HELP PLEASE

[Ashieschickenfarm]

She's adorable, I love my Sapphire Gems. Seems like she's just had a bad comb bleed that made it look worse than what it really was. They are still young pullets. But I just want you to be aware you could potentially end up with some bad bullying and feather pecking with them being in that area all the time. That's really not the ideal size for 18 chickens. As a coop to sleep in yes it’s plenty of room. During good weather do they get to range outside of the barn? I know you said they get about two hours out in the barn to scratch around because of snow right now. How much snow do you get? Mine do just fine in the snow but we usually don't get more than 5 to 6 inches at a time when we do get snow. So I shovel trails for them and they go about there day.

We are getting pounded day after day so we have around 2 feet rn more on the way, in the good weather they are indeed free ranged with a bigger outdoor pen due to our dogs and our area being owl and eagle dominated aswell as fox and coy dogs, but yes I love all my chickens, but marshmallow has a special place in my heart

 

[tlcmurphy]

She's adorable, I love my Sapphire Gems. Seems like she's just had a bad comb bleed that made it look worse than what it really was. They are still young pullets. But I just want you to be aware you could potentially end up with some bad bullying and feather pecking with them being in that area all the time. That's really not the ideal size for 18 chickens. As a coop to sleep in yes its plenty of room. During good weather do they get to range outside of the barn? I know you said they get about two hours out in the barn to scratch around because of snow right now. How much snow do you get? Mine do just fine in the snow but we usually don't get more than 5 to 6 inches at a time when we do get snow. So I shovel trails for them and they go about there day.

That’s over 130 sq ft per bird by my calculations. How is that not enough?

 

[Debbie292d]

If this is your coop, you maybe meant 5'x5' as that's about what it looks like unless there's more behind the camera. That would be the problem then is too many chickens. That can support 6-7 chickens and you have 18 in there. Maybe put a ladder in there and a second story if you can't do anything else right now.

 

[AshVau22]

That’s over 130 sq ft per bird by my calculations. How is that not enough?

I'm basing my opinion off the picture she shared of the area not off 50x50.

 

[Ashieschickenfarm]

It’s not space of the issue it’s the same size we use to hold two adolescent steers around the size of a Great Dane dog, my mom thinks that she ran into something yesterday

 

[tlcmurphy]

If this is your coop, you maybe meant 5'x5' as that's about what it looks like unless there's more behind the camera. That would be the problem then is too many chickens. That can support 6-7 chickens and you have 18 in there. Maybe put a ladder in there and a second story if you can't do anything else right now.

OP has said they are in a barn, 50’x50’

 

[Ashieschickenfarm]

I'm basing my opinion off the picture she shared of the area not off 50x50.

I estimated it based on other stall sizes, it’s rather 15 by 15 and we used to house two adolescent steers in it with plenty space left

 

[Debbie292d]

OP has said they are in a barn, 50’x50’

I know, but I count over a dozen chickens here, and this isn't 50x50. It seems odd there would be any issue if they've got a huge 50x50, but understandably one if it's 5x5.

 

[Ashieschickenfarm]

I know, but I count over a dozen chickens here, and this isn't 50x50.

View attachment 4260631

It’s still decent size, I’m still new to chickens and we plan on expanding soon too sorry I forgot to mention

 

[tlcmurphy]

I estimated it based on other stall sizes, it’s rather 15 by 15 and we used to house two adolescent steers in it with plenty space left

If they only have access to 15’x15’ and not the rest of the barn, then I agree that’s not enough space for 18 chickens. Two adolescent steer don’t fight like 18 hens will. I’d say you’d need a minimum of 20’x20’ fir that many birds that are not being free ranged.