How many chickens in a 8x12 coop?

[JDN]

I'm in Minnesota, close to Minneapolis. Goal wouldn't be to keep it really warm, just keep the chill down. Was thinking of the tile warmer fabric, laying tile over it then cover in 3" of sand. The sand would become a heat sink and keep it somewhat warm.

Only reason I thought to insulate it was I heard egg production can go down with cold. I do a large amount of baking between Thanksgiving and Christmas that would be great to do with fresh eggs.

Buy some LED lights and run them through the coop and run on a timer so they run from 6 AM to 7 PM or thereabouts.

Its the light, not the cold that does it.

Assuming you're planning on buying 25 chicks, that coop size is fine since you're likely to experience some mortality or roosters (or maybe a hen) that needs to be rehomed, whether you rehome it to the frying pan or another farm is another story.

 

[kwhites634]

Hi,

I am building an 8x12 shed that I'll customize to be a coop. 6 nest boxes to start and a 2nd floor of sorts for roosting. Going to insulate it and possibly heat. As for the run, I am thinking like a 10x15 enclosed portion and 25x25+ fenced in area.

Would 25 be too many? I am going to get ducks also but will be building them their own nesting area.

I'd forget the insulation

 

[ChickenCanoe]

X2 to the last 2 posters info. @JDN and @kwhites634

I'm in Minnesota, close to Minneapolis. Goal wouldn't be to keep it really warm, just keep the chill down. Was thinking of the tile warmer fabric, laying tile over it then cover in 3" of sand. The sand would become a heat sink and keep it somewhat warm.

Only reason I thought to insulate it was I heard egg production can go down with cold. I do a large amount of baking between Thanksgiving and Christmas that would be great to do with fresh eggs.

Reproduction is primarily determined by day length as it compares to hours of darkness. Increasing day length is a cue to reproduce for all animals. Decreasing day length is the cue to shut it down. It just so happens that it is cold in most regions when days are short but they will still slow down after summer solstice even in warm climates.
There is virtually no relationship between cold and egg production. Most breeds of hens will lay right through their first winter. They'll molt their second autumn and each thereafter. They won't lay till they regrow feathers. Each winter they'll take longer breaks during and after molt but will resume laying after winter solstice as days get longer.

IMHO, an unheated building will be within a couple degrees of ambient temperature by morning whether it is insulated or not. So there is little need to insulate unless the building will be heated. Most of the heat will be lost if the building is sufficiently ventilated. As important as fresh feed and water are, fresh air is the most important thing you can provide those tiny respiratory systems.

Keep in mind that no matter how much space is in the run, they'll eventually eradicate all vegetation from scratching, eating, compacting soil and adding too much phosphorus for plants to thrive.

 

[kwhites634]

X2 to the last 2 posters info. @JDN and @kwhites634

Reproduction is primarily determined by day length as it compares to hours of darkness. Increasing day length is a cue to reproduce for all animals. Decreasing day length is the cue to shut it down. It just so happens that it is cold in most regions when days are short but they will still slow down after summer solstice even in warm climates.
There is virtually no relationship between cold and egg production. Most breeds of hens will lay right through their first winter. They'll molt their second autumn and each thereafter. They won't lay till they regrow feathers. Each winter they'll take longer breaks during and after molt but will resume laying after winter solstice as days get longer.

IMHO, an unheated building will be within a couple degrees of ambient temperature by morning whether it is insulated or not. So there is little need to insulate unless the building will be heated. Most of the heat will be lost if the building is sufficiently ventilated. As important as fresh feed and water are, fresh air is the most important thing you can provide those tiny respiratory systems.

Keep in mind that no matter how much space is in the run, they'll eventually eradicate all vegetation from scratching, eating, compacting soil and adding too much phosphorus for plants to thrive.

Hey there
You're sure right about the eradication. In my case, that includes the 20x20 fenced chicken yard attached to the run. Fortunately, I can free range them all day. I have two groups; one group roams all day, the other on alternate days. I've tried turning the whole shebang out together a couple times, but they're not bright enough to go back to their own coop come dark.

Sally stopped in a few days ago & asked about you. She's recovering from yet another operation. She ought to just have a zipper installed.

 

[Themagicone]

Humm I guess I'll stick to the simple shed, add a nesting area and a 2nd floor roost. Will do the electric for lights and put it on a timer.