How many chickens?

[rebirdchild]

I have a 6ft by 3 1/2ft chicken coop and i was wondering how many chickens i could fit in there at the most. The run is 6 by 12 but they will free range daily.

 

[FireTigeris]

coop = 6*3.5 = 21 square feet

coop = 4 square feet per standard bird, more is better. ... 5 standard sized birds.

Run 6*12= 72 square feet

run = 10 square feet per any bird, more is better ... 7 standard sized birds.

You are limited to 5 at your coop size.

Hope this helps.

 

[karlamaria]

4/5 tops in your coop

 

[Steeler Chick]

I read on BYC that if you had a large run for them the space inside could the coop be 2 sq ft per chicken.

Here is what I currently have. The coop is 8x8 and is 8 feet tall. The coop sits in a 12x40 totally secure run ( it was an old dog run ), it is concrete and chainlink fencing. I am also going to add an additional space outside of this that will be dirt. It will be another 10x10 semi secure.

I am getting 27 chickens on July 9th and they are all large breeds (orpingtons, cochins, wyandottes, brahmas etc.) I know the outside space it plenty big but I am guessing the coop is too small?

Now since the concrete run is 100% secure, in the summer I could leave them out in it all night if that would help them. In the winter would be different of course.

Thoughts? Thanks in advance for any advice!

AmyT

 

[FireTigeris]

height won't matter much, they need about one foot each on the roost for standard sized birds, if you have height and can make the rost so they aren't pooping on each other...

Commercial places keep birds in one*one*one cubes and take off half their beaks- for their productive lives...but we all think that's cruel- I would not suggest 2 square feet unless you have time for cannibalism or feather picking and harder clean up (smaller space - same amount of poop.

coop - 8*8= 64 at 4 square feet each @ = 16 chickens

besides if you don't have a completely safe run- from above and through the bars on the chain-link (bad things can get through chain link- snakes and weasels, coon reach through...also rats) that the coop can be opened to all the time if you go on vacation, or are sick, or it's bad weather they will be stuck until you go out, this WILL be a problem as the coop is too small also conciser the amount of ventilation you'll need to prevent drafts but keep air flow.


run 12*40 + 10*10 - this needs to be fully secure or things will get access to the coop from here) =
580 @ 10 square feet each is 58 chickens.

Now I have a fully secure coop and run, 1/3 of the run is covered and raised so it effectively gives me a larger coop especially in the hot or the rain. (I'm in FL)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/album/view/id/6177963/user_id/44847


I have flooring (both wood and vinyl) but the ground is accessible and there' an extra kiddy pool of dust for baths.

I have a kiddy pool of water and an additional 5 gallon water dispenser.

The food is dispensed into a kiddy pool to keep waste down.

to keep critters out you'll need no holes bigger then 1/2 inch * 1/2 inch-

 

[srd5757]

I have read 2-4 sq feet per bird for the coop. It should be bigger if they have a very small run or if you have harsh winters where they'll stay inside more.
Also, I believe that number is based on lengh x width x height. We built the purina coop (4x4x4) and it said it would fit 8 full size hens comfortably. I have 6 now with room to spare.
So, I think if your coop is more than 1 foot tall you should be able to fit more bids in there easily.

 

[Steeler Chick]

So am going to need to add on to what I have for a coop. There is a covered porch on the coop already that I can easily screen in with th 1/2*1/2 material, that would add another 24 sq ft. Plus the same material around the bottom portion of the run to keep the small critters out along with the raccoons paws. That will give them some more breathing room until I can expand the coop.

I have some time since my chickens aren't even born yet. I will watch them carefully for the signs of them being too crowded. Now I just have to figure out structurally how to expand the coop.

I really appreciate your insight on this!

 

[FireTigeris]

So am going to need to add on to what I have for a coop. There is a covered porch on the coop already that I can easily screen in with th 1/2*1/2 material, that would add another 24 sq ft. Plus the same material around the bottom portion of the run to keep the small critters out along with the raccoons paws. That will give them some more breathing room until I can expand the coop.

I have some time since my chickens aren't even born yet. I will watch them carefully for the signs of them being too crowded. Now I just have to figure out structurally how to expand the coop.

I really appreciate your insight on this!

Like mine you could enclose some of the large run 5 of 6 sides (floor and 2 sides and roof) - and provide roost in that area.