How Big is Too Big?

[member 373180]

You are doing it right, I promise! I speak from experience.

Absolutely! I still find the occasional feather in my basement and it's been two years.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Incubator has crossed my mind, but I am scared to enter that world.

Don't. It's a different kind of stress... and once you cross to the *hatching* side... you'll never return.... Once you go HATCH, you nevah go BACK!!.

And MPORT, you are definitely doing it right... coop first, then chickens... but you need to up your sense of urgency as if you already DO have chickies... the sooner you finish your coop, the sooner you can get chickies!!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to our addiction here glad you stopped in and know how chicken math works you can dive right in seems you have great advice already so i just will say Welcome enjoy

 

[Mr Pink]

Hah! It's been difficult to restrain myself from running out to buy some hens and a cheap coop to use until I get the big one built. I mean, I want eggs next spring right?! I'm staying strong at this moment, but stay tuned

Good plan I did the same thing ... planned 6 months ahead and built what I needed without having to rush or cut corners ! Had absolutely everything I thought I would need well ahead of picking up chicks . There are always a little something that has to be tweaked but with everything in place it's nothing that will stress you or your chickens out .

I'm consistently surprised at some people on this site who get birds first with little or no idea how to house them . Your on the right path and will be thankful you pre planned . Sad part is your chickens will ultimately pay the price for any of your shortcuts !

 

[Argus]

Incubator has crossed my mind, but I am scared to enter that world.

Ha ha you think chicken math is bad, wait until you find out about INCUBATOR MATH!

 

[Laodicia]

Ha ha you think chicken math is bad, wait until you find out about INCUBATOR MATH!

No no. we dont count our chicks before they hatch hehe

 

[aart]

Hello! I'm going to be constructing a chicken coop over the winter in order to start my laying hen flock next spring. Currently drawing plans and have a question about coop size.

I'm planning to start with 6 birds, so, according to the square footage recommendations on this site I should have at least 24 square feet of coop space and at least 60 square feet of run space. I'm going to build larger than that to give the birds a bit more space and pre-plan for birds that I will want to add in the future (chicken math!).

Welcome to BYC!...and Huge Kudos for planning and building before you get birds!!

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:

Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.


And Go Big ...3 separate sections for Main flock, Growout/broody/isolation/hospital, and Feed/supply storage has made my chicken life much easier. Actually wish I had made grow-out area larger(for ease of tending) and had 1 or 2 more sections.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page

 

[Molpet]

yeah go big.. I built a 24x8 thinking it would be too big.. Then I built a 8x8 for breeders and grow outs and then a 8x8 for bachelors and still need more coops LOL

 

[MPORT]

Welcome to BYC!...and Huge Kudos for planning and building before you get birds!!

Here's my theory on the 'stack up' aspect to coop design:

Bottom of pop door is best about 8" above floor so bedding doesn't get dragged out of coop.

Nice to have bottom of nests about 18" above bedding to allow use of that floor space under them(doesn't count if your nests are mounted on outside of coop).

Roosts are best about 12" higher than nests so birds won't roost(sleep) in nests and poop in them, if you use poop boards under roosts it will also 'stretch' your floor space.

Upper venting works best as high as possible above roosts so no strong drafts hit roosts in winter...and hot/moist air and ammonia can rise and exit coop.


And Go Big ...3 separate sections for Main flock, Growout/broody/isolation/hospital, and Feed/supply storage has made my chicken life much easier. Actually wish I had made grow-out area larger(for ease of tending) and had 1 or 2 more sections.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/aarts-coop-page

Great tips! Thank you.

 

[cholland]

Build twice the size you need. Cause chicken math. And you need a way to separate injured chickens or new introductions, etc.

If your still planning look at the Woods poultry house design. An inexpensive well ventilated coop. Good for any flock size and most climates.

Think about predator avoidance. I recommend some type of electric fence. You don't think you need it until it's too late.