How many chickens will fit in this coop & run?

[Ted Brown]

@3KillerBs has covered it but to amplify - your coop is barely sufficient for the four birds you have except when you have snow on the ground. If you have extended periods you will have stress issues.

Given the date I would focus on getting a roof on the run so that it remains available. Does not have to be elaborate, a tarp in a steep V (say over a pole/beam several feet above the top of the run) and attached to the run sides would work; extend one side to provide a wind break (north side?) would finish things nicely.

 

[Ambersquared]

@3KillerBs has covered it but to amplify - your coop is barely sufficient for the four birds you have except when you have snow on the ground. If you have extended periods you will have stress issues.

Given the date I would focus on getting a roof on the run so that it remains available. Does not have to be elaborate, a tarp in a steep V (say over a pole/beam several feet above the top of the run) and attached to the run sides would work; extend one side to provide a wind break (north side?) would finish things nicely.

Thanks for this info! It already has a clear polycarbonate roof panels on top and I did see someone do that on the sides while leaving enough to ventilate up top , so I was planning on trying that this year!

 

[Ted Brown]

Stats say Penn get 35-38 inches of snow in the winter. You may need to clear the roof to avoid a collapse.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Thanks for this info! It already has a clear polycarbonate roof panels on top and I did see someone do that on the sides while leaving enough to ventilate up top , so I was planning on trying that this year!

It looks great, and especially for your first building project--coops are surprisingly hard to build. Good on you for taking that on!

Besides the ventilation, you should add an opaque roof to the run. (Apologies if somebody's mentioned this already on this thread). A ray of sun could turn the run into a greenhouse and bake your chickens

Keeping them cool is critical and probably even more important than keeping them warm.
Since you already have the clear roof, you could layer opaque plastic sheeting or a tarp over the clear roof, then remove it on freezing days to help warm the run and coop. Boom, convertible roof.

We made a bachelor coop similar to yours and is about the same size. After a year, we bought a chassis for it, bolted a pallet to the top of the run for the tractor forks, and turned it into a mobile coop so we can move it around for fresh ground. We surround it with electrified poultry netting so they can range more safely; we're in the wild kingdom.

I would put MAX 4 birds in here, with plenty of time to range in the yard. Happy chickening!

 

[Ambersquared]

It looks great, and especially for your first building project--coops are surprisingly hard to build. Good on you for taking that on!

Besides the ventilation, you should add an opaque roof to the run. (Apologies if somebody's mentioned this already on this thread). A ray of sun could turn the run into a greenhouse and bake your chickens

Keeping them cool is critical and probably even more important than keeping them warm.
Since you already have the clear roof, you could layer opaque plastic sheeting or a tarp over the clear roof, then remove it on freezing days to help warm the run and coop. Boom, convertible roof.

We made a bachelor coop similar to yours and is about the same size. After a year, we bought a chassis for it, bolted a pallet to the top of the run for the tractor forks, and turned it into a mobile coop so we can move it around for fresh ground. We surround it with electrified poultry netting so they can range more safely; we're in the wild kingdom.

I would put MAX 4 birds in here, with plenty of time to range in the yard. Happy chickening!

I appreciate your response! I did think of that and since we are surrounded by trees, I chose the clear roofing so the gals can get as much sunshine as possible through the leaves since the trees block pretty much all of it throughout the day. I honestly love how this community is educating and taking their time to make sure all chickens are happy and safe! I appreciate this!
I would LOVE to have them free range all day. Honestly we have the space but right behind us is a heavily wooded area and we have TONS of foxes and eagles out here. I’d need to get something for up to protect them from both, which I’m more than happy to tackle on but I wanted to get them a space where they can be happy in the interim before slowly expanding. I’m thinking of a winter project so come spring time it’s ready for them!
By the way your coop is AMAZING and love the mobility of it!

 

[Ambersquared]

Stats say Penn get 35-38 inches of snow in the winter. You may need to clear the roof to avoid a collapse.

PA is large, so there may be areas here that get that much snow. I looked up what is online for my area and it says 13.1 inches and that’s accumulated.
I’ve also placed 3 wooden beams along the roofline to prevent any flying off or caving in though!

 

[HiEverybirdy]

I hear you about the predators. Ours still only range with supervision. Electric fencing (and dogs and vigilance) helped us carve out a chicken yard so they get plenty of exercise. We do close them in their runs when everyone leaves, for another level of security. I still don't trust bobcats and foxes not to find a way around the electric when we're not here.

You'll find what works for your space and your biddies as you go Your pictures show that you also have the best part of the whole setup covered: human seating near the coop! Nothing better than sitting with the birds.

I meant to 2nd @3KillerBs' point about the overhang. We always do a foot or more. Might seem like a lot until the first storm that gets rain or snow on your chickens. Ventilation's evidently crucial for respiratory health, but of course any openings in a building create issues (you can see my little plastic rain break tacked over part of the ventilation after a couple windy storms overcame this overhang). We did the same style ventilation on a 6x4' coop in the background of this photo, but with more overhang, and the windward window closes for cold/windy days, which is the jam.

Some people border the bottom of the overhang with a soffit/rake for more of a shield from the weather, and we may do that next. There's a great post somewhere on BYC about installing these, but I absolutely couldn't find it, sigh.

Our little coop was a rush job, and then temporary-to-permanent set in, so it still needs finishing touches like trim, but it's so functional. With yours, I think you'll really enjoy the height of the coop and how big you made the door on the back so it's easy to access the inside of the coop.

Lastly, have you thought about adding a hardware cloth apron around the outside of the run? Great use for your scraps and very recommended to keep those foxes out. If you have raccoons, I'd add locking latches to the doors, too.

 

[Ambersquared]

I hear you about the predators. Ours still only range with supervision. Electric fencing (and dogs and vigilance) helped us carve out a chicken yard so they get plenty of exercise. We do close them in their runs when everyone leaves, for another level of security. I still don't trust bobcats and foxes not to find a way around the electric when we're not here.

You'll find what works for your space and your biddies as you go Your pictures show that you also have the best part of the whole setup covered: human seating near the coop! Nothing better than sitting with the birds.

I meant to 2nd @3KillerBs' point about the overhang. We always do a foot or more. Might seem like a lot until the first storm that gets rain or snow on your chickens. Ventilation's evidently crucial for respiratory health, but of course any openings in a building create issues (you can see my little plastic rain break tacked over part of the ventilation after a couple windy storms overcame this overhang). We did the same style ventilation on a 6x4' coop in the background of this photo, but with more overhang, and the windward window closes for cold/windy days, which is the jam.

Some people border the bottom of the overhang with a soffit/rake for more of a shield from the weather, and we may do that next. There's a great post somewhere on BYC about installing these, but I absolutely couldn't find it, sigh.

Our little coop was a rush job, and then temporary-to-permanent set in, so it still needs finishing touches like trim, but it's so functional. With yours, I think you'll really enjoy the height of the coop and how big you made the door on the back so it's easy to access the inside of the coop.

Lastly, have you thought about adding a hardware cloth apron around the outside of the run? Great use for your scraps and very recommended to keep those foxes out. If you have raccoons, I'd add locking latches to the doors, too.

View attachment 3267943

I appreciate all this information and feedback! LOVE your coops and setup!

I will definitely look into the overhang and soffit/rake! It sounds like something that will definitely help! Thank you!

I will be skirting out the hardware clothe all around about a foot or two and adding some stones we have on top of that. You can kinda see some of the stones in the back where the bench is, those I will lift up and put the skirt underneath. We have LOTS of foxes around here. We also have locks with keys too because we have raccoons and those little genius guys are too smart for my liking haha.

 

[3KillerBs]

I will be skirting out the hardware clothe all around about a foot or two and adding some stones we have on top of that.

I can't see the stones you're referring to very well, but as a general principle don't put large stones or pavers on top of your apron because the digging predators instinctively dig at the edge of the visible hard barrier.

If that visible hard barrier is your coop wall then they come down onto the wire and get frustrated by the fact that digging doesn't work.

If that visible hard barrier is a row of pavers or rocks they dig at the edge of the rocks and go under the skirt.

It's usually recommended to go out at least 18" and to either allow grass to grow up through it or cover it with loose mulch.

 

[Ambersquared]

I can't see the stones you're referring to very well, but as a general principle don't put large stones or pavers on top of your apron because the digging predators instinctively dig at the edge of the visible hard barrier.

If that visible hard barrier is your coop wall then they come down onto the wire and get frustrated by the fact that digging doesn't work.

If that visible hard barrier is a row of pavers or rocks they dig at the edge of the rocks and go under the skirt.

It's usually recommended to go out at least 18" and to either allow grass to grow up through it or cover it with loose mulch.

Perfect! Will do! Thank you!