Coop big enough for 10 chickens?

[kera!]

I would say add on to the roosting are add another level that could double the space, there is room underneth they free range most of the time i think it would be fine.....85% of the time out of there..good luck ps my aunt has a tiny coop but they free range most of the time never had a problem and good coop I would rather see qaulity(yours) than quantity and I think that the size recommendations are for if they are in most of the time

 

[abChicken]

I agree with whitemountain post #10 One thing for sure U have a nice set up.

 

[bscorpio73]

I appreciate all of the input.

I do make an effort to go out every day and give them treats, and attention. I give them yogurt, freeze dried worms, and such. When I grow my garden, I plan to give them some of my produce, because they ate all of the hot peppers that they could reach last year. Since they will not be able to eat my garden this year, I still plan to share it with them. I had one pumpkin grow last year, and they ate it up as well. I do have one hen now that stays primarily to herself, and is picked on by some of the other hens, but she is the youngest that was hatched by my orpington, late last summer. I am hoping it is because she is the newest bird, and will become more defensive when she gets as big as the hens picking on her. I am thinking about building some sort of shelter that the hens can gather under when it rains. Today we received some heavy rains, and all 7 birds were standing around inside of the coop to get out of the rain. I do feel that at times such as those, they need more room. Especially if the weather is bad for long periods of time. Anyone know of a dependable and inexpensive carpenter, that can build me a shelter in the Raleigh NC area? ;D

 

[Gallina Vecchia]

Great looking coop!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

With proper management you can get away with it. Make sure you've plenty of roosting space, may have to add another pole and make them the same hieght. To add some space to your roosting area you could mount a nesting box on the outside of it and take out the nesting area inside. I guessing your nest are inside.

I've a considered crowded area too, my birds are unstressed and produce exceptionally. The only time there was some pecking was when I was ill, asked one of the kids to open the coop before going to school only to get out of bed at 10 am to find they were still locked inside. That's what I mean by extra management, they can't be locked in coop/roosting area much after daylight.

And be prepared for a harder time acclimating new comers to a smaller coop like that. The others may not like them in the coop until they are better accainted. I introduced 2 to my flock of 5 (small coop like yours and even smaller run). We had to allow free ranging every day. It took 2 weeks before the new comers went into coop at night with the others and would have to allow out free ranging all day for a month or pecking would commence.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I don't know if you even check this thread anymore as it's a few years old. I came across it when searching how big of a coop I need to 10 chickens. I just wanted to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE this coop!!!!!
I have 6 chickens outside now in a coop I purchased and we're looking to build a second for the 10 chicks we just ordered once they're old enough to go outside.
We have a 15'x18' enclosure that we keep our coop in now and I'm trying to figure out how to make another coop for sleeping and nesting that will accommodate the 10 new chickens, but not take up too much of the yard they have to run around in.
I guess raising it a couple feet will still give them the space they need.

 

[ECBW]

OP, your 6x10 is more commonly refered to as run and the 3x4 is coop. 30x30 is the yard or field. I don't necessarily believe 2sf per bird as "rule" but rather as guide. 3x4 is rather small for 7, much less so for 10. My coop is 3x6 with 9 feet of roost and I have had 10 birds, some being bantams.

I think for 10 birds, a larger coop will be necessary and making sure there are enough roosting space is just as important.