How many should fit?

[Sparrowsong98]

I have two chickens who cannot go in with my others due to problems with attacking that I have been trying to solve with no luck. I would like to build these two a coop in a side pen I have, and would like to purchase two friends for them, but do not know if I have the space for the friends. I have an 8x8-10x10 or so pen to work with. I would ideally be putting the coop in the pen, unless that would take away the space nessesary for 3-4 hens. If I raised the coop so they could get underneath, would that be enough space? The coop needs to be 4x4 or whereabouts right?

 

[MyISAbrownhens]

If your not free ranging the hens, there needs to be 10 square feet per chicken in the pen, and about 2-3 square feet per chicken in the coop.

 

[jthornton]

It really depends on your definition of a coop, In my case the only function my coop serves is a place to roost at night and nothing else. I have 10 full size birds in a 4' x 5' coop with room to spare. I have 11' of roosts in the "coop" and they only use 1/2 of that. My roost is about 10" above the floor so they can just hop up and down. If your roost is 3-4' off the floor you need a much bigger space for them to fly down. Their nest box is in the wall of the run which is about 8' x 12' plus under the coop for a total of about 120 square feet of secure space. They eat and drink in the run and dust bath in tubby under the ramp. At sunrise I let them out into the chicken yard which is about 1600 square feet or so. I feel my setup could comfortably hold 12 birds. The "size rules" are only a guide and only useful if you have an all in one coop.

JT

 

[Sparrowsong98]

It really depends on your definition of a coop, In my case the only function my coop serves is a place to roost at night and nothing else. I have 10 full size birds in a 4' x 5' coop with room to spare. I have 11' of roosts in the "coop" and they only use 1/2 of that. My roost is about 10" above the floor so they can just hop up and down. If your roost is 3-4' off the floor you need a much bigger space for them to fly down. Their nest box is in the wall of the run which is about 8' x 12' plus under the coop for a total of about 120 square feet of secure space. They eat and drink in the run and dust bath in tubby under the ramp. At sunrise I let them out into the chicken yard which is about 1600 square feet or so. I feel my setup could comfortably hold 12 birds. The "size rules" are only a guide and only useful if you have an all in one coop.

JT

I was hoping to put in their food, and (but hopefully never) use it to lock them up if something is on the loose, or it is too cold. The run would be where they spent most of their time, and while I would like six, and have the run space if I connected the two side pens, the other one is for quarantine and I do not want my birds in there.

 

[aart]

I have two chickens who cannot go in with my others due to problems with attacking that I have been trying to solve with no luck

If you are already having trouble integrating new birds, or birds attacking one another, then I would strongly suggest that you not add any more birds. Solve the 'attacking' problem first.

Please measure areas accurately, then post pics of your coop(s) and run(s)...
.....and add your location to your profile.