Getting ready for chickens

Pics
Date sort Score sort
Glad to meet you, and welcome to BYC. What a lot of bird experience you have! I do wonder how you could have a whole flock of male coturnix! They need a lot of space to get along with each other, but maybe in the absence of any female, maybe it's less fraught?

Tonya (Dobie Lover) makes a good point. I was foolish enough to buy a ready made coop and then saw very quickly that it was too small to house the number of birds it advertised. This happens pretty often with pre-made coops. You might want to add on a 2nd coop like that and a large pen for them to expand into.

Here is an article from Farmers Almanac that lists the space requirements for chickens of different sizes, and also has a ton of other helpful info, though it's aimed at folks planning to build their own coops. Here is a quote from that article that includes the info on space, and explains why it's important:

  • ...most breeds of chickens require at least 3 square feet of room in a coop per bird if outdoor range space is available. We would advise at least 4 square feet for standard breeds. So, if you’re going to have 6 chickens, a 24-square-foot coop provides the right amount of space.
  • If there is no outdoor range space available, chickens should have more room inside the coop to spread out. Between 8 and 10 square feet of room per bird is recommended for those without outdoor range space. This is important if you keep a winter coop, too, as it gives space for the chickens inside.
  • Separate from the indoor coop, chickens should have a “run” or outdoor space of at least 4 square feet per chicken for the outside run.
How much vertical space you’ll need will depend on your breed, as will other specifications such as door heights and the ideal indoor temperature.

As well as being structurally sound, a coop will need nesting boxes, roosting bars, space for a feeder and waterer, and vents for air circulation. When you sketch out a plan, it’s important to include these objects so that the chickens still have the space they need.

Overcrowding in a chicken coop can lead to a multitude of issues among a backyard flock. For instance, overcrowding typically causes chickens to fight more, meaning the birds at the bottom of the pecking order will likely have limited access to food and water and may even exhibit cuts and peck marks on their bodies. Overcrowding in a coop also means a faster buildup of fecal matter and bacteria, increasing the chances of parasites or insects entering the coop and making the birds sick.
 
Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies! I always check in the "What's New" section as well at the top of this page. This way I can read how I may have a similar question or help give some advice.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom