Have 9 chickens who need proper space. Looking for information

[Red-Rhode-Island- Red]

This depends on your climate. If you have cold winters you'll want a taller coop so you can place the vents far above the roosts. This allows the warm, moist, ammonia-filled air to escape but not let cold drafts hit the chickens.

I'm in the south. Will get a snow here or there, and about 3 months of cold.

 

[Red-Rhode-Island- Red]

Make the coop at least 6 inches higher than the tallest person who has to go in there if possible. That way no one bangs their head

I am considering going coopless for now. Just a partially covered run. In the covered area, have nesting boxes up with several roosting bars.

Then add a coop toward winter time.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Move them to new grass areas one a week. So now I need to find a build for this size that's movable.

Any suggestions?

How about something like this?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/ms-biddys-cattle-panel-hoop-coop.73755/

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

Lots of interesting opinions here! For the record in the 70s I inherited my grandfather's original RIR flock started in 1940. In the 90s some scum STOLE them. It took me about 10 years to recover from the loss before I finally started again. That time I had Buff Rocks. They were all killed by a pack of coyotes and feral dogs. In 2008 I started again with chicks from Meyers and Cackle. Now everything I've got is home-bred and the coops and runs are literally outside my back door. Now I have security lights.

The coops all have 4 sq ft and 1 linear foot of roost space per bird. My runs are 1/2" hardware cloth with shade cloth over the roof. Since I won't risk free ranging ever again, I have 25-35 sq ft of space per bird in my runs. RIRs are loud, active breeds. They all get along very well IF they have enough space. They prefer being outside in all weather except freezing rain.

Hopefully something here will be helpful.

Rusty

 

[lintlicker]

Our chicken journey has been... well.. good and bad. We purchased 6 chicks. 3 were Rhode Island reds, the others were not. 2 of them died within 36-48 hours. They seemed very wobbly from the time we got them. 1 other died within a week. The 3 Rhode Island Reds are great and in a small coop and run that's movable. We decided to get another set of 6, all Rhode Island Reds. All of them are growing beautifully with zero losses. So now we have 9.

They are getting big enough and will need space soon. First question is how much space for the run, and second space for the coop? I have read 4 sqft per bird inside the coop. Is that floor space alone? Height? I was also told about 8 sqft per bird in the run.

I wanted to ask people with more experience if that is correct. 36 sqft coop with a 72 sqft run?

I know with a forum like this and how long it's been around these questions have been asked. I ran a search and know my search terms must be off. So a link will work if you got one.

I will speak on this...whatever space you're able to accommodate them for both a run and coop, MAKE IT BIGGER. They'll be MUCH happier and MUCH healthier and save you a headache. Sorry for your losses :-/

 

[AuntiePatriciaUSA]

poop boards in a U-Shape.

Tonya, what is a "poop board in a U-shape? Gotta photo?

 

[Chad Oftedal]

This is one example of a poop board. Mine happens to be "L" shaped, but a "U" shaped would just have another leg on the left side there. This is in an 8' by 8' coop. That back wall section is 8' and joined by the right leg also being 8' long. The roost bars are 8" above the bottom of the board. On the board is Sweet PDZ granual stall freshener. You can scoop their droppings in the morning with a cat litter scoop which allows the granuals to fall through onto the board, so you're just sifting out their waste and then throwing it or maybe composting/whatever your setup allows. For me, that left wall is where their door goes out to the run, and I also have my nest boxes. That is why mine is an "L" shape.

 

[AuntiePatriciaUSA]

Thank you for that explanation. I've seen it at a friend's house. I just didn't know there was a formal term for it. AND it's a great idea, so I'll incorporate it into my upcoming coop re-do.