I think our coop is too big. Ideas?

[Mandrogora]

I worried about this as well after reading articles about coop sizes. My coop is a small house that was used for the previous owners mother to live in. I have 5 chickens that are housed in the "living room" and 6 ducks in the "kitchen". There is a partial wall and door between them but open at top for airflow. It was already built like that. The bedroom area is closed off until spring when we plan to add more to the flock. The ceilings are probably 8 feet high. Last winter it was used for storage and when I would go out it would be absolutely freezing. I'm in Montana. Now that it's occupied it stays a comfy temperature and everybody is happy to have plenty of room for activities.

 

[WindingRoad]

Is it just when the chickens are in there or it just because it's protected from the elements?

Ok so I go out to check on my birds. I have a one piece coop with a run below it. All banked up with snow and a clear tarp around the "run" area. I check the temp outside on my phone and check the temp in the coop without any birds in it. There is no wind today. So I go out is 14F and the coop is cool. No chickens in it. And then later on I go out to put them to bed and there is no change in the weather other than it's dark outside and actually probably colder. But the coop is nice and warm. I have 4 chickens. Do they heat the coop to 68F nope but they do heat the coop. Maybe by 2-3 degrees.

 

[paneubert]

Maybe by 2-3 degrees.

And the point is that the 2-3 degrees the chickens may raise the temp is insignificant in the larger picture. The 2-3 degrees is small enough of a bump that it is not "needed" for them to be happy, so the OP having a massive coop is not an issue. They will not see the 2-3 degree bump in temp from the chickens breathing/warming the air due to the massive coop size, but this is not a problem since the chickens don't NEED the 2-3 degree bump.

Right? I think that is why people are saying not to worry about such a giant coop.

 

[WindingRoad]

And the point is that the 2-3 degrees the chickens may raise the temp is insignificant in the larger picture. The 2-3 degrees is small enough of a bump that it is not "needed" for them to be happy, so the OP having a massive coop is not an issue. They will not see the 2-3 degree bump in temp from the chickens breathing/warming the air due to the massive coop size, but this is not a problem since the chickens don't NEED the 2-3 degree bump.

Right? I think that is why people are saying not to worry about such a giant coop.

I never said to worry about it either. The OP was worried about them being too cold. I was citing examples. When you go to bed at night in a cold room who warms that bed up?

 

[paneubert]

I never said to worry about it either. The OP was worried about them being too cold. I was citing examples. When you go to bed at night in a cold room who warms that bed up?

My under the sheets electric bed heater!

 

[PirateGirl]

Chickens heat themselves, they do not heat the coop. The biggest thing will be eliminating drafts. Your curtain idea could be good for that and a relatively easy installation without major construction.

 

[Chickassan]

Bigger is better! If for no other reasons than less poop moisture induced frostbite and more space to scoot over if they happen to not like their neighbor that day.
Never worry about too much space, they're plenty warm stick your finger inside some feathers when they're roosting and see.

 

[jvls1942]

no coop can be too big.
I have seen chickens over winter in a machine shed with the doors open.
the larger the coop, the less problem with drafts.
keep a deep layer of straw on the concrete floor because concrete draws cold from outside..
you might notice less problems with frost bite in a large coop..
frost bite comes from too much humidity in the air. in a small coop the breath from the chickens causes the humidity. just like your scarf covering your face on a cold day does..
If your coop is warmed by the chickens it is because of warmth escaping from their bodies..
big coop ?? count your blessings..

 

[shedinator]

Your coop is definitely not too big. But your flock may be too small

 

[CindyinSD]

I have my 17 pullets (a couple have recently started laying, so pullets & hens, now) in a 10’x12’ metal shed with sliding barn doors.

It’s been as cold as -14 Fahrenheit so far this winter. The only problem I’ve had with their comfort happened shortly after moving them in from their very cute, very expensive, very labor-intensive smaller coop. I came out to bring them their breakfast the next morning and found them pecking at little rivulets of water running down the walls. Oops!

We (DH and I) cut holes in the gable ends and installed screened vents... one on each end wall. No more condensation. All that moisture, in that generously sized space, came from 17 little chickens! There was never any moisture when it housed tools and a few mice. Some of the girls have single combs (Australorps & Orpingtons), but most have rose or strawberry combs more suitable for cold-climate birds. None of them have any frost damage.

Technically the first coop is nearly big enough for them, but that’s assuming they’ll at least be out in their run in daylight hours. Much of the winter, that’s not going to happen (they’re freaked out about snow and wind... imagine that!), so they do need space to run around inside. Really, once you add a nice ladder perch (put the 2x4s with the broad side up so they can keep their toes warm by sitting on them) and nesting boxes, it’s not that much room.

I’m doing deep bedding, but it’s not composting for me. The new coop was formerly a tool shed and has a plywood floor so that’s probably just as well, though decomposition might have given them some warmth. It seems to me their little bodies do generate a BTU or so, plus I include straw into the mix of bedding. Straw retains some heat, since it’s hollow. Every little bit...

Your situation sounds just fine to me... of course when you start thinking you need more and different chickens, maybe some heritage turkeys, possibly a Christmas goose or four... it’s gonna start looking mighty skimpy mighty quick.