How many chickens? Roof extension

[Gammond]

We are extending the roof the entire length of the coop. The new inside measurements will be 8 x 16. They will have a massive run outside. How many chickens could I fit in here?

 

[Gammond]

Anyone?

 

[Folly's place]

I'm wondering about ventilation; are you putting in hardware cloth panels along the ridgeline! I also hope that both ends will be all hardware cloth, or the whole thing looks scary to me. Will it be moved to a shady spot? The base 128 sq. ft. in theory will hold about thirty birds, but the type of building doesn't support those numbers at al, IMO. How will you clean it out? It must be tall enough to walk in, at least at the peak? Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I see it must be pretty tall! Oops! Mary

 

[Gammond]

Yes I plan on getting the whole thing up to snuff with a lot of ventilation.i cannot do hardware cloth over the entire ends, as it gets to -35 here and I don't want them to get blowed on directly. After doing some more roost measurements today, I think I will try for 25 chickens.

 

[Folly's place]

Do the hardware cloth on the ends, and in winter, attach two layers of clear(ish) plastic sheeting over the lower 2/3 of the open areas. Ventilation, light, and wind protection all in one. I would sheet off the north end and be in good shape. Mary

 

[TalkALittle]

Create a nice overhang with your last set of panels and that should block a large percent of the wind from blowing in and allow you to leave the top of that end open.

 

[aart]

Problem with A-frames is head room, for chickens and keepers.
8 foot wide base gets small fast as you go up.
Once you get roosts up high enough over nests, space starts getting really tight, they need room to get up and down from roosts.

 

[FlyWheel]

Agreed. Simple equilateral triangle A-frames tend to lose a lot both in head room for the people and floor space for the chickens. And 25 chickens should ideally have at least 100 Ft2 of floor space inside the coop (4 / bird) especially if they may be 'cooped up' for awhile due to weather. That's just the coop itself, the run is seperate and should be at about 10 Ft2 per bird. Again, ideally.

 

[aart]

Yes I plan on getting the whole thing up to snuff with a lot of ventilation.i cannot do hardware cloth over the entire ends, as it gets to -35 here and I don't want them to get blowed on directly. After doing some more roost measurements today, I think I will try for 25 chickens.

What is your location?

Agreed. Simple equilateral triangle A-frames tend to lose a lot both in head room for the people and floor space for the chickens. And 25 chickens should ideally have at least 100 Ft2 of floor space inside the coop (4 / bird) especially if they may be 'cooped up' for awhile due to weather. That's just the coop itself, the run is seperate and should be at about 10 Ft2 per bird. Again, ideally.

The 4/10 thing is minimal....more may be needed in harsh winter climates.