The Confused Chicken
Chirping
- May 3, 2023
- 60
- 217
- 86
Hi everyone! I'm new to keeping chickens, I actually just got my first this morning. I've spent plenty of time researching and wanting them, though.
I decided that before getting a big, permanent, and probably expensive coop with a decent-sized flock, I'd try one of those "rent a coop" programs. Basically you get a small chicken tractor, a few laying hens, supplies, and keep them for 6 months before sending them back. The idea was that I'd try keeping chickens for a little while, decide if it was for me or not, and then build a permanent structure for a large flock if it was. I settled for a package which got me two chickens (a Delaware and RIR if that matters) and a large coop to start out with. They assured me that the coop I'd get would be plenty big enough for two chickens for the summer. Well, this is what I got...
The run attached to the coop measures about 4' by 3', and the coop itself is 2' by 3' excluding the nest boxes. This seems pretty small for two large fowl. The open wire run in front with the chair in it isn't a solution for all day, I've got hawks and a nesting pair of bald eagles nearby. I can maybe let them out in that run supervised for 30 minutes a day during the week, an hour and a half on weekends. The main coop does look much more secure against predators than typical small pre-fab coops, it's solid wood and the locks are too difficult for any normal raccoon to undo. What's the verdict from the chicken masters? I want to keep chickens, but not if they don't have enough space to be healthy and happy. They look alright for now, if maybe a bit more cramped than the chickens my friends have. If it isn't enough, I can probably return them and the coop in a week or two, or construct a more permanent large run around the coop. Thank you!
I decided that before getting a big, permanent, and probably expensive coop with a decent-sized flock, I'd try one of those "rent a coop" programs. Basically you get a small chicken tractor, a few laying hens, supplies, and keep them for 6 months before sending them back. The idea was that I'd try keeping chickens for a little while, decide if it was for me or not, and then build a permanent structure for a large flock if it was. I settled for a package which got me two chickens (a Delaware and RIR if that matters) and a large coop to start out with. They assured me that the coop I'd get would be plenty big enough for two chickens for the summer. Well, this is what I got...
The run attached to the coop measures about 4' by 3', and the coop itself is 2' by 3' excluding the nest boxes. This seems pretty small for two large fowl. The open wire run in front with the chair in it isn't a solution for all day, I've got hawks and a nesting pair of bald eagles nearby. I can maybe let them out in that run supervised for 30 minutes a day during the week, an hour and a half on weekends. The main coop does look much more secure against predators than typical small pre-fab coops, it's solid wood and the locks are too difficult for any normal raccoon to undo. What's the verdict from the chicken masters? I want to keep chickens, but not if they don't have enough space to be healthy and happy. They look alright for now, if maybe a bit more cramped than the chickens my friends have. If it isn't enough, I can probably return them and the coop in a week or two, or construct a more permanent large run around the coop. Thank you!
