Hello, I need you guys' opinion.

[backyardchickenfarmer]

Hello, I'm making a chicken coop for 1 phenix hen, 1 mottled de'uecle, 1 belgium bearded d'anver rooster,and mix breed of sebright,silkie,frizzle but she didnt frizzle lol. ive made the run already, the size of it are, 8 foot long, 4 foot wide, and 4 foot high. im still deciding on what size to make the house. do you guys/girls have any suggestions on what size to make it?Thanks

 

[Master S.M.C]

Doesn't need to be to big since you got bantams. I would say it should be about 4X4 or 6X6.

 

[E.G.Glayer]

I keep a flock of about 12-14 birds and I have them in a 8x8 shed turned hen house, with a run area of 10x20. This size building is more than adequate but it gets alittle small in the heart of winter when they dont want to go out much. You just need to allow roosting space which will not contaminate feed or water supplies at night, so You could get by with something smaller but be careful not get over zealous by adding more bids than you have provided space for. At one time I tried to keep as many as 22 at once and this invites problems such as excessive picking and egg eating as these problems started when I overcrowded my birds. Just build it a little bigger than you think you need unless you are certain you are not going to add to your flock in the future. I hope this helps.

 

[Scoop]

I say go way bigger than what you think! If you get hooked onto these chickens like I did you will want more and more. I already have to put an addition on my coop built only 1 year ago. I plan on more than doubling our flock and I don't know how many we will stop at.

 

[backyardchickenfarmer]

ive had chickens for over 3 years, and i have 14 chickens, 4 bantams and 10 egg layers. and i know i not going to get more the feed is outragous! so would a 4x4 square be good? thats the biggest i can go. the nest boxe are going to be on the outside of the coop so they wont take up room. how many perches so i need?Thanks

 

[Scoop]

So you're housing 5 chickens in this new 4X4? I think that would do. Where are all the other chickens? Are you in a cold weather state? I'm wondering about the nesting boxes on the outside of the coop.

 

[backyardchickenfarmer]

yes, the egg layers have there own coop and the previous coop that the bantams are in got way to small so im upgrading them, i live in Toms River new jersey, and the winters get about 20F average maybe if we get a cold spell maybe 10 or so.

 

[Scoop]

Oh, good ol Tom's River. My husband and I camped at one of those campgrounds years ago. Love that red water in the creek! I think the size coop you are talking about is fine. I was just wandering about the nesting boxes on the outside of the coop. Not sure how that would play out. I'm probably in the same boat you are with housing. I need more of it. I don't have much time to devote to building it tho. I'm lucky tho. I have all the materials I need including nails. You are right about feed costs. It's crazy. Mine will be free ranging as much as possible.

 

[backyardchickenfarmer]

Thanks guys/girls, i built it today! well almost lol all i have to do is add the roof and paint, and wire. ill post pics later.