Coop size and roosting room?

[Melinda Beyers]

I'm about four years into keeping hens and really love these birds, though I am more pragmatic about them than many people I see on my local facebook chicken lovers' page. This morning I accepted two hens who needed to be rehomed, bringing my little flock to 8 hens. However, my chicken coop was built for four hens. It is 4 ft. by 3 ft. with a sloped roof from the 3 ft. front wall to the 2 1/2 ft. back wall. The roost stick is installed on a slight diagonal, so it's about 3 1/2 ft. long. It was built with two nest boxes in one end, with the hens' door on the opposite end. My hens use a separate small, two hen coop to lay their eggs. Four of my girls roost on the stick, and two have been sleeping in one of the nest boxes in the big coop. Tonight all eight are inside, and I hope the new hens use the other nest box. However, now that the coop is so full, would it be better if I modified it? Should I cut the bottoms out of the nest boxes so they roost on the 2" stick that fronts them? Should I remove the wall between the next boxes? Should I remove the wall under the front of the next boxes, opening the whole floor as one expanse? Or can I wait and see if they seem happy, stay healthy and continue to lay well?

Thanks!
Melinda

 

[Rldad1]

You need to add to your coop. You are way too small for 8 birds. Rule of thumb is 4 square feet per bird and you are at 1.5 and even less for roost space. You may see some behavioral issues as well as health issues even assuming they only are in the coop at night.

 

[Melinda Beyers]

Thank you for replying so quickly. I thought that would be the case. I'll see if the fellow who built the coop originally can add to it for me, or make me a new one.

 

[Shep1978]

Thank you for replying so quickly. I thought that would be the case. I'll see if the fellow who built the coop originally can add to it for me, or make me a new one.

There's a nice book that I've found with plans. https://b204fkj4qsj0gpd3mh56q90hbo.hop.clickbank.net/

 

[Shep1978]

There's a nice book that I've found with plans. https://b204fkj4qsj0gpd3mh56q90hbo.hop.clickbank.net/

I have a coop that has the same dimensions than this one with 7 birds in it. They are smaller birds and are ok but normal sized birds should have something bigger. I suggest trying to remove the highest wall, extend the coop that way and slope the roof down. You will now have a pitched roof and more space.