I think the coop will be too small for winter in Ireland?

[LaurasNew]

I

 

[Evadig]

I know nothing about the Irish climate, but a shed would be better and windows are nice to have .

 

[LaurasNew]

Thanks so much, we do get frost at times but it's pretty rare and we are on the south east coast/sunny south east so generally the frost melts quickly, we haven't had snow that sticks for years but winds can be cold at times, I am looking into a shed

 

[Logar]

That coop looks to be too small as is right now. Something like a 6 foot by 4 foot shed will work well assuming they have a proper sized run or free range. Windows are a great thing to have as they prevent the coop from being dark which can make chickens reluctant to go into as they have bad low light vision. As for steel, it is pretty much up to you. Steel sheds are a lot harder to modify to add ventilation but also do tend to be a bit cheaper.

 

[NatJ]

Thanks so much, we do get frost at times but it's pretty rare and we are on the south east coast/sunny south east so generally the frost melts quickly, we haven't had snow that sticks for years but winds can be cold at times, I am looking into a shed

I don't think those temperatures will be a problem for chickens, but wind and rain might be. Since the chickens already have a sheltered place to sleep, the main thing they need is a way to stay comfortable in the daytime, when they don't want to sit on a perch the whole time. Yes, a shed would probably work well, or you could provide a roof and a windbreak instead of a whole shed. People with a covered run will sometimes put sheets of plastic or tarps over some sides (the windiest ones!), and that provides enough shelter for chickens in winters like what you have described. If chickens are allowed to free range, they can often find shelter under the eaves of a house, under a porch, under a bush, and similar places-- but of course free ranging has its own problems (like chickens getting killed by predators, or chickens scratching up someone's flowers or vegetable plants, or chickens pooping on the porch.)

For the size of a shed, if the chickens are spending a large part of their days inside: I would probably go with 10 square feet of floor space per chicken, which makes 50 square feet for 5 chickens, so a shed about 6x8 feet will amost do it (48 square feet), and 8x8 feet is more than enough (64 square feet). I'm used to feet because I live in the USA, but if you are used to meters that would be about 1 square meter per chicken, so about 5 square meters for all 5 of them, so maybe a shed 2 meters by 3 meters, or a square 2 1/2 meters on each side. I don't know what shed sizes are common there (6x8 feet and 8x8 feet are quite common in the USA.)

 

[LaurasNew]

I don't think those temperatures will be a problem for chickens, but wind and rain might be. Since the chickens already have a sheltered place to sleep, the main thing they need is a way to stay comfortable in the daytime, when they don't want to sit on a perch the whole time. Yes, a shed would probably work well, or you could provide a roof and a windbreak instead of a whole shed. People with a covered run will sometimes put sheets of plastic or tarps over some sides (the windiest ones!), and that provides enough shelter for chickens in winters like what you have described. If chickens are allowed to free range, they can often find shelter under the eaves of a house, under a porch, under a bush, and similar places-- but of course free ranging has its own problems (like chickens getting killed by predators, or chickens scratching up someone's flowers or vegetable plants, or chickens pooping on the porch.)

For the size of a shed, if the chickens are spending a large part of their days inside: I would probably go with 10 square feet of floor space per chicken, which makes 50 square feet for 5 chickens, so a shed about 6x8 feet will amost do it (48 square feet), and 8x8 feet is more than enough (64 square feet). I'm used to feet because I live in the USA, but if you are used to meters that would be about 1 square meter per chicken, so about 5 square meters for all 5 of them, so maybe a shed 2 meters by 3 meters, or a square 2 1/2 meters on each side. I don't know what shed sizes are common there (6x8 feet and 8x8 feet are quite common in the USA.)

Thanks for this, we are supposed to be metric here but at 42 years old I still think in ft often! Same sheds are common here, thanks

 

[LaurasNew]

I don't think those temperatures will be a problem for chickens, but wind and rain might be. Since the chickens already have a sheltered place to sleep, the main thing they need is a way to stay comfortable in the daytime, when they don't want to sit on a perch the whole time. Yes, a shed would probably work well, or you could provide a roof and a windbreak instead of a whole shed. People with a covered run will sometimes put sheets of plastic or tarps over some sides (the windiest ones!), and that provides enough shelter for chickens in winters like what you have described. If chickens are allowed to free range, they can often find shelter under the eaves of a house, under a porch, under a bush, and similar places-- but of course free ranging has its own problems (like chickens getting killed by predators, or chickens scratching up someone's flowers or vegetable plants, or chickens pooping on the porch.)

For the size of a shed, if the chickens are spending a large part of their days inside: I would probably go with 10 square feet of floor space per chicken, which makes 50 square feet for 5 chickens, so a shed about 6x8 feet will amost do it (48 square feet), and 8x8 feet is more than enough (64 square feet). I'm used to feet because I live in the USA, but if you are used to meters that would be about 1 square meter per chicken, so about 5 square meters for all 5 of them, so maybe a shed 2 meters by 3 meters, or a square 2 1/2 meters on each side. I don't know what shed sizes are common there (6x8 feet and 8x8 feet are quite common in the USA.)

Thanks, appreciated

 

[aart]

Too small for any climate.
Look at that big guy, looks like he'd hardly fit inside!

 

[AGeese]

Those prefab coop ads lie. I don't know if yours would fit 10 bantams. Go with a shed and use the one you have for a couple of rabbits.