I think our coop is too big. Ideas?

[fur-mum]

No such thing as a too big coop IMO. My tiny flock of 4 is in a fairly open coop. They are covered and protected from prevailing winds but it's not fully enclosed and they seem to do fine. I have had no problems with frostbite or illness due to the temperatures. They just fluff themselves up like little sparrows and go about their business...

 

[123RedBeard]

I have my 17 pullets (a couple have recently started laying, so pullets & hens, now)

Actually laying an egg does not graduate a pullet to a hen ... a pullet is a female chicken under one year of age ... at one year old, the pullet is then considered a hen.

--------------------

Can't have too big of a coop! Or run for that matter!

Lots of people quote the 4 square feet of coop, and 10 sq ft of run per bird, some even mention that it is a minumum ... I say "Horse Feathers!"

Caged production commercial chickens never have a run, and live in a 1 sq ft cage ... and lay more eggs per year than most backyard flocks per chicken!

More is always better in my opinion ... 10 sq ft per chicken in the coop, and 100 sq ft per chicken in a run is a start ...

 

[Lyranonamous]

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice. We do deep litter (shavings), probably 6 or more inches deep, and they do have a roosting pole. We are near Ithaca NY and it's currently 1 degree. (I added my location to my profile as advised). My oldest chicken is sleeping in the nesting box on the floor-also packed with shavings-she didn't go up on the roosting pole, and was acting cold all morning. I don't believe there are any drafts close enough to them, but there is a small open window (with hardware cloth) at the other end of the coop, and small ventilation over the door.
Besides this coop area they have a 35 ft X 20 foot run in barn where they dust bathe, and just act like chickens. They didn't go out today because there were some foxes around. But almost every day they are out in the run in barn and that leads into a large fenced area.

I'm trying to understand here. So you have a space that's large. Good "run" for them. Now put in some nesting boxes, roosts, etc and enclose that; it can be your "coop". The lady I bought my 2 SLW from had a large "shed" like that with about 20 pullets in it. Very high ceiling probably at least 9 ft. And she didn't even have nesting boxes. Or roosts. She was raising to sell the birds. The room seems quite warm. Also she was definitely doing the DLM. (Deep layer of litter. Pine shavings, some DE if you like, some sand as a base. And then PDZ) That helps them stay warm. Chickens are much more hardy than you think. Mine were out one morning at -9F. And it has been below 0 several night this winter. I check their combs in the morning. Cool but not cold. Chickens sit on their feet and put their feathers around the feet to keep them warm. And some will put their heads under their wings. Someone post pics here of that. Cute pics. Remember chickens average body temp is around 106. Or get more birds. LOL

 

[Lyranonamous]

Noooo, it's not too big....
....many coops on BYC are too small and not well ventilated enough.

Post some pics of your coop, inside and out.

..and tell us....
Where in this world are you located?
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
View attachment 1639224

Thanks for telling me how to add my location!!

 

[CindyinSD]

Actually laying an egg does not graduate a pullet to a hen ... a pullet is a female chicken under one year of age ... at one year old, the pullet is then considered a hen.

Cool! Thanks for clearing that up for me!

 

[123RedBeard]

As you're gonna discover ... chickens poop ALOT at night while sleeping ... you need to get that chicken out of the nest, pick her up and put her on the pole, it may take a few nights of "training" ... you can also block off the nesting box(es) in the afternoon after they are done laying too ... putting a slightly smaller cardboard box closed up in the box prevents access.

 

[RoosterML]

Curtains around roosting area will not hurt at all if you leave it down a few inches from the ceiling so the moisture can make it's way out. I put an old rug up on one side so that I can assure no draft is near them. I created a U shape area around roost and left the front open for them. For 12 birds I have 9x16 so the same 144 sq ft as you which is fenced off in a larger structure, so much more square footage than listed total so no they do not heat the whole space.

 

[aart]

It's cold there for sure.
They usually do pretty well, but 'smaller coop keeps them warmer' is fallacy, as the essential ventilation makes that moot.
But cold stress is real and should be watched for.
Have had several birds suffer from cold stress, a couple died.
I learned to watch for activity levels, they should be active, not standing or laying around too much, all should react to treats tossed.
If a bird doesn't go for treats, she needs some attention IME...that bird is also likely been standing around in a 'not feeling good' stance.

@BantyChooks taught me about 'cold reset'. I bring bird into the slightly warmer garage for just a couple-few hours. Makes sure she eats, give her a dose of electrolytes, see what's coming out the other end, and just observe. Then take them back out to coop, has 'saved' a few here, it's pretty amazing how they bounce back.
Birds can get dehydrated in winter as well as summer, so I give the whole flock a dose of EL during really cold spells (<10°F), I just mix up a half gallon of Sav-A-Chick electrolytes/vitamins and put it out in a open waterer for a couple hours so they all get some of it. Of course plain thawed water should always be available, they won't eat if they can't drink.

 

[WindingRoad]

My under the sheets electric bed heater!

See if you have enough body heat to save electricity. I had an electric blanket and a heated matrress pad at different times. Neither kept me warm. I started sleeping without either and was warmer. Nothing to wash or replace. I don't plan on replacing myself.

 

[townchicks]

What is warming my coop.

Hot moist air from them breathing. Not necessarily the kind of heat you want.