I need some advice before I buy a coop.

[cherrynberry]

I say as 2-3 chickens honestly

We got one of these "pre-made" coops, we did not even buy it, it came with two chickens we got, and I agree. In my opinion, 2 is max. I dont think it would be able to fit 3 chickens. Most pre-fab coops are roughly the same (looks, size, description). It is a lot smaller than it looks. If I were you, I would consider getting the coop and maybe getting a flock of quail?

 

[cherrynberry]

We got one of these "pre-made" coops, we did not even buy it, it came with two chickens we got, and I agree. In my opinion, 2 is max. I dont think it would be able to fit 3 chickens. Most pre-fab coops are roughly the same (looks, size, description). It is a lot smaller than it looks. If I were you, I would consider getting the coop and maybe getting a flock of quail?

I meant this for @pinkjellybeans quail are really nice!

 

[pinkjellybeans]

Two square meters of house space is good for about 5 chickens. One Square Meter of run space is good for one chicken. You need both - house and run space (though a raised coop allows some of that space to do "double duty", house above, run below.

The space you've suggested as your total available area, 3m x 10m is plenty adequate for the number of bird proposed, "roomy" even, by most standards.

Oh ok, so I'm not stupid in thinking that is space enough for 10 chickens right? (it's 4m x 10m actually). It's just the coop that is too small?

But I'm a bit confused, if 2 square meters is enough for 5 chickens, why is this coop only fitted for 2? It's almost a meter wide, and around 2 meters of length. Surely it can fit at least 3 or 4? Especially when it has space above (and I plan to put an extra perch too).

Still, it's too small since I wanted at least 6 chickens. I though that, since they'll have access to the run 90% of their awake time, that a smaller coop wouldn't be too much of a problem. Thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think I'll have the time to learn and build a coop myself.

 

[neo71665]

Without trying to discourage you take what most premade coops given suggestions and divide it by at least half. More often than not that is even pushing it.

 

[cherrynberry]

Oh ok, so I'm not stupid in thinking that is space enough for 10 chickens right? (it's 4m x 10m actually). It's just the coop that is too small?

But I'm a bit confused, if 2 square meters is enough for 5 chickens, why is this coop only fitted for 2? It's almost a meter wide, and around 2 meters of length. Surely it can fit at least 3 or 4? Especially when it has space above (and I plan to put an extra perch too).

Still, it's too small since I wanted at least 6 chickens. I though that, since they'll have access to the run 90% of their awake time, that a smaller coop wouldn't be too much of a problem. Thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think I'll have the time to learn and build a coop myself.

I would still buy it! quail dont need as much space!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Oh ok, so I'm not stupid in thinking that is space enough for 10 chickens right? (it's 4m x 10m actually). It's just the coop that is too small?

But I'm a bit confused, if 2 square meters is enough for 5 chickens, why is this coop only fitted for 2? It's almost a meter wide, and around 2 meters of length. Surely it can fit at least 3 or 4? Especially when it has space above (and I plan to put an extra perch too).

Still, it's too small since I wanted at least 6 chickens. I though that, since they'll have access to the run 90% of their awake time, that a smaller coop wouldn't be too much of a problem. Thanks for the suggestions, but I don't think I'll have the time to learn and build a coop myself.

Unless my math is wrong, the house here is about 1 square meter of floor space. Roughly 11 square feet. The usual recommend is 4 sq ft of FLOOR space per bird in a house. So technically, room for three birds. But its important that nesting birds, particularly in bad weather, be draft free - and this house has an open window/door onto half the house space, depriving the birds of the ability to shelter there. Nor can you simply cover it - it appears to be the only ventilation for the whole house.

You don't count the nest box, because birds who roost in nest boxes poop in nest boxes - and your preference would be not to gather poopy eggs.

Below, the whole run measures about 1m x 2m, about 22 square feet. The general rule of thumb is 10 sq ft per bird of floor space in the run.

Thus, 2 birds. You need to meet the minimums for house space AND run space. Or have a combined house run (which means a run sheltered on multiple sides - not open wire) of at least 10-12 sq ft per bird for small flocks.

 

[pinkjellybeans]

Unless my math is wrong, the house here is about 1 square meter of floor space. Roughly 11 square feet. The usual recommend is 4 sq ft of FLOOR space per bird in a house. So technically, room for three birds. But its important that nesting birds, particularly in bad weather, be draft free - and this house has an open window/door onto half the house space, depriving the birds of the ability to shelter there.

You don't count the nest box, because birds who roost in nest boxes poop in nest boxes - and your preference would be not to gather poopy eggs.

Below, the whole run measures about 1m x 2m, about 22 square feet. The general rule of thumb is 10 sq ft per bird of floor space in the run.

Thus, 2 birds. You need to meet the minimums for house space AND run space. Or have a combined house run (which means a run sheltered on multiple sides - not open wire) of at least 10-12 sq ft per bird for small flocks.

Hmm, I see. My question is, why do chickens need that much space in a coop if they'll be using it only when sleeping? Let's say we close the door only at night when they are already sleeping and open at dawn, would that make any difference? In my experience chickens sleep on the perch next to each other like this:

So if I add an extra 1 meter perch, along with the ones inside the house, it would be enough space in my mind, but then again, the last time I had any chickens was 15 years ago, haha.

As for the openness of the coop, some summer nights can be really hot. During colder winters it's easy to cover those windows so the chickens feel more tucked in and warmer.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Hello! I'm in the process of planning everything to build a coop and a run for some chickens. I want to sort all the details out before I finalize each decision and before I buy or build anything. Here's some info:

• Plan to get 10 chickens of different breeds
• The space for the coop + run (in meters) is roughly 10m x 4m.

I'm not a handy person, so I'll have to buy a coop and the best (and cheapest, money is tight) that I've seen is this one:

View attachment 2679391

On the description it says that it can fit 6 to 12 chickens, but I'd still like some opinions.
It has two egg nests and I plan to put a wooden pole across (in the middle of the coop) so the chickens will have more space to sleep on. My plan is for them to spend all day on the run so the coop would be their egg/sleeping place mostly. But I might not be able to open the door when they wake up, so they'll have to spend a few hours inside. My concern is mostly that. Do you think it's ok for them to spend a couple of hours inside even if it's a bit cramped? The run is not huge, so I think it's better to have a small coop and a larger run, right?

Thanks in advance!

This is what I started out with for 3 ladies and they were crammed in there! It HAD to be cleaned every week because of the poop build up in that tiny space. If I would have known what I know now I would have never bought it and just built one like I ended up doing after 5 months anyway. It served its purpose, but they really are junk, and no way do they fit as many birds as they claim.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Hmm, I see. My question is, why do chickens need that much space in a coop if they'll be using it only when sleeping? Let's say we close the door only at night when they are already sleeping and open at dawn, would that make any difference? In my experience chickens sleep on the perch next to each other like this:

View attachment 2679616
So if I add an extra 1 meter perch, along with the ones inside the house, it would be enough space in my mind, but then again, the last time I had any chickens was 15 years ago, haha.

As for the openness of the coop, some summer nights can be really hot. During colder winters it's easy to cover those windows so the chickens feel more tucked in and warmer.

You can't just cover up the windows, even when it's cold they need ventilation or they will be breathing air filled with ammonia.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Hmm, I see. My question is, why do chickens need that much space in a coop if they'll be using it only when sleeping? Let's say we close the door only at night when they are already sleeping and open at dawn, would that make any difference?

So if I add an extra 1 meter perch, along with the ones inside the house, it would be enough space in my mind.

As for the openness of the coop, some summer nights can be really hot. During colder winters it's easy to cover those windows so the chickens feel more tucked in and warmer.

I've offered advice. I've offered explanation. You seem intent on doing what you want to do, regardless. Still, I'll make one last effort.

First, when the weather is fine, your birds may want to sleep outside in the run. Then you don't need any house space at all. The reason the house exists is for when the weather is NOT fine, and they may be cooped up there for days. Space is a social lubricant, too many birds in too small a space leads to stress and behavioral problems - feather pulling, aggressive fighting for dominance, etc

Second, Portugal doesn't often get "really hot". Lisbon, for instance has a high of around 83F in July, on average. Talk to me about really hot when its over 100F (38C) for 60, 80 days out of 100, not the 5 or 7 whioch made world news back in 2018. You have brief heat waves, when the birds will absolutely not want to sleep in the house, yes, and should not be forced into it.

Neither does Portugal get "really cold". Blocking their ventilation to protect them from lows in the 35F (1C) range is a recipe for disaster. You need ventilation, about 1 sq ft per bird, to help move moist, ammonia laden air out to avoid respiratory illnesses and the like. Birds are naturally equipped with down blankets. If they are dry and not drafty, a fully feather bird can easily take temps of -20F or lower (-30C) - they aren't cold sensitive the way we humans are, and should not be treated like humans with our much more narrow comfort zone.

Based on my readings, Portugal gets a LOT of rain compared to many places, mostly in winter - similar to my own 59" a year. Ensuring birds have a place to get away from cool, windy rain - a source of potential frost bite - is the reason you want a hen house with adequate space.

But you do you - I'm stepping off.