Is my coop big enough?? Please reply! 🙏

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Also the "coop door always open" is concerning.
Looks to me like a racoon would not have much trouble getting over your fence some night.
One thing I learned was that once you have chickens, you soon learn just how many chicken eating critters you have in your area.
Sure, all can be quiet and tranquil for a while at first, then it's like the news gets out that you are serving free fresh chicken. and you start loosing one a week then one a day or maybe dozens in one night.
The ones in the tree you find headless in the morning.
All you find of your favorite hen, is a pile of feathers...
Not trying to scare you but would rather you get prepared.
I purchased a few trail cameras and was shocked just how many different preditors are roaming around by back 40. This includes Raptors, owls, fox, coyote, racoon, possum, weasel, bob cat, bear, feral cat, neighbors dog, Heck! Sometimes my dog!
I have lost chickens to everything on the above list except bear. He just sniffed around my coop looking for a way in.

What would you suggest me doing in this situation?

 

[FrostRanger]

What would you guys suggest I do if my coop is too small to fit my hens? I am on a budget and can't afford to buy another coop...

I'd try and find some scrap materials or go somewhere like Facebook marketplace or Craigslist to find cheap materials or best yet, a used shed and modify that. There are people who have had good success building an inexpensive coop out of recycled material

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

I'd try and find some scrap materials or go somewhere like Facebook marketplace or Craigslist to find cheap materials or best yet, a used shed and modify that. There are people who have had good success building an inexpensive coop out of recycled material

If I were to make/buy another coop, how big would it have to be for 11 hens?

 

[MSRider]

I have 5 adult hens and 6 pullets (one of which is a Brahma), so eventually we will have 11 hens living in the coop! Is my coop big enough to house all of them? I have a large run (as seen in the pictures) and the coop door is always open so they can leave the coop as soon as they wake up, so my logic was they don't need a huge coop. It's also worth noting that, in the summer, two of my hens sleep in the tree at night (I gave up trying to put them in the coop); along with that, a few hens sleep in the rafters. In the winter the run is pretty well covered by a tree and they can go inside and under the coop to escape the snow (I also shovel the run when needed). In the summer, along with the cover I just mentioned, they also have a raspberry bush for shade.
All that said, do they really need a large coop if they have plenty of run space?

Note: I don't have the exact measurements for the coop or run

PICTURES:

The Coop:
View attachment 4071772View attachment 4071773
Inside the Coop:
View attachment 4071775View attachment 4071776View attachment 4071777
The Run: (the run with the tall fence is connected to the run with the short fence)
View attachment 4071781View attachment 4071782View attachment 4071784

P.S. The reason that the coop is so small is because I didn't plan in being affected by chicken math

I have 5 adult hens and 6 pullets (one of which is a Brahma), so eventually we will have 11 hens living in the coop! Is my coop big enough to house all of them? I have a large run (as seen in the pictures) and the coop door is always open so they can leave the coop as soon as they wake up, so my logic was they don't need a huge coop. It's also worth noting that, in the summer, two of my hens sleep in the tree at night (I gave up trying to put them in the coop); along with that, a few hens sleep in the rafters. In the winter the run is pretty well covered by a tree and they can go inside and under the coop to escape the snow (I also shovel the run when needed). In the summer, along with the cover I just mentioned, they also have a raspberry bush for shade.
All that said, do they really need a large coop if they have plenty of run space?

Note: I don't have the exact measurements for the coop or run

PICTURES:

The Coop:
View attachment 4071772View attachment 4071773
Inside the Coop:
View attachment 4071775View attachment 4071776View attachment 4071777
The Run: (the run with the tall fence is connected to the run with the short fence)
View attachment 4071781View attachment 4071782View attachment 4071784

P.S. The reason that the coop is so small is because I didn't plan in being affected by chicken math

When I started with chickens I did an internet query on how much space does a chicken need in a coop. The answers from different sites ranged from 2 square feet to at least 4 square feet. However, looking at advertisements for chicken coops I found that the square footage allowed per chicken in various manufactured coops ranged considerably but note worked out to be 4 square. For reference, check out what Amazon has to offer for sizing. Total area for your chickens should include an attached run. For example, For lighter breeds, like the White Leghorn, chickens that are allowed to forage outside during the day should have at least 3 square feet per bird, so a 4′ x 8′ coop could house 10-11 birds. For the run, for the 6 chickens would need about 90 square feet.

Hope this helps. Linda

 

[FrostRanger]

If I were to make/buy another coop, how big would it have to be for 11 hens?

I gave the measurement you'd want at a minimum in my first post. In addition to that, you'd probably want 3 nest boxes. I would definitely build rather than buy, it's far cheaper and you'll end up with a far better product

 

[50-45-1]

Yes, I do the same here in Michigan. Shovel a area, sprinkle some hay and let them get some outside time. Even with that i have a couple weeks that letting them out would be cruel as temps are cold and blizzard weather.
My roost area is larger than your entire coop, and my entire coop is 11 by 14. So my chickens dont suffer if they have to stay inside
The signs of overcrowding I think you are already seeing, as a couple of your hens prefer outside to roost at night.
It is nice you have so much area otherwise during the day. But I would agree with the other poster about looking for used materials or someone else getting rid of an old shed or coop on craigslist.
Chickens that are overcrowded get some pretty bad habits including feather picking and egg eating. Both almost impossible to stop once they start.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Yes, I do the same here in Michigan. Shovel a area, sprinkle some hay and let them get some outside time. Even with that i have a couple weeks that letting them out would be cruel as temps are cold and blizzard weather.
My roost area is larger than your entire coop, and my entire coop is 11 by 14. So my chickens dont suffer if they have to stay inside
The signs of overcrowding I think you are already seeing, as a couple of your hens prefer outside to roost at night.
It is nice you have so much area otherwise during the day. But I would agree with the other poster about looking for used materials or someone else getting rid of an old shed or coop on craigslist.
Chickens that are overcrowded get some pretty bad habits including feather picking and egg eating. Both almost impossible to stop once they start.

Would something like this work if i put roosts in it?
It is 11x7.5 feet

 

[aart]

For reference, check out what Amazon has to offer for sizing.

Most(all?) are not sized humanely, bad place to learn about good keeping.

 

[FrostRanger]

Would something like this work if i put roosts in it?
It is 11x7.5 feet
View attachment 4071941

That'd be great! You'll need to modify it, but I think you could turn that into a great coop!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

That'd be great! You'll need to modify it, but I think you could turn that into a great coop!

What should I use as nesting boxes?