Does anyone know how many chickens I can put in my new coop?

[chickensrock12]

So I just got a used chicken coop in really good shape. I have 2 chickens, but am going to get more in the future. The coop is 3 ft wide by 7 ft long by 6-7 ft tall. I am going to install a couple of roosting bars in the future. But my heat roosting bar is fine for now. I don't have it plugged in because it is summer. Does anyone know how many chickens I can fit in it?

 

[lena_]

So I just got a used chicken coop in really good shape. I have 2 chickens, but am going to get more in the future. The coop is 3 ft wide by 7 ft long by 6-7 ft tall. I am going to install a couple of roosting bars in the future. But my heat roosting bar is fine for now. I don't have it plugged in because it is summer. Does anyone know how many chickens I can fit in it?

I wouldn't put any more than 10 in a coop that size, but I could be wrong. Do you plan on reinforcing it? In the interest of your chickens safety I would put a roof over the run, and some chicken wire of hardware cloth along the bottom. I coop and run that size, and in good condition is a good find!

 

[aart]

Roosts should be higher than nests...or they will roost in nests(and poop them up).
12" of roost length per bird is a good way to go.
3' is very narrow to work with...they need room to fly down from roost without crashing into something.
The whole coop needs some modifications....any chance of expanding it?
Any plans to predator and weather proof(snow and wind) the run?

Realistically, I'd put a roost the long way with a couple nests underneath and keep maybe 5 birds in there.
Looks like one big window...does it close for winter, does rain come in there??
Is there any other ventilation that is protected from all weather for winter time?

 

[chickensrock12]

Thanks for all of the advice! Yes it needs a lot of work... The people I bought it from yesterday didn't really say what was wrong with it. When I picked it up from their house it didn't look like there was anything wrong until I got back home. I do plan on fixing it up a lot. I am going to expand it and put in actual windows that slid open. It is just chicken wire. The coop is predator proof. You can't see it, but there is 3 ft of chicken wire buried around the whole run. We don't really have predators where I live. Besides cats and dogs and raccoons. But they can't get into our backyard. Plus we have a husky who chases anything out of the yard who she doesn't know. With my 2 chickens now, they are pretty close. Sometimes they snuggle up with each other while it is cold or whenever scared. They aren't scared of each other. Thank you again! I am also going to cut the nesting box in half and build 3 more feet out along the front of it. Make it bigger.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Roosts should be higher than nests...or they will roost in nests(and poop them up).
12" of roost length per bird is a good way to go.
3' is very narrow to work with...they need room to fly down from roost without crashing into something.
The whole coop needs some modifications....any chance of expanding it?
Any plans to predator and weather proof(snow and wind) the run?

Realistically, I'd put a roost the long way with a couple nests underneath and keep maybe 5 birds in there.
Looks like one big window...does it close for winter, does rain come in there??
Is there any other ventilation that is protected from all weather for winter time?

So I just got a used chicken coop in really good shape. I have 2 chickens, but am going to get more in the future. The coop is 3 ft wide by 7 ft long by 6-7 ft tall. I am going to install a couple of roosting bars in the future. But my heat roosting bar is fine for now. I don't have it plugged in because it is summer. Does anyone know how many chickens I can fit in it?

I would say four or five but no more. Good luck!

 

[Chelsa'sChicks]

My coop is twice that size (and they have their own little loft) and I have 12. They do just fine in there and I feel like I could even fit a few more, but most likely will not.

 

[chickensrock12]

Ok, so up to 5 chickens.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

Ok, so up to 5 chickens.

I personally like at least four or more square feet per bird if possible. It solves at lot of behavioral issues before they start.

 

[lazy gardener]

Technically, 5 @ 4 s.f./bird. You should also look at ventilation. As others have posted, 3' is very narrow, and may not allow the bird to even fully spread her wings. If possible, I'd see if the coop could be modified by adding onto the front of it so that it is perhaps 7' x 7'. Basically, add the width of a single sheet of plywood, perhaps turning that shed roof (if that's what it is) into a gable style or salt box style roof. Before you go very far with plans, take a look at the Wood's open air coop. That will give you some ideas for a wonderful expansion.

 

[chickensrock12]

I think I might just do that!