Coop accomidations

[waddles99]

I am thinking about getting this coop: http://www.lancasterchickencoops.com/Q812C-combo.php in the near future but am concerned about its accommodations. It says 26 birds but that seems far too many for this coop to hold. I am new to chickens but that seems like it is a little too cramped. How many can this realistically hold? 20? 15? Thanks for input.

 

[in2camo]

I wouldn't put more than 8 or 9 in there. For the coop, 12 or so would be ok. (48 sq ft coop divided by 4 per bird would put you at 12 birds.). But the run is too small for that many. I'd tack in a separate run to give them some running room.

 

[waddles99]

I wouldn't put more than 8 or 9 in there. For the coop, 12 or so would be ok. (48 sq ft coop divided by 4 per bird would put you at 12 birds.). But the run is too small for that many. I'd tack in a separate run to give them some running room.

Thanks for quick response. I was actually thinking of adding in a run extension but was at a loss with how to make it look presentable attached to the coop, or without gaps that chickens could squeeze out or predators could squeeze in.

 

[PapaChaz]

that looks really nice, but wow what you can build yourself for 2 grand.

No, I wouldn't put over 12 chickens in the coop itself and that run is way too small if they're going to be held to just that with no free range.

the good thing, it would be easy enough to frame up additional run space off the end and just cut out the center section of the wire they have.

they're real proud of their 'extras' too if you looked at the price lists

 

[waddles99]

that looks really nice, but wow what you can build yourself for 2 grand.

No, I wouldn't put over 12 chickens in the coop itself and that run is way too small if they're going to be held to just that with no free range.

the good thing, it would be easy enough to frame up additional run space off the end and just cut out the center section of the wire they have.

they're real proud of their 'extras' too if you looked at the price lists

Another option i was contemplating is to fence in an area with actual posts and chicken wire, and place the coop inside with the run door open. That could work, and maybe I could get a few more.
Edit: As far as the options go, I probably won't be getting any. They really jack up the price once you add all that on.

 

[PapaChaz]

Another option i was contemplating is to fence in an area with actual posts and chicken wire, and place the coop inside with the run door open. That could work, and maybe I could get a few more.

yeah you could build another run and set this up inside it. being it has a roofed run, if they wanted a place to get out of bad weather they'd have it.

one thing to remember, chicken wire is great for keeping chickens IN, but not so good for keeping predators OUT, something to think about as you plan additional run space. You can use welded wire with an overlay of chicken wire, actually I'd put the chicken wire on the inside for added strength

 

[waddles99]

yeah you could build another run and set this up inside it. being it has a roofed run, if they wanted a place to get out of bad weather they'd have it.

one thing to remember, chicken wire is great for keeping chickens IN, but not so good for keeping predators OUT, something to think about as you plan additional run space. You can use welded wire with an overlay of chicken wire, actually I'd put the chicken wire on the inside for added strength

I do have 4x4 field fence left over from the goats. I could put that on the outside and chicken wire on inside, and then maybe some chicken wire on the fence too, just to be sure. When theres a foot of snow(I'm in NJ) on the ground they could hang out under the roof part and I could give them a head of lettuce or something to peck at to keep them busy.