How many chickens for this coop??

[dreamwallaby]

Welcome! I'm in Jersey too

I agree with the previous posters that 4 would be the max for them them to be happy.

 

[TipsyDog]

Quote:
Electrical fencing would be your best option. Chicken wire won't keep out anything either, it's not strong enough and only meant to keep chickens in. I would go with some netting over the top to prevent hawks from getting in too. If you want to spend money and alot of time, then you can build a run out of pressure treated 2x4's with top supports and then attached hardward cloth to it. The hardware cloth should also be buried a foot under ground to prevent animals from digging their way in. The roof could be wired or covered to prevent rain and snow from getting in and keep the run dry. This type of run also allows you to put up plywood come winter to keep out wind and blowing snow.

Of course, I tend to go overboard

and I live in a very cold/snowy area so I always build for those conditions.

 

[Momo]

Very pretty coop! Definitely go with strands of electric to fortify the run. I'd install a 4' x 18" droppings board that would double as the top of the nest boxes (in addition to keeping your coop bedding much cleaner it will keep the boxes darker and thereby reduce the chance of egg eating) and move your roost above that (also I would recommend that the 2x4 roost be flat side up for comfort, not narrow side up). I'd remove 2 (maybe even 3) of the nest boxes to increase floor space. I'd consider using a feeder and waterer that have a small profile (again to increase available floor space). I would add latches secured with solid carabiners to secure the doors (including the egg box door as it would take a raccoon no time at all to climb up there and swivel the wood block that's holding it closed). You'll probably need to add more ventilation at the highest point (you want good air flow above the level of the chickens on their roost and you don't want to trap warm moist air near the ceiling). Or you might want to turn your window the other way around so the screen is on top. Oh, one other thing - you're going to want to add a 6 or 8" lip at the bottom of the door (and pop door if you can move it upward) to keep the bedding from building up and spilling out.

 

[CoopCrazy]

4 max if it was me ...

 

[Leah and peeps]

with 4 square feet per chicken i'd say 4 chickens max. Have fun and good luck!

 

[SandyK]

I have one very similar and just yesterday we started building a bigger one for my girls. We had eight in it and felt they would love a bigger building, so we are going for a 12'x16'. There will be room for a supply area and sink too!! I'm so excited.

On the little coop, I'm keeping it for babies. It will be great to raise the little ones in it.

 

[sianara]

I would put 3 buff orpingtons in there at the most. They are a big breed.

You really only need 1 nesting box so you could put food in one of them and water in the other to make good use of the space (by not taking away from the existing floor space).

I agree with putting a board or something over the top of the nesting boxes. It will help them to feel more secure plus it will give them some more floor space to climb on. I don't think you need another roost for that few birds (even if you went with 4 hens you would comfortably only need 1-IMHO that is).

Not sure where you live but if you get snow you might want to seriously consider having double the coop space for a winter run. That's the rule of thumb I try to follow. My big coop is 8' x 8' and the run is 8' x 16'. They have access to the secure run 24/7 year round but during the winter that's all they get

. The rest of the year they have an enormous yard which is partially in the woods.

All my smaller coops follow the same rule and I've never had a problem with either the ducks or chickens.

Nice looking coop BTW

 

[fiddleblue]

I think you could easily fit 6 hens in that coop, if you add another 2 by 4 for another short section of roost particularly, and like someone else said, you don't need that many nesting boxes. I think I read one nesting box per 3 hens is good. I have 4 nest boxes for 10 hens in the coop, plus another nest box outside the coop. I have a 6 by 4 ft coop and it's used for 10 hens, and they seem fine with it. THey only sleep in there and go in to lay eggs, they don't hang out there during the day, and I live in California where the weather is mild so they don't reallly need the protection in rain. Their run has a part that is covered so they can be outdoors when it's raining. If you have that type of setup you can get by with a smaller coop, I'd say.

 

[sotelomary]

I think you can have 6 if you add another roosting bar. Will your chickens be out most of the day? This would help alot to reduce pecking. I have a small coop also and have 6 hens. But mine are in a long run all day long and just come in at night to roost. We have very mild winters so my hens are able to always be outside.

I have 2 nest boxes and this seems perfect. I used to have one but hens were waiting in line to use it and sometimes I would find 2 hens in the 1 box. So now I have 2 and it works out much better.

Mary