How big is too big for a coop?

[PoppasGrill]

Last year, due to ladies abandoning their coops to start roosting in the barn, we converted part of the barn to a large coop. Got tired of scraping chicken poo off our tractors when we needed to use them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/got-a-little-help-from-the-ladies….1630161/
Not sure if linked that right, if not I’ll try again later.
So, lo and behold, the ladies started moving out of the barn and back to the older coops. Not all, but half. And we lost part of our flock, over 60 in total the past 4 months, to Eagles and some other predators. It was a tough year.
And for the topic at hand, we want to get rid of the HillBilly Condo Coop. It is decidedly an eyesore, has rodent burrows under it, and is devided into 5 separate coops due to adding clutches and just building on.

So we want to build/ buy something that will hold them all, except for the Roosters, which are in their own coops and alternate free range days.
We have 30 pullets almost ready to integrate so hoping to make the move soon, and then tear down the condo coop.
120+ hens, 19 Roos

 

[StinkyAcres]

As long as the feed, etc. is easily accessible by everyone, there is enough room on your property for adequately-sized run(s) or free-ranging, and you are willing and able to clean a large coop, there is no such thing as a coop that's too big.

 

[PoppasGrill]

We were thinking of a 10x25 with a run they can access ,on days we can’t let them free range, of 20x50. We want them to be able to roost comfortably, but not hang out in . Some that are roosting in the barn still will not come out , even on free range days.
We are going to build this coop to one side and get the girls settled in it, which will create its own issues by combining 5 groups into one. Then wrecking out the Condo with the intention of rebuilding again after getting rid of the rodents and having a large coop plan.
Of course this is all based on financial ability and the girls getting along.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Some that are roosting in the barn still will not come out , even on free range days.

Not coming out of the coop during the day usually indicates a problem with the chickens and not the coop. They may still be scared of predators, are being bullied by other chickens, or they are sick.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Agree with the others. The upper limit on coop size is determined by your willingness to manage it, to keep it clean, mite free, and functional. It's been my experience (I free range as well) that following any active predation my chickens will hang close to the perceived safety of the henhouses and only increase their distance ranged as they grow comfortable and confident in the thought of not being attacked again - until the next time, of course.

 

[PoppasGrill]

Agree with the others. The upper limit on coop size is determined by your willingness to manage it, to keep it clean, mite free, and functional. It's been my experience (I free range as well) that following any active predation my chickens will hang close to the perceived safety of the henhouses and only increase their distance ranged as they grow comfortable and confident in the thought of not being attacked again - until the next time, of course.

Our Ladies are willing to sacrifice the slowest , by this I’ve seen them run/flap/fly towards the coops when the Eagle was spotted and warned of by the Guinea or Rooster. Then 5 mins later be back out in the middle of the pasture like nothing was happening. So whomever was caught by , or swooped on by the Eagle was written off quickly.
We will run out from the barn firing off blanks and yelling when we see it close, and the ladies will run behind us like we have special snacks they don’t want to miss out on.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Our Ladies are willing to sacrifice the slowest , by this I’ve seen them run/flap/fly towards the coops when the Eagle was spotted and warned of by the Guinea or Rooster. Then 5 mins later be back out in the middle of the pasture like nothing was happening. So whomever was caught by , or swooped on by the Eagle was written off quickly.
We will run out from the barn firing off blanks and yelling when we see it close, and the ladies will run behind us like we have special snacks they don’t want to miss out on.

Meaning no offense, but I feel like my stupid birds are at least a little more wise than your own.

Or they are VERY trusting of you ability to protect them.

 

[Toothpick]

I will be in the same situation soon. I'm hatching 36 eggs. Currently have 14 hens. I'll be giving some chicks away, some will be roosters that I won't keep, but I expect to almost double my flock. Then hatch more and double again.

I'm thinking "how much do I want to spend". Coops ain't cheap! The bigger you go the more $$$ it is. I've got an 8x10 now which is fine for about 30 birds I'd say. Not to crowded, everyone has room to roost.

You're gonna have 140 chickens?...You're gonna want a chicken BARN, not a coop . Go as large as you can afford and keep clean.

 

[PoppasGrill]

Meaning no offense, but I feel like my stupid birds are at least a little more wise than your own.

Or they are VERY trusting of you ability to protect them.

As I stated in a different post, our Ladies were full daylight free range for almost 3 years before the FWC released the recovered injured Eagle just a few months ago. They only get a few hours a day now, only when we can be home and out with them.
Spoiled, friendly, and a little dumb at times. Cagey, elusive, and problem solvers at others.

 

[PoppasGrill]

I will be in the same situation soon. I'm hatching 36 eggs. Currently have 14 hens. I'll be giving some chicks away, some will be roosters that I won't keep, but I expect to almost double my flock. Then hatch more and double again.

I'm thinking "how much do I want to spend". Coops ain't cheap! The bigger you go the more $$$ it is. I've got an 8x10 now which is fine for about 30 birds I'd say. Not to crowded, everyone has room to roost.

You're gonna have 140 chickens?...You're gonna want a chicken BARN, not a coop . Go as large as you can afford and keep clean.

Yea, chicken math can creep up on you. We know , if we want to keep growing, we will need a warehouse sized coop.
Right now we are trying to consolidate them to a good coop and a bachelor coop for the Roos.