Honest Opinions on Coop and Run

[BanjosLaughter]

I currently have 5 young ladies who are 2 weeks from being moved to their permanent home. I ordered 4 Chicks but was sent and extra by accident. When I was designing their home, I was planning for 4 chicks. I am very concerned that there will not be enough room for my girls. Would someone be willing to look at my specs and give their honest opinions on the space?

Chicks:
2 Australorps
2 Golden Buff
1 Dominique

Purchased Coop:
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/innovation-pet-chicken-homestead-coop-222-87?cm_vc=-10005

I have built a run attachment which is attached to the front of the foraging area of the coop- It is 12'X3'X4'

The girls will be allowed to free range when we are home, which will be multiple hours a day.

 

[123RedBeard]

The coop is tiny, maybe big enough for 2 of your chickens ...

I can't see under the run roof, but if you could remove the gable end of the coop, and put in hardware cloth for ventilation, that would help.

Is it possible to get rid of atleast two chickens?

Your run attachment bumps it up to maybe three, if your gonna let them out every day ...

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

x2… that coop is only big enough for two... no matter what the manufacturer tries to tell you. the run is pretty large with the attachment though.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

ok, you could technically fit like 3-4 in there, but they would be in constant fights for space... chickens need like 4sqft per bird in the coop, and 10sqft per bird in the run.

 

[PirateGirl]

The current coop (just the house part, not the fenced outer part) would be ok for 2 maybe 3 chickens.

You could build more walls (and a floor) around the part I colored since you already have a roof and frame there. You do not need any more nest boxes. You would likely have to add a roost in the new section.

I'm not sure where you are from, what your weather is like typically. If you live somewhere that is relatively warm most of the year you could add walls and a roost in the section I colored but not even add a floor and they would probably be fine.

Also, when the hatcheries add an extra chick, often it's a rooster. I'm not sure if you plan to keep it if it's a rooster, but that could impact how much space you do or don't need as well.

 

[BanjosLaughter]

The current coop (just the house part, not the fenced outer part) would be ok for 2 maybe 3 chickens.

You could build more walls (and a floor) around the part I colored since you already have a roof and frame there. You do not need any more nest boxes. You would likely have to add a roost in the new section.

I'm not sure where you are from, what your weather is like typically. If you live somewhere that is relatively warm most of the year you could add walls and a roost in the section I colored but not even add a floor and they would probably be fine.

Also, when the hatcheries add an extra chick, often it's a rooster. I'm not sure if you plan to keep it if it's a rooster, but that could impact how much space you do or don't need as well.

View attachment 1769118

I live in Ohio; so it would definitely need to be enclosed. I am thinking that your idea may be the only way to go. Unfortunately if the 5th is a Roo, I will either have to Cull it try to find someone to take it, as I live in a suburban area and Roo's are super illegal. Of course that would make my predicament less of one, but my kiddos would be heartbroken.

What are your thoughts about keeping the ramp where it is, and having the chicks entering right in the middle of the coop. What if I made the ramp removable and made a sliding door in the floor as I would have remove the current door when adding the new space.

 

[PirateGirl]

I live in Ohio; so it would definitely need to be enclosed. I am thinking that your idea may be the only way to go. Unfortunately if the 5th is a Roo, I will either have to Cull it try to find someone to take it, as I live in a suburban area and Roo's are super illegal. Of course that would make my predicament less of one, but my kiddos would be heartbroken.

What are your thoughts about keeping the ramp where it is, and having the chicks entering right in the middle of the coop. What if I made the ramp removable and made a sliding door in the floor as I would have remove the current door when adding the new space.

You can have the ramp enter through a hole in the floor. I have this setup. It has pros and cons. The pro being that less wind and precipitation can get in the coop and the entrance is always sheltered. The con is that bedding gets kicked down through the hole, also the hole need to be larger than a standard pop door so that as the chickens use the ramp they have head clearance.

For me the decision was based on our climate. We even have snow today! We routinely have extremely high winds. I wanted the coop to provide as much protection from the elements as possible.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What are your thoughts about keeping the ramp where it is, and having the chicks entering right in the middle of the coop. What if I made the ramp removable and made a sliding door in the floor as I would have remove the current door when adding the new space.

I'd take @PirateGirl 's idea a step further - take out the ramp, take out interior walls, and use the entire thing as the coop. Cover up the wire walls as needed to stop winds from blowing in (remember to leave some open areas for ventilation and light) and run a new roost lengthwise. Use the human access door to let them in/out.

Your run is also too small for the number of birds though free ranging can help negate that, as long as you can offer them consistent free ranging time. If realistically you cannot let them out daily for a good period of time, you'll need to expand the run as well.

 

[Cryss]

ok, you could technically fit like 3-4 in there, but they would be in constant fights for space... chickens need like 4sqft per bird in the coop, and 10sqft per bird in the run.

X2!
If the run you added is big enough (10sqft/bird) maybe you could do like I did when I made the mistake of believing the manufacturer and bought one almost identical. Have a look and see if this could help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/altering-my-terrible-ts-coop.1267790/#post-20364469
Btw, I am now building a large walk in coop. You learn so much here.
WELCOME TO BYC!

 

[trumpeting_angel]

I've struggled with the idea of these prefab coops as a temporary solution, eventually giving up. Most of them are far too small, and you have to be rather clever to figure out how much interior space they actually have! This one does have room for expansion, though. I like the idea of making it all one big coop.

I have also heard that the "extra" chick is usually a rooster. Sneaky.