How many in here would you say???

[Bratty477]

I would watch them as they roam in the yard Mine when they free range just use the ground with the exception of my bantum roo who likes to jump up high to crow.

Inside my coop they range my Brahma and my Silkie roo roost aprox 2 ft off the ground (Brahma is a heavy breed and she doesnt like the leap, Silkies dont have flight feathers per say so he only goes as high as he can jump)

I have others mid range and a few that like to roost at the very top of the coop about 8 ft high.

Some of my ladies do like to roost at night in the run and just use the coop for laying.

I would make the run area taller I would go at least as high as the coop if you are going to expand just so they can flap and jump if they want to. 3 or 4 ft high. How elaborate you want it to be since it is basically a safe zone when you go on vacation consider how many vacations you take and remember if they dont like it for the first vacation you can expand again if need arises before the next one.

They do spend most of the time just using the ground when they free range ... occasional spurts of flying that startled me at first because I didn't realize chickens could get off the ground like that. I suppose they're still young and as they get older (and heavier), they won't be lifting off the ground as much. I just wanted to make sure they have enough freedom to go play as free as they'd like.

We're not carpenters so can't be too elaborate but it would be nice to make the run larger so that it's easier to let them free range on a permanent basis regardless of our vacation schedule. We don't get out of town that often at all for a prolonged period of time other than maybe once every two years.

 

[Bratty477]

IMO
your coop is fine since you free range for the most part have only 3 chickens who only use it at night and for laying eggs. Since you are aware that it is too small for 24/7 I would for vacation add at least 30sq ft of run space 4 ft tall.

so off the side that is 3 ft wide by 10ft long.

You can cover the run if you like all or in part and that would also give you space to hang a larger feeder and waterer in the run area.

I love that idea of adding to the side too ... I have the space but was debating where exactly to extend and the side is actually a lot less complicated and I do want the space to hang a feeder and waterer. Thank you!!!!

 

[tjo804]

this is my pre-fab I am currently working on improving to house a few bantum cochin and silkies. It is not as sturdy as I would like and it said 6-8 chickens I laughed but not everyone would. I plan to go up with a 3' high run the full length close off the bottom of existing to make a top coop that is open air or closed off. with the run under it. and in all honesty in the end it will most likely still be used only as a brooder/grower.

Here it is with some of my full size hens checkin it out with the babies last year can you imagine 6 not I.

 

[Bratty477]

this is my pre-fab I am currently working on improving to house a few bantum cochin and silkies. It is not as sturdy as I would like and it said 6-8 chickens I laughed but not everyone would. I plan to go up with a 3' high run the full length close off the bottom of existing to make a top coop that is open air or closed off. with the run under it. and in all honesty in the end it will most likely still be used only as a brooder/grower.

Here it is with some of my full size hens checkin it out with the babies last year can you imagine 6 not I.

Very cute!! You're right...I can't possibly see how 6 chickens would fit!

 

[Odelia]

Very cute!! You're right...I can't possibly see how 6 chickens would fit!

Well that all depends on your breed of chicken. I wouldn't have any problem putting 6 mille fleur d'uccle in it. Granted they are about the size of a pigeon, but they are still chickens. As far as standard size chickens..2 maybe.

 

[Bratty477]

Well that all depends on your breed of chicken. I wouldn't have any problem putting 6 mille fleur d'uccle in it. Granted they are about the size of a pigeon, but they are still chickens. As far as standard size chickens..2 maybe.

Being so new to backyard chickens, I was only thinking the standard sized chickens. I'm learning every day that there are way more varieties than I can keep up with! Yes, if I had smaller birds, it would work much better!

 

[Odelia]

The manufacturer has the specs below. At the moment, I have 3 hens (1 buff orpington, 1 golden sexlink, 1 barred rock). They're about 6 months old and I was wondering if the run space on the first floor of the pic is big enough for them to stay in 24/7 if we go on vacation? I usually let them run around and play in a much bigger netted pen area in our backyard but only while I'm supervising because we have coyotes and hawks in our area. Being new to the backyard chicken thing, I just want to make sure they're going to be safe and happy.

If I buy a second comparable coop to move one of the three hens out to maximize space, will that single hen (and the other two) be ok? She has had the other two with her all her 6 months of life and wondering what separation will do to all three of them? Sorry if these questions seem silly but I've grown so attached to them already I'm worrying about everything!

• Dimensions: 63L x 41.5W x 48H inches
• Capacity: 3-4 Chickens

I don't completely understand your measurements. Are they the size of the coop, or the run? When figuring out your square footage you need to look at both spaces. I believe it is the size of the run which is about 18 sq. ft. That would make your coop about 9 sq. ft. as it looks to be about half the size of the run. Giving you a total of 27 sq. ft. If that is so then I am going to be unpopular and say you don't have a problem. That is to say for three birds you could never let them free range and they would be fine with the amount of space given. If you want to expand your flock then you would need to look at expanding or replacing your coop. There is no need to spend the money building them a new coop or a new run. You let them free range when you are home and you have said that your chicken sitter can let them out a few times while you are gone. If you feel guilty then leave them some extra treats for while you are gone. Yes my chickens like to fly when they are first let out of the coop. They do it once or twice and then they are done for the day. You don't need to build them a coop that they can fly in. Also yes as they get older and heavier they don't do so as much. Look at it like this. Is it nice to jog or run for short periods of time especially when you are younger? Does that mean you need to set up your house for running? For me having a taller run isn't about my birds. It makes it much easier for me to get in and clean. I have a six foot run and my birds don't fly inside of it. They flap and jump up and down from the roost in it and that is all. Unless you are building a VERY large run there isn't the space before you start hitting the walls. Stop feeling guilty and enjoy your vacation. If you girls spend a week in their coop once every two years they are still some very lucky chickens. They have a far, far better life than 99.9% of the chickens in the world.

 

[Bratty477]

Yes, your measurements are correct ... the coop is half the space of the run and you have a point. I shouldn't be investing in space for their occasional spurts of airborne moments that will only diminish with time. This forum is so great!! Every post leaves me with something to think about. Thank you! I feel like I have so much to learn but am learning a little every day!!!

 

[tjo804]

No worries you are not unpopular I agree to an extent.

My problem with the pre-fab is that there is really no room for food and water I did have a roo in my pullets last year and he stayed in the brooder fab until he was aprox 20 weeks old and I felt really bad for him. if the food and water sources were built into the design I might fully agree but I think the extra space is needed for necessary supplies. as well as to stretch out tall. but that is just my opinion given my experience with the one I purchased.

 

[Odelia]

No worries you are not unpopular I agree to an extent.

My problem with the pre-fab is that there is really no room for food and water I did have a roo in my pullets last year and he stayed in the brooder fab until he was aprox 20 weeks old and I felt really bad for him. if the food and water sources were built into the design I might fully agree but I think the extra space is needed for necessary supplies. as well as to stretch out tall. but that is just my opinion given my experience with the one I purchased.

I am looking to build one of the large plumbing pipe feeders. Even though I build a nice size run and started with a decent size coop I hate how much space is used up by a traditional feeder. If I had a smaller coop I would definitely do a pvc pipe nipple waterer that does not take any of the floor space and a plumbing pipe feeder. That also does not eat up floor space. I have seen one company that builds coops that integrates these into their design. This would reduce waste and keep their water clean while giving them more living space. Though most prefab coops are overpriced and inadequate the one in question looks to be one of the nicest and most practical I have seen. It also is one of the few that gave a fairly reasonable number for how many birds it could house.