How many chickens will fit? 8?

[CHlCKEN]

Nesting boxes are accessed from outside. Poop boards are kinda in an L? Here's the sketch that I did:
View attachment 2306662
In the top left corner you can see the sketch. It's to scale, with one square being 6 inches square. The poop boards are 2 feet off the ground so there is plenty of space for the chickens to be under them. There is a ramp up to the poop boards for easy access.

I current,y have 8 (3 grown hens, 4 3 month pullets) squeezes into one small plastic coop. I don’t know what to do about a new coop, I bought it for my flock of 4, (now at 3 adult hens 2 layers) But with the addition of my 4 pullets I’m not sure what I should do. I think your coop will fit 8 (more like seven but you could fit 8) good sized hens and like 9 silkies or bantams

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

I would really love to have a silkie (or more than one) because they are just so cute and fluffy and I love them. Do you think that increasing the space or number of silkies could help? I actually just told my friend today (she desperately wants one but her parents won't get more chickens) that I was planning on getting one and she was so excited.

I had a bantam Silkie once. It was a rooster, and he was the only silkie I had. Now, he had a flock of bantams to be with, but he held his own against the neighbor's CL (which the fox got), our standard hens, and our standard size EE rooster.

So I think it could be do-able, but she might just need some chickens her size.

ETA: I know you have a limit on chickens, but just wanted to share my experience. Good luck!

 

[black_cat]

I had a bantam Silkie once. It was a rooster, and he was the only silkie I had. Now, he had a flock of bantams to be with, but he held his own against the neighbor's CL (which the fox got), our standard hens, and our standard size EE rooster.

So I think it could be do-able, but she might just need some chickens her size.

Would going with the option of a standard (albeit on the smaller side of standard) silkie better?

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Would going with the option of a standard (albeit on the smaller side of standard) silkie better?

I would say probably. I've never had them (standard size) before so I'm not 100% sure, but I'd say there's a good chance of a yes.

 

[black_cat]

I would say probably. I've never had them (standard size) before so I'm not 100% sure, but I'd say there's a good chance of a yes.

MPC offers (VERY expensive) silkied easter eggers. All white feathers, silkied, black skin, standard size, and blue eggs. Very expensive, but also very appealing to me.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

MPC offers (VERY expensive) silkied easter eggers. All white feathers, silkied, black skin, standard size, and blue eggs. Very expensive, but also very appealing to me.

OOH!! They sound pretty!

 

[black_cat]

OOH!! They sound pretty!

(pic from MPC website)

 

[black_cat]

I think that instead of silkie, I'll go for this standard size version (with the benefit of blue eggs)
My revised plans look like this:
Leghorn (currently owned)
1-3 RSLs (currently owned, I'd like to keep all three but may have to strike a deal with parents, so I'm saying more likely 2)
Silver Laced Cochin
Easter Egger
Black Copper Marans
Silkied Easter egger
Barred Rock (I think that I'll be able to push that extra space)
Speckled Sussex (if I keep 3 or fewer RSLs)
Olive Egger (if I keep 2 or fewer RSLs)
Black Australorp (if I only keep one RSL)

 

[black_cat]

The other version of my revised plans:
Don't keep any current hens (parents may do this)
Silver Laced Cochin
Easter Egger
Black Copper Marans
Silkied Easter Egger
Barred Rock

1 Year later:
White Leghorn
Speckled Sussex
Olive Egger
Black Australorp (I realize that this is basically the same but still)

 

[black_cat]

So, poop boards: is it really too small to have any? I think that they would work really well for me, and I'd like to try to add some. How large should the poop boards be, if I were to put some in?