Help with a coop we got!

[vlselz]

Ok so we got a coop and at the time we got it the gentlemen told me (newbie chicken owner ) that it would fit 3-4 full size chickens. Well we got 3 chicks approx 5 wk old they are 2 BR and 1 BO. As I look at the hens I placed in the coop tonight I have set up in the garage while my husband finished the outdoor area i'm thinking that there is no way they will all fit in there full size and the guy ripped me off

....or did he? I live in CO so the winters and weather here get pretty low (although its been pretty mild lately) so you'd think they'd spend more time in it than usual during winter. I live in a large yard suburb home so free range all day is really not an option. I am going to make/get a tractor device thou and place it along my bottom half of the large plot and garden area. Can someone tell me if that is the case how big the coop would need to be? Should I sell this one and buy somewhat bigger? Should I reconstruct the one I have to make it bigger? Or will it all work out in the end?

Thanks so much for the help. I tried to take pictures of the coop for reference to help out

This is a pic of the door where I can clean


This is the opening with the walkway...we covered temp the stairs lift off but there is no cover to "lock the chicks up at nite"



Side view of window with the roost

Inside of coop roost bars to left nest box (closed off) to the right


Nest box from outside view...closed off right now


another front view of bottom I want to cage off to ad room or extend it.

Once again I cant thank you guys enough for all your help!!!! ANY HELP or advice is good help =)

 

[dthomascg]

Hard to tell exactly how big it is from the pictures, but what matters, from what I have learned on this site, is square footage, 4 square feet per chicken in the coop, at least double that in their outside run. From what I can tell, by the picture, you are not too far off from that number, but your actual measurements would be needed to confirm that. I am a novice when it comes to chickens, but I have been doing a ton of reading on here since we got our chickens in march, and in my opinion, as long as you are in that 4 square feet per chicken ballpark, you should be fine. I have read on here several times that the size of the run is just as, if not more important than the size of the coop, as that is where they will be spending most of their time while they are awake. Coop is mainly for sleeping and laying.

You do need to make sure it has plenty of ventilation, something I did not see a lot of in the pictures, and I would be worried about the insulating properties of that big old window, especially so close to their roosts. It might end up being an awfully chilly spot for them to roost if it gets as cold in CO as I think it does.

I am sure more experienced folks will chime in and add to/correct what I just said, but again, this is all based on things that I have read repeatedly on this site. I would go ahead and measure the inside of the coop, length x width (minus nest boxes), and post that on here as well, as I am sure that will help folks answer your question.

Dan

 

[vlselz]

Hard to tell exactly how big it is from the pictures, but what matters, from what I have learned on this site, is square footage, 4 square feet per chicken in the coop, at least double that in their outside run. From what I can tell, by the picture, you are not too far off from that number, but your actual measurements would be needed to confirm that. I am a novice when it comes to chickens, but I have been doing a ton of reading on here since we got our chickens in march, and in my opinion, as long as you are in that 4 square feet per chicken ballpark, you should be fine. I have read on here several times that the size of the run is just as, if not more important than the size of the coop, as that is where they will be spending most of their time while they are awake. Coop is mainly for sleeping and laying.

You do need to make sure it has plenty of ventilation, something I did not see a lot of in the pictures, and I would be worried about the insulating properties of that big old window, especially so close to their roosts. It might end up being an awfully chilly spot for them to roost if it gets as cold in CO as I think it does.

I am sure more experienced folks will chime in and add to/correct what I just said, but again, this is all based on things that I have read repeatedly on this site. I would go ahead and measure the inside of the coop, length x width (minus nest boxes), and post that on here as well, as I am sure that will help folks answer your question.

Dan

Hi Dan
Thanks for the advice. Ive started to read up on most advice on here last night in regards to coop b/c I'm not thinking they will fit. I just measured it and it seems way small then suggested sizes. Its 30" W, x 30" L x 26" H (from bottom to peak inside...not including the legs from floor up). As for ventilation there are holes all along the peak where it meets the side. It does get quite cold here although winters have been quite mild lately but it gets as cold as -15 to -20 before with wind chill last year. My husband said he can take out the window and cover it up if need be for added warmth. I'm just not sure on the size now...thinking I got one over on me.

well If need be I will resell this one and build or buy a new one. Thanks again for the help =) looking at a 8'L x 4' W tractor btw also

 

[chfite]

Chickens can easily withstand extreme cold, given that they have adequate ventilation and no drafts. Wind chill is irrelevant because chickens don't have any exposed skin and don't sweat.

Heat is a danger to chickens at a level that humans might find only uncomfortable.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I would get rid of what you have and make something more suitable. There are many coops of all stripes on the coop page. You can get an idea and go from there. They don't have to be pretty, just suitable. Folks have made fabulous coops from old pallets rounded up from local businesses. There are plans available at Purina Mills website to get ideas from. Others have ideas, too.

It will be easier to make your own that it will be to fix what you have.

Chris

 

[Scott H]

Yes, less than 3 square feet per chicken is not enough IMHO unless they can free range year round or have a big covered run. Sorry.

 

[vlselz]

Yes, less than 3 square feet per chicken is not enough IMHO unless they can free range year round or have a big covered run. Sorry.

Chickens can easily withstand extreme cold, given that they have adequate ventilation and no drafts. Wind chill is irrelevant because chickens don't have any exposed skin and don't sweat.

Heat is a danger to chickens at a level that humans might find only uncomfortable.

I don't have a horse in this race, but I would get rid of what you have and make something more suitable. There are many coops of all stripes on the coop page. You can get an idea and go from there. They don't have to be pretty, just suitable. Folks have made fabulous coops from old pallets rounded up from local businesses. There are plans available at Purina Mills website to get ideas from. Others have ideas, too.

It will be easier to make your own that it will be to fix what you have.

Chris

First off thanks for everyone's replies they are helpful

.Okay so we are positively selling our coop....its nice but to small for us.We found a "shell" plywood box with bottom and all 4 sides to get us started from someone near us that's approx 5 x 5 or a 5 x 6 so it will be way bigger to work with. My husband has already started the adjustments and we picked out new supplies including paint til we get siding. Now were going to look around for interior ideas on here and online. And when we are complete the coop ill post pics! Today he only got a little work done b/c we've had terrible thunderstorms and tornado type weather for good part of yesterday and today, so hopefully the weather gets back to high 90's so we can get back to work

. AS for the run I will probably extend off the coop like a walk in run or we've talked about 16' cattle panel arch "hoop run" with chicken wire lath on outside. Thanks again everyone, if you have any good ideas that you would've done but didn't know when you first built your coop advice is welcome