Debating if we have enough room for 8 chickens?

[Bear4boo]

We currently have 6 nine month old hens. We are debating whether or not we can fit 2 more without crowding? Our coop is 5x6 and we have an attached covered run that is 22x6. Would 8 chickens be too crowded?

 

[springvalley123]

The run is big enough but the coop is only 30 sq ft, enough for 7 chickens. And that's the bare minimum, not accounting for integration. You'd need a way to keep the new ones sheltered in your run, to make it predator and weather proof just for a while (weeks??) until it was time to try putting the new ones on the roosts in the coop.

 

[StinkyAcres]

How many you can comfortably house in your coop also depends on your climate and how predator proof your run is. Also, is the 5x6 dimensions floor space only or does it include nest box, etc.?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Coop is slightly tight but doable, especially if you have more mild mannered birds. Good question about whether or not the 5x6 includes only open space, or if you need to subtract for nest boxes, feeders, etc. I'd say as long as you have enough ventilation and roost for at least 8 birds, it shouldn't be so tight that it wouldn't allow the addition for 2 more.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I've had around that ratio of birds to coop space with no issues, but my birds are only in the coop to lay eggs and sleep. I'd say that it could def work if that run is covered. That way, they can spend their time in the run when the weather's lousy.

 

[FunClucks]

What breeds do you have and what size are they? Some breeds get along better than others. For some breeds, even the recommended 4 sq ft in the coop and 10 sq ft in the run per chicken is to low. Also, what is your weather and will there ever be a period of time when they'd be confined to the coop only? (snow, predators, etc.) I personally would stay with the size of flock you have, or extend your coop. Best to have more space than too little - too little space can create a lot of flock problems that may or may not go away when the space issue is resolved.

 

[Bear4boo]

How many you can comfortably house in your coop also depends on your climate and how predator proof your run is. Also, is the 5x6 dimensions floor space only or does it include nest box, etc.?

Floor space only. The nesting boxes extend out from the coop.

 

[Bear4boo]

Coop is slightly tight but doable, especially if you have more mild mannered birds. Good question about whether or not the 5x6 includes only open space, or if you need to subtract for nest boxes, feeders, etc. I'd say as long as you have enough ventilation and roost for at least 8 birds, it shouldn't be so tight that it wouldn't allow the addition for 2 more.

It is floor space only. The nesting boxes extend out from the coop with exterior access. There is nothing on the coop floor (no waterers, etc,) and there is one roost the length of 6 feet. Right now they usually use barely half of the roost when sleeping.

 

[Bear4boo]

I've had around that ratio of birds to coop space with no issues, but my birds are only in the coop to lay eggs and sleep. I'd say that it could def work if that run is covered. That way, they can spend their time in the run when the weather's lousy.

Yes, it’s covered and they are in the run almost all of the time during the day.

 

[Bear4boo]

What breeds do you have and what size are they? Some breeds get along better than others. For some breeds, even the recommended 4 sq ft in the coop and 10 sq ft in the run per chicken is to low. Also, what is your weather and will there ever be a period of time when they'd be confined to the coop only? (snow, predators, etc.) I personally would stay with the size of flock you have, or extend your coop. Best to have more space than too little - too little space can create a lot of flock problems that may or may not go away when the space issue is resolved.