coop size

[chicks]

ok, I have a coop size problem. My coop 17square feet, with outside nest boxes. I have 4 3 month old buff orpington chickens, and I just adpoted a silver laced wyandotte this weekend because this person was getting rid of her, felt bad. Now i'm worried coop size. people are telling me i need to get rid of 1 chicken. what do you think? Our run is huge, approx 250-300 square feet. i live in southern vermont. Please tell me what to do? I would like to keep the silver laced, i guess I could find a home for one of the Buff's. Am i a bad person?

 

[gkeesling]

i've read anywhere from 2 - 4 sq. ft. per chicken floor space per chicken. I used 4 sq. feet per chicken with my coop. It sounds like you might be a bit tight, but I'd give it a shot with the 5th chicken and see what happens. You seem to be just at the limit on floor space. If they don't pick at each other then you should be ok. Most of the time they will be outside anyway. The winter time might be when you have the most trouble, if you have any.

 

[chicks]

Thank you. I'm worried about the pecking, so far have not seen is. I hope to have these birds out in the winter some, especially if i shovel out the run, it is covered though.