Good coop size?

[Studio2770]

Its 5ft tall and 7ft long. Run is 12ft long and 6ft high. 3 roosting polls and 3 nesting boxes. We have 5 white leghorns that are 10-11 weeks old. We're thinking about getting 2 or more chicks, maybe cochins, which would stay in a fish tank we previously raised the leghorns in. Is the coop suitable for 2 or more chickens? And has anyone tried the whole "When they're big enough, sneak them in the coop at dusk"?

 

[mommyoftwo]

I'm going to assume that you coop is 4 ft wide. And if it is you could add 2 more...( 4x7=28÷4=7) assuming you want 4 sq ft per bird in coop. However if you want 10 sq ft for run space (4×12=48÷10=4.8) so your run would only hold 5 birds. Thoses are just the normal sq ft for full size birds...if you had smaller birds or allowed them to free range I think you would be OK...but I have only had chicken for 3 months so you might want to ask someone who has had chicken longer.

Can you add another panel of fence to make the run longer? Or if it wider than 4 ft all my number will be off.

 

[Studio2770]

I forgot to include the width, but I think 4ft is right. I also forgot to mention that they will be free ranging, not all day, but as much as possible, still trying to get the dogs aquainted. You can barely see it, but there is a bush near the end of the run, it doesn't allow the door to open all the way. So another full panel wouldn't work. I also forgot the width of th run.

 

[SobbaChickens]

The numbers a lot of people go with is 4sq ft per bird in coop and 10sq ft per bird in run. I've read about 3 birds will share a nesting box so you are good on that. I think you are fine to get two more birds. As far as adding chickens to the flock there is no way to know what will work for your chickens.

I'm not looking forward to that, I want to get guineas next spring.

 

[Studio2770]

That's my concern too. Hopefully introducing newbies won't be too ugly.