Is my coop big enough, and do these breeds get along?

[Ridgerunner]

Coop space is only part of the equation. What counts is total space and when it’s available. It doesn’t matter if that is in the coop, coop and run, or they sleep in trees and free range. If your run is predator proof to the point that they are always able to access it and your climate allows access year around (or you protect it from high winds and snow to the point they can always use it) you should not have any space problems. You’ll probably have to do some work on poop management especially under the roosts. You can get my thoughts on space if you follow the link in my signature.

The coop height is a concern. The roosts need to be higher than anything else you don’t want them roosting on or in, like nest boxes. They poop a lot at night and you don’t want that on your eggs. Also in Ohio you need pretty good ventilation up high in the summer. Heat is more your enemy than cold. Heat kills a lot more chickens than cold. In winter you need some ventilation over their heads but you don’t want a direct breeze hitting them. That’s going to be hard in that coop.

Have you considered putting the nests in a totally separate structure? There is nothing that says the nests have to be in the coop.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Not every flock is the same, some can handle a little overcrowding and others can't. It will just depend on how YOUR chickens behave together.

Another thing you have got to think about it winter. During nice weather your chickens will not stay in the coop but during rain/snow you might discover that your flock would rather stay inside. My coop is bigger than the minimum "requirements" but during snow/rain they refuse to come out. So even though the coop is technically larger than I need I've still be having some small issues because they will stay in their coop for a straight week if there is snow on the ground (they are a bunch of sissy birds)

 

[bahamabanty]

I have seen some low matchbox shape coops like that. They worked fine, the roost doesnt need to be way up high, they had roosts 4-5" of the coop floor.
I would put the coop on legs so you can use the space underneath as run and its easier cleaning, so you dont have to bend down so much. Legs not too high in your case I guess, you want to stay in stealth mode.
My coop is on the small side too, 4x3, so far its going good, they only sleep in there and lay an egg, in our climate they never have to be cooped up for long unless there is a hurricane.
You might find that over time your run will seem small. My run is 20' x 18' and I feel its too small with 3 chickens lol.

 

[keller298]

Here is a picture, and an idea. In the picture you will see I have placed two roosts temporarily in there just for example. I was thinking place the roosts there 13-15" above the floor and install remove able poop boards under them leaving space in between them for the chickens to go up there. That way all floor space would be usable, there would be 8' of roost space and the nest boxes will be outside the box on the end, 3'x1' at about the same level as the roosts or I could go a little lower if that would help. I could take them all the way to the floor if needed to keep the roosts attractive to the chickens.

 

[keller298]

That picture above is the side with a view of the ventilation. This picture is the back where the nest boxes will stick out but are not on yet.

 

[bahamabanty]

Here is a picture, and an idea. In the picture you will see I have placed two roosts temporarily in there just for example. I was thinking place the roosts there 13-15" above the floor and install remove able poop boards under them leaving space in between them for the chickens to go up there. That way all floor space would be usable, there would be 8' of roost space and the nest boxes will be outside the box on the end, 3'x1' at about the same level as the roosts or I could go a little lower if that would help. I could take them all the way to the floor if needed to keep the roosts attractive to the chickens.

Nice! I'd put it off the ground, the lowest about the size of a chicken.

 

[keller298]

And here is the front. This entire front will be a door so I can easily clean it. It will have a remove able board to keep the litter in as well. That dark board is a piece leftover flooring I was using to hold up the temporary roosts. It won't be there and the final product won't be crooked.

 

[keller298]

Ye

Nice! I'd put it off the ground, the lowest about the size of a chicken.

Thanks! It will be under our deck kind of on a hill so it will be about 12" off the ground in the front and about 2' off in the back. (Approx)

 

[keller298]

Could you check out the pics I just added and let me know what you think? I think if I lower the nest boxes and add poop boards under the roosts it should be okay. That will give them a completely usable floor, 8' of roost space, 3 nest boxes. The roosts will be above the nest boxes and 15" from the roof at the lowest point, 21" at the highest point. I may need to cover a little of the ventilation in the winter, I hadn't thought of the breeze so close to their heads.

Coop space is only part of the equation. What counts is total space and when it’s available. It doesn’t matter if that is in the coop, coop and run, or they sleep in trees and free range. If your run is predator proof to the point that they are always able to access it and your climate allows access year around (or you protect it from high winds and snow to the point they can always use it) you should not have any space problems. You’ll probably have to do some work on poop management especially under the roosts. You can get my thoughts on space if you follow the link in my signature.

The coop height is a concern. The roosts need to be higher than anything else you don’t want them roosting on or in, like nest boxes. They poop a lot at night and you don’t want that on your eggs. Also in Ohio you need pretty good ventilation up high in the summer. Heat is more your enemy than cold. Heat kills a lot more chickens than cold. In winter you need some ventilation over their heads but you don’t want a direct breeze hitting them. That’s going to be hard in that coop.

Have you considered putting the nests in a totally separate structure? There is nothing that says the nests have to be in the coop.

 

[keller298]

Thanks for replying. It's good to know you have the same size and similar chickens. I'm so nervous. I don't know where I read 3' per chicken but that is what I based it off of and we only PLANNED on 3-4 chickens but apparently in ohio the minimum you can buy is 6.

I don't believe your coop is too small but it is at the low end of the guidelines. My coop is also 4'x4' and the nest box is external. Mine is housing 8 and I'm not having any issues associated with overcrowding. Mine pretty much only use the coop for sleeping and accessing the nest box as they spend most of their time in the enclosed run. I have two roost bars but my girls like to squeeze together on the roost and do not even utilize about 1/3 of the available roosting space. As long as your run has adequate space (which it does), you'll be fine.

I also have three of the varieties that you are getting; 6-Golden Comet, 1- Buff Orpington, 1- Amerucana/EE. They get along very well.