Hubby and I dissagree on coop size...

[Balboaroc]

So we are in the planning stages of all of this and really would like to have our coop done in the next 2 months or so. To save money and a bit of time I looked online at good ol' Craigslist for sheds or coops.

I found one that is the "little barn" style and is a 6x6. Great price and in near perfect condition. Has a full size door in the front and I figured we could cut a chicken size door out the other size (with access to a run we will build). Also put the nesting boxes on one side, roost on the other. He thinks this is way too small and is looking for something along the lines of at least 10x10. I'm not opposed I'm just thinking here is a great deal and chickens don't need quite that much room. I mean if we can find something used and save the time of building from scratch why not?

We are only planning on getting about 8 chickens max and most likely won't have a Rooster. Would the little barn sheds work? I can't see why it wouldn't....

Thanks.

Amber

 

[coffeemama]

The little one will work fine for that many hens as long as you have ample run or free range.

I think....anyone have those chicken space calculations?

 

[cluckychick]

You have to figure 4sqft per chicken in your house. I would go with hubby, bigger is always better

If you say max, double it. I said 5 max and now I have like 25

 

[allen wranch]

That's right. Always build bigger than you think you need.

You will ALWAYS get more chickens eventually.

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

I was looking for a small coop for my first chicken experiment - hubby insisted on the 8x12 we have now - then as time went on, he built me three more coops -

go with the bigger coop - your hubby is right on this one

meri

 

[Balboaroc]

Thanks guys! Yeah I'm worried about my potential chicken addition. At first we said no way, no rooster. Now we keep "thinking" about it LOL. I'm sure by the time this is over we'll probably end up with one.

 

[Indiana hens]

Definitely too small. I figured that 20x 40 is plenty!LOL! No I am serious!

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Technically, the 6x6 is plenty big enough, for 8 chickens. It gives them 4.5 sq ft per bird. But like many of the other have said, you almost always end up wanting more.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Get the 6x6 coop. Use it for your first batch of chickens. Get the 10 X10 coop use it for more chickens. Convert the 6x6 coop into aq brooder coop or breeding coop. This will happen, unless you have limited space, like I do. Just accept it and go with the flow. We will all be here to help to, all you need to do is go to the breed threads and you will learn......

 

[Indiana hens]

Ok, 6x6.