Hello! First thread. How about this for a coop?

[ClemmieKatie]

So I’m trying to understand the guidelines on recommended size for four chickens. This hutch is almost an exact four foot cube, so the square footage is 16 sqf, and there are two 16 square feet levels since it is a 2-story hutch. I thought that this might be pretty adequate for four, since the recommendation is 4 sqf per chick. Am I missing something? Probably!

 

[Evelyn Walker]

That hutch would be fine for a coop, but only for nighttime. Nowhere near enough space for the day, so you'll need to add a run or free range. However, if you can find something bigger, I'd go for it. More space is always better.

 

[aart]

So I’m trying to understand the guidelines on recommended size for four chickens. This hutch is almost an exact four foot cube, so the square footage is 16 sqf, and there are two 16 square feet levels since it is a 2-story hutch. I thought that this might be pretty adequate for four, since the recommendation is 4 sqf per chick. Am I missing something? Probably!

The 4/10 'rule of thumb' is a minimum IMO.
Harsher the climate, the more coop space you want, especially in winter.
Not only need to have space for birds to be cooped up if necessary, you also need room for feeder, waterers, nests. More space is also better for ventilation purposes.
There are 3 great articles in my signature, all newbies should read them,
and please let me know if you can't see or open them.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So I’m trying to understand the guidelines on recommended size for four chickens. This hutch is almost an exact four foot cube, so the square footage is 16 sqf, and there are two 16 square feet levels since it is a 2-story hutch. I thought that this might be pretty adequate for four, since the recommendation is 4 sqf per chick. Am I missing something? Probably!

This is why I figured with some alterations, it could work... but the space is all split up so what you need to do it make it one open space. Because it's not terribly tall I would not try to use it as a 2-story, as there's not room for roosts.

 

[ValerieJ]

A good rule of thumb on coops is 4sf per chicken and on runs 8sf per chicken. I can't tell how big the hutch is, but if you can enclose the entire upstairs part maybe you would have the indoor space. The space under it will not be enough for 4 chickens during the day, but that would be so easy to fix with a little fencing and chicken wire. Free standing perches can be made with 1x1's or 2x2's and screwing them onto a couple short 2x4's. That puts them 4" off the ground and with that low ceiling it might work. Make sure there is a lot of ventilation. Not sure rabbit cages have as much ventilation as chickens need. You can almost not have too much. Good luck!!!