Do you wish you had built a bigger coop?

[DaughterOfEve]

if ony I knew back when what I know now. Huge house divisible by three, with storage. Three to rotate out layers, each section with its own run and pop. Also another smaller coop for a couple breeding roos. I HAVE A DREAM!!

 

[Intheswamp]

Quote:
There's a "rule" that is mentioned a lot that states that large fowl chickens require 4 square feet of space in the coop and 10 square feet of space in the run. The rule is thrown around a lot and is often used as a starting point to figure out how big of a coop/run to build for "X" amount of chickens. A word that is often left out of this, though, is MINIMUM. The 4 and 10 square feet figures should be used as a guide for the minimum space. More space is *always* better. If you are already considering the possibility of getting more chickens that your initial 12 then you definitely need a much larger coop. Giving the birds more space will actually lessen your workload.

As for smaller coop helping to keep them warmer...no, that's not right. A larger area doesn't have the temp/humidity swings that a smaller coop can have, it has a natural buffer to it...it's also easier to vent a larger coop to remove excess moisture/humidity without causing drafts where the chickens are roosting. If you think you will need heating for the chickens then build a hover (basically a drop ceiling) to hang over the roosts with a heatlamp or two under it.

More space results in less work and healthier, happier, and more socially adjusted chickens. If you can, try to give each bird 6 square feet or so in the coop...if you think about it, 6 square feet really isn't that much room for each chicken to be housed in, is it? Now envision a chicken standing in each 4 square feet of the coop...

Best wishes,
Ed

 

[naturababe]

thanks ed, very helpful!

 

[schmism]

I started with a 5x8 for a flock that i expected to stand around 8-10.

Then the DW got the bug and she added an addtional 7.... were to put them? I was required to build a second coupe of course.

so now i have TWO 5x8 coupes.

a note on size

the 40sqft in our does GREAT at 4-6 birds. at 8-10 birds the additional load starts showing. at 12-14 its tight and requires much much more maintenance. (note weather you have 4 birds and 8' of roost or 20 birds and 40' of roost they still all fight over the same 3' go figure)

When we picked up the nuggets on leggs a few weeks ago we found the second coupe (which had been vacant over most of the winter after an unexpected reduction in population) made a great large brooder. This got us talking about moveing to one LARGE coupe to keep a laying flock (sized for 24 hopefully that will be big enough) and keeping the second coupe as a brooder for new layers or seasonal batches of nuggets.


Short version. We started with a size i thought was going to be plenty big. then had to double the size of it by adding a second coupe, and now im considering selling the first and building an entirely new coupe double its size (at least) while still keeping the second coupe i built.

 

[AdrieeC]

Yeah, I wish it was bigger and it isn't even done yet.... it does have potential though... Right now the tractor should be big enough for 9 chickens comfortably. is a two story 36sqft coop and 36 sqft. run. They free range daily but at least with the run I can sleep a bit longer before they have to go out... hopefully. And also they will have a covered place to hang out if its raining. And will also be safe from my dogs until we can fix the fences.

If I later get more chickens I can make this coop stationary, modify the run part to be enclosed put nesting boxes and roosts in the run part, and Build a big enclosed run...BLING!! space for 8 more chickens! After that I am screwed unless I can convince DH to build a bigger one or turn the garage into a coop! That would be room for at least 125! But that's just daydreaming! I could still fit about 70 in the covered porch area... if only I could convince him to make me something similar to that for the chickens somewhere!

 

[Intheswamp]

Well, I'm really a newbie with chickens...just been studying too much about'em.

I saw that you're in Massachusetts. If you get a lot of snow or otherwise bad weather where the chickens will have to stay in the coop for extended periods of time then you will want to give them extra room for that...helps keep pecking and harsh words from being exchanged between the chickens.

Oh, with your buckeyes and buff orps ya might as well get a few easter eggers for some variety.

I've already decided on easter eggers but can't make up my mind on the other breed that I want.

Ed

 

[gckiddhouse]

Not only do I wish it were bigger, but now I want a separate area for meat birds. Never thought I would even be interested in that. Allow for madness!!

 

[happyhensny]

Yes, bigger is better. Started with 6 chickens 2 years ago and now, by the end of this month I will have over 100!

A mix of old birds, new birds and meaties. I need a BIG building. Right now we have a few medium sized coops and runs and the age differences and the meaties not hanging around long allows for the number temporarily.

 

[Beckyhsinglsc]

Quote:
Me too, but my husband's not quite ready for meat birds... yet.

 

[schmism]

Quote:
Me too, but my husband's not quite ready for meat birds... yet.

took us 3 years so.... start planning