Figuring coop

[donsgirl67]

Hi all. Sorry, this probably seems like a simple dilemma but I'm over worrying it. I have a wooden shipping crate I'm building my coop from. It is 6'x5.5'x4'. Which way should I situate it for the coop to get the most out of it and how many chickens can I have? Attached run will be 10x 14.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If you lay it on the large size you can maximize the space for chickens and fit 7 large fowl in it. However, if you are over 5' tall, it will be more comfortable for you if you stand it up giving more head room. That way it would hold 5.

 

[houseofknauss]

go tall---nothing like smashing your head and seeing stars and wishing your coop was taller---you can always add on later but it is harder to go up.

 

[donsgirl67]

I'm just under 5' soif I lay it long ways it should be fine. Thank you!!!

 

[colburg]

I don't see any reason you can't put up to 12-14 birds in there and not violate any rules of thumb. It's your choice of either 5.5' or 6' tall. There's no reason to go 4' tall.

2 roosts either 5.5 or 6 ft long depending on which way you orient the box. Just start at 3' off the ground and 12" away from the wall for the first one, then go over 12" and up 12" for the second. So the roosts are at heights of 3', and 4' off the ground.

Use 2 nest boxes at 18" to 2' off the ground( if you don't min bending over to get the eggs.)

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't see any reason you can't put up to 12-14 birds in there and not violate any rules of thumb. It's your choice of either 5.5' or 6' tall. There's no reason to go 4' tall.
...

6X5 is 30 square ft. That would be just over 2 sq. ft. per bird.

 

[NHChickengirl]

You can always put the crate on a frame to keep it off the ground and have additional covered outdoor space under it. That's what we did. Mine is 32 Square and we have 7 chickens. I wouldn't want it much more crowded during the winter months.


onths when they will be Cooped up alot.. Better to have less chickens so they don't peck on each other..

 

[colburg]

Quote: I must've had something fuzzy in my head. You're right. At 4sqft/bird, 30 sqft would be 7.5 chickens. Good luck with the .5 though. Maybe a bantam.

However, if they're going to spend most of their time in the run, or free-range, 2sqft/chicken is OK. I actually have 1.2sqft/chicken of coop space and 6.5sqft each for the run, but free-range almost 100% of the time.

Without breaking R.o.T., ChickenCanoe is right. My bad.

 

[donsgirl67]

Thank you all so much and we are building on a frame to add additional run under