Does adding roosts add more space?

[Nicole01]

Do you think by adding more roosts to your coop and run adds more space for the chickens?

I just added 2 roosts 5 ft across in the run on each end where there's shading. Since my coop is 9ft tall, I'm planning on adding more roosts in the coop. My coop is 12x4x9 and my run 22x5x5. I have 8 hens in there currently. I cover the run with plastic during the winter season, so my flock does have access to both spaces all year round.

I was free ranging, but I've run into a daytime predator problem. This means my hens are stuck locked up until this daytime predator problem is solved. I prefer to free range all day, but that is not happening at the moment.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on this? It's impossible for me to make my coop any bigger. The run is staying the same size too. We have it set up with a steel roof and a side panel for shading.

Also, with this space how many would you think would fit comfortably? I am adding 3 more and I'm hoping my space issue will not be a problem.

 

[Mavrik]

Space is determined by OPEN floor space. 4 sqft per bird for the coop, 10 sqft per bird for confine (coop and run). If your coop is 12x4 of floor space that is room for 12 chickens. Roosts are generally only used for sleeping.

 

[Nicole01]

Thanks.

My flock uses the roosts constantly inside the the run. They've become much quieter since they've been added. Thats why I asked..

They will sit, stand and walk across the roosts in the run.

These roosts are removable as well. I asked hubby not to secure them into the brackets. It works awesome! It makes it easier to clean the run floor by removing the roosts.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Hard and fast numbers for space don't mean a lot with chickens. Each chicken has its own personality, each flock has its own dynamics. We keep them in different set-ups in different climates and manage them differently. Some are small laying flocks with nothing but a few hens all the same age and some consist of roosters, hens, and chicks all together. Some people integraete chicks or want a broody to raise chicks with the flock. There is no magic number that is right for each of us. Some people have to have numbers to get started and the 4 and 10 are general guidelines that will keep most of us out of serious trouble most of the time. For some people they are over-the-top. For some they are not big enough. If you squeeze the maximum possible numbers together in a space, you have to work harder and you increase the risk of something going wrong. This does not mean you can't do it, just that things change. I personally like the flexibility the extra room gives me.

Think about your situation, for example. With certain free range management techniques, 2 square feet per chicken in the coop with no run is plenty. They only use the coop for a safe sleeping place and a place to lay eggs. But if you had planned on that and didn't build in any flexibility, what do you do if you get a daytime predator and you need to lock them up for a while. I really like the flexibility extra space gives me.

Does adding perches and roosts to your run and coop add space for chickens? Heck, I don't know. Do you have enough to start with for your flock, their dynamics, and the way you manage them? What it does is give them more room to get away from each other if one is being a bully. It can really help if you are integrating chickens and they need to find safer roosting areas because the bullies can be pretty bad on the roosts. Additional perches in the run may give them room to avoid the bullies during the day. But if you already have enough roosts and perches for them to use, more really does not help. Once you have enough perches and roosts, you have enough.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I think the last post by Ridgerunner has some excellent points. I think the min, number if square footage is a good starting point. That said, I do think there are things that you can add to your run that will help keep your chickens happy. I makes sense to me that a fixed square footage of bare dirt, all at one level will have a lower chicken contentment rating than one with variety, the way a children's playground will keep kids happier than an empty lot. A variety of roosts at different heights, a dirt bath, places where they can choose to sunbathe or choose to get out of the sun etc.

In the winter when we have deep snow and my hens are confined to a smaller run I try to give them something interesting to do every day (usually having to do with food) to keep them from getting bored. In my experience, bored chickens, like bored children, start picking on each other just to relieve the boredom.

I hope you are able to resolve your daytime predator problems soon, but in the meanwhile, a chicken "jungle gym" of new roosts, perhaps hanging a net full of greens or melon rinds in new places where they have to get up on a roost to access it might keep them happier.

 

[ECBW]

Aerial space is space, like having a loft or bunk bed, a smart design and use of otherwise waste of space. Mine definitely enjoy the perches up and down in the run as well as coop. It adds "dimensions" to my small setup.

 

[coolcanoechic]

I added a loft to my run and it has helped as added space. It is sort of like a second floor and they use it all the time. It is the preferred hang out now.

 

[7L Farm]

As RR pointed out you can't have to much space. My chicken coops are very spacious. I have two roost in all my coops one inside the coop & one outside in the run other things that help are having a simple piece of plywood leaning against the side of the run.This gives them extra space when harsh weather arrives they can still get outside & get under the plywood. I screw my plywood to the side of the run so the wind won't blow it over. Its a simple lean to. It works because mine use it all the time. I have 5 gallon plastic bucket in my runs where I can sit & enjoy being with the chickens I have observed the chickens sitting on the buckets as well. These little extras give the chickens places to escape from being picked on.

 

[Nicole01]

Thank you!

I'd like to utilize the coop space as much as possible since its 9ft high. Plus, in the winter months it will warmer up there as heat rises.

What a great idea to hang treats from the run! I'll have to try it this year on the really cold days.

We are working hard on the predator problem. We lost one hen and almost a second. I take my girls out now towards the end of the evening with my two dogs. The roosts in the run have helped tremendously. There has been no bullying since I added two 5ft long roosts. Plenty of space for all and they are up there quite often.