How many more hens can I fit comfortably?

[Chickenpants McGee]

I currently have 7 hens, and I’m wondering how many more I can safely and comfortably fit in my coop/pen. There are 8ish nesting areas in the coop, a few different places for them to sleep, and they have a MASSIVE pen for just the 7 of them. (Originally built for goats - it’s like 3000 sq ft). I only ever lock them in the coop if they’re already asleep and coyotes are around. So they’re just running all over the pen and coop freely. Basically, I have a small-ish building and a huge-ish pen, and I’d like to get as many hens as possible without causing issues. Ideas?
(Some pictures were taken while I was building the coop - there are more walls and things now )

 

[nuthatched]

those stairs are adorable! maybe add roosting bars, you have run room to add quite a few more chickens .

 

[Chickenpants McGee]

those stairs are adorable! maybe add roosting bars, you have run room to add quite a few more chickens .

Thank you! I have the two in the upstairs “apartment” lol, but maybe I should re-vamp the ground level one with a couple bars? Hmm

 

[nuthatched]

Thank you! I have the two in the upstairs “apartment” lol, but maybe I should re-vamp the ground level one with a couple bars? Hmm

I usually recommend 13"-16" (more for huge chickens like brahmas or Belifelders) of 'sittin' room' per chicken for the roost bars, maybe extend that second apartment and bars out.
There's a prominent user or mod with a guide to utilize space for tiny coops, I'll dig around for it.
I'm in the same (a tad smaller) boat, 7x7x6 coop and 70ish x 30ish run.

Edit: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/coop-stack-up-how-high-stuff-works-well.73427/

 

[rosemarythyme]

The coop is very cute but hard to tell how much actual space is in there. Is the upstairs supposed to be the coop, or the entire unit up and down with the chicken wire in front? Looks like there's more roosts downstairs or am I mistaken? Are the nest boxes the spaces next to the roost? Get a tape measure and find out: 1) how much total roost bar you have and 2) how much total inside floor space you have, minus nesting boxes.

Your run is obviously very roomy so that's no issue, though you should consider adding some clutter to the run especially during integration, to give chickens a way to hide from others if things get a little feisty in there.

 

[aart]

The coop is very cute but hard to tell how much actual space is in there.

My thoughts exactly.


Probably better to open up the coop, remove interior walls and 'apartments'.

 

[Chickenpants McGee]

My thoughts exactly.


Probably better to open up the coop, remove interior walls and 'apartments'.

I plan on adding some things to the pen, just haven’t gotten around to it yet. I had three girls originally, and got four more. The first few weeks they stayed in the bottom “apartment” - so it’s nice that they have a separate space if they’re not getting along. The bottom was designed differently because I initially planned on getting a couple ducks. I’ve added another bar to the bottom area, but the way it’s built I can’t exactly take out walls. Right now, all 7 of my girls sleep upstairs, but they lay eggs in the upper and lower nests. There are four nests in the upper area, and two on the ground level.

 

[Poppy Putentake]

Two questions:

Just what are the measurments of the interior of your coop?

Do the chickens adapt well to using that spiral starway? Do you think it they like it as much as they would a straight ramp? Do they often just jump or fly linstead of using the stairs?