Coop layout

[Mamatomany123]

I understand that people want better than factory conditions for their flocks but if the coop is too large and you have only a few chickens in it they will struggle to generate enough body heat to keep warm and will all huddle together so that kind of negates the need for a very large ft2 coop well that was my experience with having converted a 8x4 shed into a coop with 3 x 4ft roosting bars all 13 of my chickens always shared the same top roosting bar

Also want to add, the reason for more space is because 1. You want to have that option of them having space to cool down in case they have a little squabble. And 2. If they need to be cooped up for long periods of time such as during bad weather.

 

[aart]

but if the coop is too large and you have only a few chickens in it they will struggle to generate enough body heat to keep warm

Nope.
That's not how chickens keep warm, their feathers do that.
A coop 'holding heat' ignores the fact that they need copious ventilation.

 

[aart]

well that was my experience with having converted a 8x4 shed into a coop with 3 x 4ft roosting bars all 13 of my chickens always shared the same top roosting bar

Curious @Jambo88 ....it's hard to understand your circumstances without knowing.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[wamtazlady]

I understand that people want better than factory conditions for their flocks but if the coop is too large and you have only a few chickens in it they will struggle to generate enough body heat to keep warm and will all huddle together so that kind of negates the need for a very large ft2 coop well that was my experience with having converted a 8x4 shed into a coop with 3 x 4ft roosting bars all 13 of my chickens always shared the same top roosting bar

A warm chicken is a dry chicken. Or a dry chicken is a warm chicken. Either way works. A chicken can get frostbite at around freezing if it is closed up in a coop without sufficient ventilation. A chicken can do fine in well below freezing in a well ventilated coop. In other words, get that warm but moist air out of that coop or your birds will be cold. Ventilation up high and roosts down low prevent drafts on the birds that might ruffle their feathers and make them cold.

A chicken is not warm due to the warm in the air around it. A chicken is warm due to all those lovely down feathers. Those down feathers trap heat next to the body and that keeps a chicken warm. You've seen birds outside in the winter. Those little chickadee don't look miserable. They use those down coats and when they roost for the night they choose somewhere out of the breezes.

It seems strange to me that people worry so much about keeping a chicken warm in winter. Yet, hardly anyone except those who live in very hot areas worry about a chicken being too hot in the summer. Can you imagine wearing a down coat when it's 90 degrees or even 70 degrees? Imagine how hot you would feel.

My coop is 6 feet by 8 feet. It has 10 square feet of ventilation that is never closed. Ventilation is up high where no breezes blow on the birds. Roosts are down low. It normally gets into the - 20s F here in Northern Montana. Birds are outside in their run all day long. Run has 3 sides covered in clear vinyl shower curtains to keep away any breezes. The food and water is kept in the run. Birds are happiest in the run and that is where they spend their days. They do not cuddle up cold. I have never in 6 years lost a bird to the cold.

Yes, my advice must sound odd. Yet, years ago when I first got the chickens I decided I had to believe those who had raised chickens for years. They told me ventilation was the key, not closing up the coop to hold in any heat the birds make. Their advice has worked well for me.

 

[Jambo88]

I would rather have them cuddle together to stay warm than to begin killing eachother because there isnt enough room. I can also add supplimental heat if need be. If my coop is too small then it's too small.

Also, I live in west texas. We've never been below 15°.

I’m not saying your wrong if anybody wanted a 1000ft2 coop for 3 chickens then that’s up to them I’m just saying that I’m my opinion the coop size isn’t too small agreed it’s on the smaller side of ideal but I think it would be perfectly adequate
But you Yanks love bigger is better!!

Curious @Jambo88 ....it's hard to understand your circumstances without knowing.....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

I’m in North Wales now but my old coop was on the other side of the uk
So my temperatures aren’t extreme max temperature of 30C lowest of -5C (sorry I don’t do Fahrenheit) but my chickens did the same thing whatever the temperature and time of year over a 2 year period

I agree that their feathers keep heat in but if that’s the only thing that keeps them warm why do they huddle together I assumed it was for extra warmth?

 

[Mamatomany123]

I’m not saying your wrong if anybody wanted a 1000ft2 coop for 3 chickens then that’s up to them I’m just saying that I’m my opinion the coop size isn’t too small agreed it’s on the smaller side of ideal but I think it would be perfectly adequate
But you Yanks love bigger is better!!

I’m in North Wales now but my old coop was on the other side of the uk
So my temperatures aren’t extreme max temperature of 30C lowest of -5C (sorry I don’t do Fahrenheit) but my chickens did the same thing whatever the temperature and time of year over a 2 year period

I agree that their feathers keep heat in but if that’s the only thing that keeps them warm why do they huddle together I assumed it was for extra warmth?

I have 7 chickens. If I had to live with 7 other people I sure would like some space. I got chickens because I want better for them than factory birds. They're in a 35x20 run also. Have never had a problem with feather plucking or fighting. Sure they have their little arguments but they have the space to stay away from eachother when they do

And my husband is a true Texan in believing bigger is better. It's the exact reason why I had him build the coop and run.

 

[aart]

why do they huddle together I assumed it was for extra warmth?

Flock mentality.
Mine crush close on the roost even when it's hot here and they are panting.

 

[Karlyo]

A warm chicken is a dry chicken. Or a dry chicken is a warm chicken. Either way works. A chicken can get frostbite at around freezing if it is closed up in a coop without sufficient ventilation. A chicken can do fine in well below freezing in a well ventilated coop. In other words, get that warm but moist air out of that coop or your birds will be cold. Ventilation up high and roosts down low prevent drafts on the birds that might ruffle their feathers and make then cold.

A chicken is not warm due to the warm in the air around it. A chicken is warm due to all those lovely down feathers. Those down feathers trap heat next to the body and that keeps a chicken warm. You've seen birds outside in the winter. Those little chickadee don't look miserable. They use those down coats and when they roost for the night they choose somewhere out of the breezes.

It seems strange to me that people worry so much about keeping a chicken warm in winter. Yet, hardly anyone except those who live in very hot areas worry about a chicken being too hot in the summer. Can you imagine wearing a down coat when it's 90 degrees or even 70 degrees? Imagine how hot you would feel.

My coop is 6 feet by 8 feet. It has 10 square feet of ventilation that is never closed. Ventilation is up high where no breezes blow on the birds. Roosts are down low. It normally gets into the - 20s F here in Northern Montana. Birds are outside in their run all day long. Run has 3 sides covered in clear vinyl shower curtains to keep away any breezes. The food and water is kept in the run. Birds are happiest in the run and that is where they spend their days. They do not cuddle up cold. I have never in 6 years lost a bird to the cold.

Yes, my advice must sound odd. Yet, years ago when I first got the chickens I decided I had to believe those who had raised chickens for years. They told me ventilation was the key, not closing up the coop to hold in any heat the birds make. Their advice has worked well for me.

Thank you for the information.

I have the nesting boxes on the north side that is the short side of the roof, which will have a vent above it. Then directly across I was going to make some roosts and vents above that on the highest side for cross breeze. So I was concerned that would create a draft.

I am wondering if I should skip putting the vents above the nesting box so there would be no cross breeze or just make the roost lower then the height of the vent above the nesting box.

The short side is a bit over 3ft and the tall side is 4ft.