Coop vs Run

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

Good morning all! I'm so glad I finally decided to create a profile. I have heaps of questions.

First and foremost I would like some input on my hen house. It is basically a 4' cube with 2' legs and a sloped roof. There are 2 tree branch roosts inside, and an extended area that contains upper and lower nest boxes (3 per level) that I can access from outside.

My birds don't spend much time in there. I think I'm just looking for some reassurance that the sleep on oustide roosts because it is summer time here, not because my box is too small for the 6 birds I have.

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

The 12 x 20 run area is their entire world. My rural setting comes with a high predator count, so I want them to be very comfortable. My flock is approximately 8? months old...2 laying hens and 2 roosters.

 

[snow5164]

Hope someone else replays but two hens and two roosters ??? I thought roosters needed 4-6 hens each???

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

Sorry I wasn't more clear there. I have 6 total chickens. The sexes have just become apparent. Only 2 are laying eggs currently.

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

A friend has hen that is currently raising a few more for me. Should have 10 total in the next few weeks. But the 2 roosters seem to get on well. They make a GLORIOUS noise at 445 AM.

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

I have heard that the 2 roosters can and may fight, but the entire group is young enough that nothing like that has been apparent so far. I am in this more for eggs than meet. That being said, I will process one of the young roosters if its better for my flock.

 

[FarmerMac]

I have heard that the 2 roosters can and may fight, but the entire group is young enough that nothing like that has been apparent so far. I am in this more for eggs than meet. That being said, I will process one of the young roosters if its better for my flock.

They may fight, some of them will fight constantly but other once they determine who is king of the roost, the looser will run away. The problem I seen with too many rooster in a flock is that the hens will be overworked by the roosters. The roosters will try to catch them to mate, when they do this, they grab the hens by the feathers on their back and you will see bare backs after a while. One rooster should be okay if you want fertile eggs or for flock protection if you free range. Good luck and welcome to BYC.

 

[cockAdoodleDUEL]

Thank you Mac. That being said, do I need to increase the available INDOOR space for my birds? They sleep on my oustide roost even during recent rain. I mounted a 12' length of cottonwood limb for a main roost. They spend quite a bit of time there. As this is my first season with birds, I'm not sure how much coddling is too much. But I want to do enough.

 

[FarmerMac]

By the looks of your coop, you may need to lower one of the roosting branches, it looks a little high. Also maybe you need more ventilation and light. You can use and small piece of plexiglass or small old window for light and for venting some holes on the side walls. It may be too hot for your chickens to go in at night,
Mine stay outside in the run in the hot days but in the winter the go inside