How Many Hens Can Live in the Coop??

[Randy17]

Hello all! It has been awhile since I have been here. I am thing of adding some more hens to the flock and I was wondering how many hens would a 8x8 coop with a 6 foot high ceiling house comfortably?
I currently have 8 Red Stars and was thinking of adding some Buff Orphingtons or some Leghorns.



Randy

 

[Indiana hens]

Free ranging : 100 in the winter, 50 in the summer

 

[jforsness]

With plenty of perch space, you should be able to house 20 Birds comfortably.

 

[katrinag]

Each bird needs 3-4 Sq Ft.

 

[mrsgibber]

I have the same question but on a different size coop. How many can I comfortably house in a 4' by 4' by 6' tall at peak? There are three nexting boxes and the roosting pole is 4' across. I plan to have four hens but would like to add a fifth if there is enough comfortable space. They will not be free ranging all the time. Usually in a run 25' x 25'.

 

[CovenantCreek]

Quote:
With a run, they should have approx 4 square ft per bird -- which would be only 4 in your coop, but a fifth would probably be okay. It's also recommended that they have about 12 inches of roost space per bird -- is it possible to add another roost?

 

[speckledhen]

REally depends on the size of your breeds. I find larger standards, like the huge Blue Orpingtons, really need more than the rule-of thumb space of 4 sf of floor space per bird. In my original 8x8 coop, an even dozen was a great number, easy to clean and okay when they had to be confined to the inside. Mine did freerange, too.

 

[mrsgibber]

Quote:
With a run, they should have approx 4 square ft per bird -- which would be only 4 in your coop, but a fifth would probably be okay. It's also recommended that they have about 12 inches of roost space per bird -- is it possible to add another roost?

no, the way it is set up there is the roost pole on one side and the nesting boxes on the other. I guess I will have to stick with my original four.

 

[mrsgibber]

Quote:
I am getting a buff orrington, barred rock, EE & austrolorp. I was thinking of adding a RIR.

 

[morelcabin]

Go ahead and add the RIR, it won't make that much of a difference really. I have 6 barred rock hens and two roosters that make room for each other on a 3 1/2-4 ft roost...It keeps them warmer at night around here:>) I'm planning on at least 20 birds for my 6x10 pen this summer...and probably keeping them all for the winter as well.