I'm debating on how many more hens I can add to my flock. I have a 5x6 coop made out of an old outhouse and a 20x30 run. How many do you think?
That is really a good size run. I would put up a roost in the oddhouse, so there is more room for them to sleep. Most of the time they stay outside unless it is very hot, or rainy, etc.
I am curious to see what advice you get - the coop size is small but the run is huge - are you in a warm climate where they don't need to be locked into a coop?
I have probably 11 ft. of roost space in the coop (could probably add 5 more) but to be honest, my chickens always roost really close to each other. All use to pack in a row next to each other on one roost when they were a little younger. I'm in Iowa so for the most part they spend their days outside. However mid-winter, when its 0 degrees and a couple feet of snow on the ground they do stay inside most of the day. I'd say there were probably 20-25 days this winter when they chose mainly to stay inside, always had access to outside though.
I have been told that the height of your coop doesnt matter as they arent gonna be using the upwards space.. during winters (I'm in IL) they will be on teh coop floor..so thats what matters... 5x6 is 30 sq ft..divided by the MINIMUM 4 ft per bird (that is the "Going" space on here) if they are to be housed in there during any length of time w/o outside time (IE: during our 2 ft snow and 0 days etc)...I would say you can get 7 birds... but like others said; sometimes if you have warmer climate..you dont need the big coop due to them being outside so darn much!
Any reason the height doesn't matter? My birds are always on the roosts or in the nesting boxes year round. Never the floor. (Except for the ducks of course.) Right now I have 12 chickens and 2 ducks, which do just fine. I am planning on getting rid of a roo and moving the ducks, so I'm curious how many more hens I could replace them with.
What it really depends on is where you live, whether they will be cooped up part of the year because of snow, or spend most all their waking hours out of the coop, whether they have access to an outdoor, shaded protected area..
According to the math you could have around 20 birds if you live in a warm climate, but personally I'd have less.
I agree with Momagain, 7 birds. you could probably squeeze the suggested size to 2 sq ft ea and put in 14, but you are really getting them tight. Think about the ammonia output in a small area. It will not be a healthy coop if you add to many regardless of height.
