how many chickens?

[cami]

i have a 4.5x3 ft. coop with 2 nest boxes and i already have 2 BOs 2 silky hens and 1 silky roo and 1 aracona
they all free range can i add 1 Americana/EE?

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Most will say that you are overloaded as it is, but if they free range all the time, and have a covered run area for bad weather, I'd say try it. I'm WAY over the recommended density, but mine range all day every day, and have a sheltered run for rainy days. We don't have much in the way of predators, so I never have to lock them up.

If they start showing signs of feather plucking or aggression you may have to build something larger or get rid of some birds.

 

[cami]

ok thanks and yeah they free range all day and their is a small forest that they go into when they get wet. there are absolutely no predators besides hawks (iv only seen one since i got my chickens) and they have never landed in the area the chickens free range in or even tried to get the chickens. ill look out for feather loss, pecking, ect...

 

[E.G.Glayer]

Overcrowding is less of a problem in the spring, summer, and fall but winter, when the weather turns cold that coop gets full quick when they dont want to come out. I try to keep mine to a level that will allow the birds to remain confined during these times without causing trouble. I dont like to have a problem before i fix it. 7 P's = Prior Proper Planning Prevents (Piss) Poor Performance

To me it seems like you have enough in that coop, the solution is to build on or add another coop since too many chickens are never enough.

If you are in a warm climate area then it might not be a problem.

 

[cami]

im not really in a warm climate but how cold is it where you live? here it dosent get under about 35 F is that to cold for them?
the BOs and the silkies are supposed to be good in winter

 

[E.G.Glayer]

My chickens will come outside and mill around as long as the temps are above 20-25 degrees or so. I live in SW OH so temps in Jan / Feb can get down in the teens or lower and stay there for days. If we have snow they will still come out if its just a dusting but they will not get out in the deeper snow unless I shovel them out. I'm not sure who owns who?

 

[BeardedLadyFarm]

Quote:
If your low is 35, you should be okay. Even when I wasn't overcrowded, and when the temps would get in the teens, some of my birds just prefer to roost in the run. After a couple weeks of fighting them, I just let them do it. 35 isn't all that cold for most chickens.

 

[cami]

ok good last year it only got cold enough to snow twice...then it didnt snow....but thats western Washington for ya