How much time do chickens spend in their coop?

[homeycow]

I hope this is the right place for this question. I am designing a coop/run for 2 silkies and three unknown breed of bantams who are 4 weeks old right now. We have always had larger breed chickens that free range during the day, so I don't know how much time birds that don't free range actually spend in their coop during the day, versus how much time they spend in their run. My new babies are not going to free range, so I want their coop and run to be as perfect as possible.

I have found guidelines that tell me how much actual floor space they need. I want to use an existing small shed as their coop, which is roughly 7' by 4'. Can I scrimp on the coop size, since I plan to make their run extra large? Will they just be using their coop mostly to roost at night and lay their eggs? I just am guessing that they will spend most of their time in their run during the day, so I want to put most of my efforts there. (We are in north Texas, so not much cold in the winter, but very hot and humid in the summer.)

Oh, my, I hope this makes sense to someone! Thanks for any advice.

Robin

 

[consdrs]

I have a covered run. mine spend as little time as possible in the coop. they are there long enough to eat and lay an egg. (how ever long that takes...) I don't have food out side so they have to go in to eat. so they are in and out all day but they don't "hang out" there just for kicks.

 

[stowellka]

i'm in southern cal. so no freezing weather out here

but it does get in the 100's in summer
my peeps stay in the run all day and just go in there "sleeping area" @ night, i assumed that would be the case so i concentrated on there run being the main area.
i have three peeps and went by the guidline of at least 10 sq.ft per bird in the run,
but everyone will tell you "bigger is better" you might need room for expansion

 

[cterbizan]

Most will stay in the run area during the day and go in just to eat, lay eggs, roost, etc. A standard chicken needs at least 4 sq. ft. in the coop so I if you scrimp on about one or two sq. ft. for the bantams I think it will be ok.

 

[Dogfish]

Mine are in from 9pm to 6am now, and they spend the rest of the day outside, for the most part.

 

[homeycow]

Thanks, everyone. This is what I was hoping to hear. I think I'm gonna go for it!

I should have mentioned also that there is a 7' by 3' covered porch on the front of this shed, so they can get out of the rain without having to go into the coop.

Aren't chickens just the most fun?!

 

[92Pony]

I call mine lazy.

They spend more time than I would have thought inside the coop. Their run is 12x12 (for 5 birds), and mostly shaded. From time to time I'll look out and notice that noone is out - they're often inside taking a dirt bath (dirt-floored coop), or just hanging out. I guess they like their coop.

Wade

 

[patandchickens]

The larger the outdoor area of shade they have, the less time they generally spend indoors. So if you have a very generous-sized run and as much as possible of it is shaded (esp. the W side, so they have afternoon shade when it is hottest), the better they'll deal with scrimping on coop space.

A 4x7 coop seems pretty comfortably big (compared to what many people give 'em) for 5 small-and-bantam breed chickens *anyhow*

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Morgan7782]

I have two girls in a coop that is 2 x 4, so just enough room for two standards. Their run is 12 x 9, PLENTY huge for the two of them and the few others I am getting Thursday. I am getting a bigger coop to accomadate 4 laying hens though, but then their run will be a 5 x 5 run connected to the 12 x 9 run. Aside from that they spend from 8am(ish) to 8pm(ish) free in our yard which isn't huge, but big enough for them to enjoy

The coop I am getting from a friend is 15 or so square feet, so I will be skimping on 1 foot, BUT I will still have my 2 x 4 coop available in case anybody decided to sleep in there. They will have a choice between the bigger or smaller coop. I will have a max total of 4 hens (I think! LOL).

Even when my two pullets are free in the yard, they go back to their small coop and take naps. It's so funny I will go out to visit and not see them and FREAK out, turns out they are sleeping soundly in their coop lol. Both coops/runs will be in mostly shade, I am lucky to have a lot of shade in my backyard.

 

[cposz]

Year round, ours only go in the coop to sleep and lay.