How many chickens can I put in my coop?

[IsaRed]

Thanks Bridget-rdh! I figured out how to post pics of our coop on the coops page too. This is my first forum experience, so I am pretty much and unhatched egg lol!

 

[Rooster Rules]

We only have 2sq ft of coop space per bird. No it's not ideal, but it is working. 40 hens and an 8x10 coop. 10 nest boxes. 30 ft of roost space. We live in the country and the hens free range all day, and can also go inside the barn during inclement weather.
To post a pic: At the top of the reply box there is a tool bar. Click on the square one that looks like a picure, when you mouse over it it says 'insert image'.

Is 2 square feet prudent for say "bantams", that have to be housed in the coop for longer periods in winters that we have here up north.
I want to house about -8 bantams, in a 4 or 5 foot by 6-8 foot coop, insulated , and vented well.....

 

[bridget-rdh]

That would still be 3 sq ft per bird if your coop is 4x6.. I'd think they'd be fine since they are smaller.. Just search the forums for 'coop space for bantams' and read what others have done.

 

[Rooster Rules]

That would still be 3 sq ft per bird if your coop is 4x6.. I'd think they'd be fine since they are smaller.. Just search the forums for 'coop space for bantams' and read what others have done.

Thanx, just dealing with"wolf issues", My Golden Retriever got into it with a wolf this morning, got a good puncture in his hip, but did not get hurt otherwise. Gonna be fun raising chicks around here....LOL

 

[bridget-rdh]

OMG.. we have only dealt with racoons and coyotes, and our show pigs will devour a chicken if one gets in their pen. Our lab keeps the racoons and coyotes away for the most part. It will definitely be a challenge for you. Hope your dog mends quickly.. Good luck!

 

[Rooster Rules]

We have it all here, raccoons, mink, weasels,ground hogs, coyotes, skunks, badgers, black bears, Cougar sightings within a 100 miles. My neighbours old lab was cut up pretty good by 2 raccoons a few years back, he was old, and did not make it. My 2 dogs have actually brought home fresh killed Jack Rabbits.
Having said all this, lots of people raised many chickens on small old time family farms, like my parents did. They both tell me I am too concerned about the coop, they had old coops with nothing but straw for bedding, no lighting, no heat, both kids of the 30s and 40s
Just got off phone with local Bantam keeper, if I get my coop set-up, they have nice spring Black Rosecombs and mixed bantams for me, gonna start with birds, see how it goes. The coop should do well, lots of space,insulated nice big window for sunlight, and wired in with lights and a few plugs, now just to get it home......

 

[bridget-rdh]

I'm so glad we don't have so many predators. I intend to add heat to our coop when needed, but here in Oklahoma it just isn't very often. We just got our coop moved to our house.. There's pics on my page if you want to see it. Moving an 8x10 was not fun. But I am very pleased with the set up so far. We plan to add electric (extension cord right now), an automatic chicken door, and still need to cover the windows with hardware cloth. It's a work in progress for sure. We were very fortunate to get the building and concrete for free.

 

[Rooster Rules]

Looks very good, nesting boxes made very well.Your flock should be cozy in there. Yup, when you folks feel the cold in January, it usually is coming down straight from my part of Canada, which is roughly 1200 miles straight north of Oklahoma in the western province of Manitoba Canada. Just be happy you don't ever get -40 with a -52 windchill, I have seen that only a couple of times in my life but that was enough.........LOL

 

[bridget-rdh]

I can't even imagine those conditions! I'm do not love the cold.. And chicken keeping will be much more difficult!

 

[Rooster Rules]

My hometown Winnipeg, and our Homestead, temp is a balmy 33f, was a touch of snow last night, gonna be 45 this week, like whoopdeedoo.....nicer for the kids on Halloween, maybe I will go out as ole Foghorn Leghorn