Coop expansion help

[Georgiahome622]

Hi helpers!

I have fourteen 2 week old chicks - assorted colored egg breeds. I purchased this coop (see photos) thinking that all wouldn't survive shipment and 15 was the minimum order. I lost one just a few days ago. My husband will expand it for me, but I am interested to know how much more space is needed.

The overall size is 4'x10' with 4'x4' indoors and 6 nesting boxes out to the sides of it. There are 2 4-foot roosting poles. They have the full 4x10 space of run, as some of it is under the coop itself.

Do I need additional indoor space? How many chickens would my 4x4 plus 6 boxes inside space hold? I plan to let them free range when they are big enough. Any advice is welcomed!

Thank you!

Georgia

 

[Mamatomany123]

The run and coop will only hold 4.

 

[Aunt Tat]

Hi helpers!

I have fourteen 2 week old chicks - assorted colored egg breeds. I purchased this coop (see photos) thinking that all wouldn't survive shipment and 15 was the minimum order. I lost one just a few days ago. My husband will expand it for me, but I am interested to know how much more space is needed.

The overall size is 4'x10' with 4'x4' indoors and 6 nesting boxes out to the sides of it. There are 2 4-foot roosting poles. They have the full 4x10 space of run, as some of it is under the coop itself.

Do I need additional indoor space? How many chickens would my 4x4 plus 6 boxes inside space hold? I plan to let them free range when they are big enough. Any advice is welcomed!

Thank you!

Georgia

You're gonna need a bigger coop/run LOL

 

[citymeetscountry]

Definitely need a bigger indoor space. We currently have 4 in our 4x4 and it’s a tad on the small side...I believe general rule of thumb is 4sqft indoor space per bird (but I could be wrong on that)

Edited to add: mine currently have 4x8 as their “run” (chicken tractor) but we try to let them free range a few hours a day when we are outside. Again, I wish we had a larger more permanent run space for them.

 

[henless]

The coop & run is only big enough for 4 chickens. You need a much bigger coop, or less chickens. If you could enclose the run and make it all into a coop, that would give you room for 10 chickens. Then you could add a nice, big run to it.

Once the chicks get a little bigger, you can always sell the extras. Some people don't have the time or place to raise babies and would rather buy older chicks.

 

[3KillerBs]

The usual guidelines are that every adult, standard-sized hen needs:

4 square feet in the coop,
10 square feet in the run,
1 linear foot of roost,
and 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation -- preferably over her head while she sits on the roost.

Additionally, you need 1 nestbox for every 3-5 hens depending on circumstances.

If you're not able to do a major rebuild your best bet is probably to choose your favorites according to the size of coop you have and sell the rest started pullets. That's what I did this fall when I wasn't able to build the new new coop by the time my chicks had grown enough to be overcrowded.

A number of people with these small, pre-fab coops have managed to take out the interior walls and turn the entire thing into a coop, with a new run added on. In your climate you don't need an enclosed area anyway -- just a good roof and shelter from the prevailing winds.

 

[electrycmonk]

The usual guidelines are that ever adult, standard-sized hen needs:

4 square feet in the coop,
10 square feet in the run,
1 linear foot of roost,
and 1 square foot of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation -- preferably over her head while she sits on the roost.

Additionally, you need 1 nestbox for every 3-5 hens depending on circumstances.

If you're not able to do a major rebuild your best bet is probably to choose your favorites according to the size of coop you have and sell the rest started pullets. That's what I did this fall when I wasn't able to build the new new coop by the time my chicks had grown enough to be overcrowded.

A number of people with these small, pre-fab coops have managed to take out the interior walls and turn the entire thing into a coop, with a new run added on. In your climate you don't need an enclosed area anyway -- just a good roof and shelter from the prevailing winds.

I second this logic for your situation.