How many chickens can I have?

[QuackerOats]

I am in the process of building my coop at the moment. The coop is 3 feet X 5 feet and the run is 8 feet X 5 feet. I know the general guidelines are 4 square feet per bird in the coop and 10 square feet in the run. So, at the moment I could have 3 birds in the coop and 4 in the run. ( not added together, but just separately)

If my birds are only sleeping in their coop, could I keep four birds? Or would I be better with 3 birds. I started this whole chicken keeping thing thinking I would only keep 2 birds, so I made the coop bigger to keep them happy.... but now my addiction has kicked in and my coop is already half done... BUT I WANT MORE!!!!

What do you think? THanks!

 

[drumstick diva]

I think you are gonna need a much bigger coop and run. As you say your addiction just kicked in. Wait till it builds to full gallop, you'll be ordering chicks right and left. Bigger is usually better anyway - less likely chicks will get stressed and pick at each other. I don't think I've ever encountered anyone who said they were upset for building too large, it's always the opposite.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Welcome to chicken lovers anonymous, My name is Nessa and I have an addiction too

 

[CoyoteMagic]

My coops are small BUT my run/s are a total of 300sq feet. The weather here isn't bad, so my chickens are out of the coop unless there is snow on the ground. Even then, if they can get to a covered area they will go outside.

 

[QuackerOats]

Well, I have a chicken addiction... but I won't be allowed more than four birds, because that is all my parents will allow me to have.

 

[teach1rusl]

Yes, it would be better for three, because more room is always better than less room. When you say they would ONLY be in there to sleep (or eventually lay), does that mean you live in an area that doesn't really get winters and snow??? Because now my girls are hardly EVER in their coop; but come winter it's another story.
If you live in an area that doesn't really get winters, then I'm sure you could get away with a little less indoor space...4 birds. Keep in mind though, that if your nest boxes (which they will eventually use) are on the floor, that space should be deducted from your square footage, because that's not living space (and you don't want them living there/pooping there). Have you considered bantams? Four of those in that space would not be a big deal at all (plus they're cute).

 

[QuackerOats]

Thanks for your message, it was very helpful and I think I will keep three birds to keep them happy. I forgot about our winters. It will get pretty cold, so they will spend a lot more time in there. The nest box will be off the floor, so I don't have to deduct that.

I will have to deduct from food/water containers, But with three birds I have 3 more square feet of extra room!

Bantams would be cool, however I am already committed to Rhode Island Reds. Because they just hatched in my incubator!

Do you think 9 younger chickens would do okay in my coop for a couple weeks? I need time to pick out the pullets form the roosters and then pick three pullets to keep. They will obviously be much smaller, so they won't need as much space?

 

[teach1rusl]

Oh yeah...your 9 little hatchlings should be good to go in there for at least six weeks...

Congrats on a successful hatch!

 

[QuackerOats]

Awesome!

Thanks! It was my first hatch. 7/12 so far.

 

[NWChicks]

I've had mine in my coop for all of two weeks and now I've got three more in a brooder that I need to make a little portable for! How many chickens can I have? Didn't seem to matter here, I'll end up with chicken shanty town all over my yard! lol Have fun with yours!