Downsizing Coop/Run - Will My Chickens Be Happy?

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

5 years ago, my husband built an 8x16 run and 4×6 coop for my flock of 7 chickens. Since then we've lost two, and one is on her way out (succumbing to reproductive disease and likely to pass any day now), so we are almost down to four. They've loved it and it's kept them safe with plenty of space.

Now, we are moving closer to town. The move is happening quickly and was unexpected, so my husband wasn't able to build something this time around. I had an 8x10 coop and run built and it arrived today.

The coop portion is 4x8 and the run is 6x8. I realized immediately after it arrived that it was a significant downsize. I feel so badly for my hens with the transition already (luckily only 15 min away) and now I'm heartbroken that they will have far less space. The upshot is they will have a more spacious coop with better ventilation to hang out in, which they tend to do during cold winter months. But the run is so much smaller.

We are getting our yard fenced in (just under an acre) in a couple of weeks, so I will be supervised free ranging them, which hopefully offsets the lack of space (though I won't be able to do it all the time--maybe an average of an hour a day).

What can I do to keep my final four happy? Should i build an extension (if so, this may not happen anytime soon but maybe within the coming fall). They're all over 5 now, so they aren't quite as active, but I still want for them to feel like they have space to they can engage with.

 

[FrostRanger]

It's certainly big enough for 4. Although chickens will never complain about more run space. Main things I'd suggest are dust baths, substrate to scratch in, 2 feeding and watering stations (I speak from experience when I say that resource guarding can be an issue even in a flock of 4) and ways for a bird to get out of another's line of sight. Other random stuff to peck at is also welcomed. They should be fine, but if you think that expanding the run might be a good idea, it absolutely is, you can never go wrong with a bigger run. It'll be useful for when you need to add new birds to the flock as integration goes better with more room

 

[DobieLover]

It's certainly big enough for 4. Although chickens will never complain about more run space. Main things I'd suggest are dust baths, substrate to scratch in, 2 feeding and watering stations (I speak from experience when I say that resource guarding can be an issue even in a flock of 4) and ways for a bird to get out of another's line of sight. Other random stuff to peck at is also welcomed. They should be fine, but if you think that expanding the run might be a good idea, it absolutely is, you can never go wrong with a bigger run. It'll be useful for when you need to add new birds to the flock as integration goes better with more room

In addition to these suggestions, I'd add an old wood chair or stool to the run, secure a branch to jump up and perch on at the end furthest from the coop and maybe add a stump arrangement (these make great place to put a pile of food for additional feeding locations) and perhaps lean an old pallet against the wall.
When placing things, stay out of the landing zone for coming off the branch perch.

They will acclimate soon enough. Don't worry too much about it.

 

[Penpal]

You can add space with electric netting. You would need a charger. I have a solar charger, which I prefer over the plug in kind. You can use the human door to let them into the netting and close them in the original space as needed.

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

@frostrang

It's certainly big enough for 4. Although chickens will never complain about more run space. Main things I'd suggest are dust baths, substrate to scratch in, 2 feeding and watering stations (I speak from experience when I say that resource guarding can be an issue even in a flock of 4) and ways for a bird to get out of another's line of sight. Other random stuff to peck at is also welcomed. They should be fine, but if you think that expanding the run might be a good idea, it absolutely is, you can never go wrong with a bigger run. It'll be useful for when you need to add new birds to the flock as integration goes better with more room

Thank you for the ideas! It's a tight space, so I'm thinking about ways to be creative about roosting bars and such without taking up square footage. I did add a dust bath--and I'm thinking about putting it in the coop to capitalize on the extra space there. Would that be okay?

I would make plans to expand in a heartbeat, but we are taking a break from chickens after this flock lives out their lives. I get very attached and committed, so it's been hard emotionally--and hard for us to travel anywhere long-term. I doubt I'll be able to go long without them, though!

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

In addition to these suggestions, I'd add an old wood chair or stool to the run, secure a branch to jump up and perch on at the end furthest from the coop and maybe add a stump arrangement (these make great place to put a pile of food for additional feeding locations) and perhaps lean an old pallet against the wall.
When placing things, stay out of the landing zone for coming off the branch perch.

They will acclimate soon enough. Don't worry too much about it.

Thank you for the awesome ideas! I will for sure be thinking of creative ways to maximize the space and keep it fun. In the current run, I have large branches suspended by ropes that they love--I may try to do something similar. I also have a log and tree stump they like to use that will hopefully fit.

I'm wondering about placing the feeder in the coop--or, in general, what could I do with the extra coop space? I have far more than the chickens need, so I'd like to maximize that space as well to keep the run less crowded.

 

[FrostRanger]

@frostrang

Thank you for the ideas! It's a tight space, so I'm thinking about ways to be creative about roosting bars and such without taking up square footage. I did add a dust bath--and I'm thinking about putting it in the coop to capitalize on the extra space there. Would that be okay?

I would make plans to expand in a heartbeat, but we are taking a break from chickens after this flock lives out their lives. I get very attached and committed, so it's been hard emotionally--and hard for us to travel anywhere long-term. I doubt I'll be able to go long without them, though!

Yeah, in the coop is OK. That is totally fair as well, good luck!

 

[buffy-the-eggpile-layer]

You can add space with electric netting. You would need a charger. I have a solar charger, which I prefer over the plug in kind. You can use the human door to let them into the netting and close them in the original space as needed.

Love this idea! Once we financially recover from the move an everything, I will look into this. One of the other reasons for the downsizing is that it was incredibly hard to find an affordable coop for our hens--so many were even smaller and way more expensive.

 

[FrostRanger]

Love this idea! Once we financially recover from the move an everything, I will look into this. One of the other reasons for the downsizing is that it was incredibly hard to find an affordable coop for our hens--so many were even smaller and way more expensive.

Yep, prebuilt coops are expensive. That is why it's better to build your own if possible