Coop Size and Design

[Ingramrd]

I used an 10x12 metal shed that I raised up on 8' landscape timbers, resulting in an 18" air space all the way around. I have two 10' roosting pools and 8 nest boxes. The ground is dirt, which I cover with untreated pine shavings. I also have an 8'x 12' area outside the coop, resulting in a dirt area of 12x18 feet. In the outside area, I placed a large tree limb stretching from the ground and resting 3/4 of the way to the top....which they seem to like sitting on during the day. The entire thing is fenced in, bottom, sides & top. About how many chickens can I have in it without overcrowding? I currently have 3 roosters and 30 hens that include several White Leghorns, Golden Sexlinks, and Coco Marans along with 1 Black Australorp, 1 Americauna and 1 Rhode Island Red. (Obviously I couldn't decide on a breed so just picked cute chicks...LOL)

Also....how much should I feed them daily? They seem to eat all I'd give them but don't want to over feed.

 

[JosiahK]

That is plenty big! As to how many could be fit in there, the big thing is how much run space they have. A house that size could roost 50 or more, but you would need much more run space. At 5 square feet or run space per bird, your 8x12 run would accommodate roughly 19 birds.

However, the cheapest way to raise them is in a pen that is moved every day to fresh grass. They will eat up to 30% of their diet in grass, and the yolks are much healthier. Again, 5 square feet per laying bird is adequate.

A a laying hen will eat roughly 1.5 lbs of commercial feed per week.

Hope this helps!

 

[Ingramrd]

so the dirt floor of the coop doesn't count as part of the run? The walls are open to air 18" up. And WOW....that's a lot of feed! If it is 1 1/2 lbs of feed a day, I should basically be feeding 45 lbs a day for 30 chickens?

 

[Percheron chick]

A laying hen will eat roughly 2# of feed a week or about 10# a day for your flock.

Your coop is adequate for 30 birds but the run is good for 10.

 

[JosiahK]

so the dirt floor of the coop doesn't count as part of the run? The walls are open to air 18" up. And WOW....that's a lot of feed! If it is 1 1/2 lbs of feed a day, I should basically be feeding 45 lbs a day for 30 chickens?

Sorry, I meat 1.5 per week! http://www.nutrenaworld.com/knowledge-center/poultry/how-much-does-a-chicken-eat/index.jsp