We have a 8'x4' wood coop attached to a 10'x10' wire yard (half of which is covered). Plan on tripling the yard leaving a 5'x10' covered area for weather. How many chickens can I keep in this set up. I have room to do 2 roosts 8' long (it will be tight) or 4roosts 4' long (giving more space but same footage. Right now we only have 1. We have 5 buff orpington hens and 1 ee rooster in it now. Just hatched 12 ee/bo mixes and have 40 more incubating. Plan on selling some off and slaughtering some roosters. But would like to have about 12 to 18 birds in our flock. Do I need to expand the coop or can I get by with this set up and just add roosts?
Some books say four square feet per bird. Is that just inside? and Day Range Poultry say 1.2 per bird inside and 5 outside (According to them I could keep 25 chickens right now).
Any ideas?
Some books say four square feet per bird. Is that just inside? and Day Range Poultry say 1.2 per bird inside and 5 outside (According to them I could keep 25 chickens right now).
Any ideas?