get some better educated opinions.

 

[1newchickontheblock]

From what I understand, 4 sq feet per bird inside, 10 sq feet per bird in run.
Might be small, especially if it gets cold where you are and they have to stay inside...

 

[NattiFan]

Yes. I also heard 4sqft per bird as a rule of thumb

 

[wildorchid053]

you have enough room for 4 chickens if they are large like rhode island reds. if bantams you might be able to fiit a couple more

 

[jwchicklady]

just to give you some perspective--I have 15 full size chickens in an 7x8 coop with an attached run. they are totally fine when weather is nice and I free range or they go out in the run. even a few days here and there where the weather is bad and they stay inside works fine. however, i had a pecking problem this winter when they didn't want to go out in the snow for days and days--they were just feeling a bit too cramped in their coop day after day.

 

[Over Easy in Adna]

Chicken Coop is done , is it big enough??


No

 

[emys]

Perhaps you should pick your 4 favorites and re-home the rest when they get a little older? That way you are sure to be happy with the ones you keep.

 

[Runfox]

OK well that is what I was thinking it is too small. My problem is with my wife actually. If it were up to her she would just let them free range and then the fox, bobcats and whatever would dwindle them down, to nothing. She thinks the coop is way over done. but I try to tell her it's not big enough. I can add on and make it bigger, I gave myself plenty of room for that. So the rule of thumb is 4x4 per chicken , wow, that's a lot.

well as for the weather, in central Florida here we usually have mild winters with occasional freeze. So they should be ok to go outside most everyday and only roost inside at night.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Your coop is small for 11 chickens however, because you are in Florida, it may work. You'll never have snow so they'll probably only be in the coop nights.

I would let them free-range in your yard if you have a fence around your property. Mine are out all day because MOST predators will come around at night. I've never lost one and I'd say my biggest day-time predator is by far a hawk. Nothing I can do about that anyway, although my girls naturally stay along the tree lines, etc. which seem to give them good cover from a hawk attack.

If you don't have a fence around, I'd still let them out and hour or so before dusk, that way you know exactly how long they'll be out and maybe you can keep an eye on them.

Good luck with your chickens!