How many will be good in this?

[Chugosh]

I got a chicken tractor free on "freecycle" and am in the process of cleaning and rebuilding it. I have only even been considering chickens for a week or so when this came up, and so here I am with a pen and coop way sooner than I ever expected. It's all down to a friend giving me a couple dozen huge dark brown eggs of simply superior quality to anything I'd ever gotten from a store.

But I need some education and advice, here.
How many chickens should this set up hold? The folks I got it from said they had as many as ten in here, but that seems a little crowdy.
What modifications should I make that would improve the whole experience for me and my flock? I'm thinking an egg door in one side, and putting in a skylight of translucent corrugated fiberglass.

Really any ideas or advice is appreciated!
Wow! This really is happening!

 

[canesisters]

Welcome to BYC Chugosh!!

I can't see the picture you posted

But the basic idea is something like 4 sq feet /bird inside the coop and 10 sq feet /bird in the run (I think). I have an 8'x8' coop that takes up a corner of a 30'x30' run. I have 6 birds in it and they seem to have PLENTY of room. I'm adding to the flock this summer so we'll see which happens first - either I decide that I've got enough chickens (haha) or I end up having to expand their space.

 

[Chugosh]

Sorry. It is a video on youtube. The pen is about 4ft by 6ft and the coop is 4ft by 4ft. They are supposed to bolt together to make a tractor. I reckon it will work just fine with a bit of bolting and nailing and a couple of wheels. It sounds like it might work best with four chickens, if my math isn't messed up too bad.

And thanks for the welcome!

 

[WildBilly]

Welcome!

 

[canesisters]

What breeds are you thinking of getting? Ya know, smaller birds = more birds/sq foot

Personally, I've found that I'm partial to the BIG ones. And the little bitty ones. And any that are unusual looking. And the classic looking ones. And ones that lay eggs. And ....

 

[cowsr4eating]

I would suggest you check out the predator section of this site to give you some ideas. I read somewhere recently there that chicken wire is designed to keep chickens in but doesn't keep predators out, and that is true. Speaking from someone who has lost birds to snakes, hawks, owls, dogs, coyotes and foxes, you will want your flock to be secure as possible. I lost 6 birds one day because they could stick their heads through my woven wired run (that I thought was very secure) and a fox bit all of their heads off. I will never understand why they didn't stay away from it after it got the first one. Good Luck!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would definitely do something different with the roof of the coop itself so it will shed rain rather then hold standing water. Although if you put in translucent corrugated fiber glass you may turn it into a green house. A solid roof would be better and then make some windows on the sides for better ventilation. I would add a pop door for night time security and cover the windows with hardware cloth. Same with the run. I'd rip off all that chicken wire and replace with hardware cloth. Just about any predator will rip right through chicken wire.

 

[QuietPony]

That's a good score for free! You can always add on to the cooper area and and run, but it's a great start! I would reinforce that chicken wire on the run with hardware cloth for your chickens safety.
Because you know, everyone loves to eat chicken. Good luck!

 

[EweSheep]

I agree with above posts! If you don't want to take the time to rip all that chicken wire out, you can lay the hardware wire on top of it. It might look a little bit "busy" but it is up to you in what you want to do.

Welcome and I am sure you will enjoy your girls! Four to five is a good number! I've got a 4 x 7 vinyl shed with a 4 x 16 run and I was able to get at least ten to twelve hens max in there.

 

[Chris Sebastian]

its a little rough around the edges, but i will go ahead and answer you're question.... that should easily hold 4-5 standard hens, and 6-8 bantams. alot of people say this may be to many but i know many people that have some crowding and it will still work out fine