Is my coop big enough?? Please reply! 🙏

[McChooky]

The measurement of my coop is roughly 5ft by 5ft (if I remember correctly)

My 1st coup was built for 6 hens I raised from baby chicks(I still have 4 of them)but over the years I added 8 more chickens so I converted the run into a coop and run combo.My 12 chickens have almost 300 SQ ft and free range some days.Every year I say I'm going to build a new coop but my chickens love what they have so I think I'll leave it as it is and make them a new bigger run

 

[McChooky]

What website is this? $100 for a shed like that is too good to be true. I don't want you to get scammed.

I was waiting on that shoe to drop lol

 

[TOMTE]

I just want to say... We were all beginners once (some of us still are)! Mistakes are going to be made, no matter how informed you are on chicken care. Nobody knows everything. Ideally, we will all be learning always.

Though it does drive me crazy when people get an animal on a whim (not saying that's what you did) without enough research and preparation, finger pointing doesn't help. "You should have done x", well, they didn't, and we can't turn back time. So let's try to help the situation now!

I agree that you can get away with the size of your coop with 11 birds but they are not going to be happy if they're shut in there for any more time than is necessary (just sleeping, basically). And roosting time is when a lot of aggression can come out as the chooks quarrel over who sleeps where, so keep an eye on them in the evening to make sure nobody is being bullied too severely. Some pecking is normal, a bloody comb isn't uncommon, but severe injury is not normal. Maybe put a camera in there so you can watch from your phone or computer at night, or if you can't do that (trust me, I more than understand money constraints— we are below the poverty line), spend time watching them get ready for sleep in the evening. See who bullies who, if anyone. How do they prefer to roost? Who likes to sleep next to each other? You can add more roosts if you need to, that's simple. And they don't all need to be high off the ground. A 2x4 on a couple bricks or cinder blocks is good enough. If you have heavier birds they'll appreciate a lower roost.

Nest boxes are pretty easy too. You can build them out of wood, cut a hole in a plastic storage bin (sand the edges so nobody cuts themselves), use a bucket on its side... Be thrifty! Having chickens doesn't need to cost an arm and a leg.

I put this bucket in the run so the girls lower down the pecking order don't have to fight for the nest box in the coop. They have used it a few times now!

General rule of thumb is one nest box per 3-4 birds. They will share but they'll also fight over them.

I ended up taking out the divider because, I mean... Come on now

Now, we have a rather crappy prefab coop. It's advertised for up to 6 birds but honestly it should hold no more than 3 standard sized chickens. We have 5. The thing is, they have a run to spend most of the day in and I also let them out for supervised yard time, so the size of the coop isn't too much of an issue. So far. They're starting to quarrel more at bedtime now.

Our run is also pretty small for 5 chickens (7'×8') but it works for now. Great for chicks, not so much for grown birds. Yours looks nice and spacious. If they get out daily, that's another reason not to be too stressed about coop size.

To expand your coop, someone mentioned raising it up and building onto it underneath. I like that idea! In addition you could expand outward. You can look for scrap wood and other materials at hardware stores, construction sites (obviously ask before taking anything), some people put scraps out by the road for free, and you can even sometimes find good stuff at the dump/recycling center. Just keep your eyes open!

I wouldn't necessarily go with the 4sq ft of coop space per bird if they're getting daily outside time. The more time they spend in the coop, the more space they'll need.

 

[ChaosMom]

It may have been said, but making a couple alterations to your coop could help. You might be able to raise the entire coop up and create another enclosed level below with adequate ventilation as needed.
As for material, it’s almost barn cleaning weather. People will start posting materials soon. Or check a restore or materials recycling center, or even a farm store for leftover pallets.
We purchased our coop second hand from a Slavic man who, I imagine, built it like they do in Russia. It is a two story coop which I partially enclosed below to block the wind. Actually, you could say it’s one and a half story- chicken door, nest boxes, feed are all on the lower level and roosts are on the second, half-width level. I think it’s about 4x8 and nest boxes hang off the side, so not much larger than your coop, but is taller.
Just another idea!

I’ve never understood why this sort of coop isn’t seen more often here. It’s a good way to increase space when you just don’t have a very large footprint to work with. Lower for daytime activities (eating and laying), upper for nighttime (roosting.)

 

[TOMTE]

It may have been said, but making a couple alterations to your coop could help. You might be able to raise the entire coop up and create another enclosed level below with adequate ventilation as needed.
As for material, it’s almost barn cleaning weather. People will start posting materials soon. Or check a restore or materials recycling center, or even a farm store for leftover pallets.
We purchased our coop second hand from a Slavic man who, I imagine, built it like they do in Russia. It is a two story coop which I partially enclosed below to block the wind. Actually, you could say it’s one and a half story- chicken door, nest boxes, feed are all on the lower level and roosts are on the second, half-width level. I think it’s about 4x8 and nest boxes hang off the side, so not much larger than your coop, but is taller.
Just another idea!

 

[CocoL]

Sorry I can't answer your original question, but I think you're chicken coop and yard is cute!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Sorry I can't answer your original question, but I think you're chicken coop and yard is cute!

Thank you!!

 

[Barnette]

What would you suggest me doing in this situation?

Automatic doors are awesome! They can be pretty affordable and make keeping chickens a whole lot easier and safer

 

[Torripine]

Yes your coop/run is way too small, always over build I built mine myself got everything but the wood for it off an auction site saved a ton of money that way, I also find most chicken coop designs aren’t that great I worked off plans for a shed that I modified was much better space and cleaning wise. Also your run needs a top not just predators to worry about with bird flu going around limiting contact with wild birds is pretty crucial,in the meantime you can use wolf urine to keep other predators away from your flock .This site is great for getting anything for cheap including livestock supplies https://hibid.com/idaho/lot/237546233/shed?ref=lot-list

Also gov auctions https://www.govdeals.com/

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

"Also your run needs a top not just predators to worry about with bird flu going around limiting contact with wild birds is pretty crucial"

We have wild birds who eat the chicken food (we tried getting anti-wild bird feeders but they didn't work) but a roof wouldn't solve that problem. The way my run is set up, with the tree in the middle, I can't really make a roof that would be secure enough to keep the small birds out. Also, they can get in through the run wall, not to mention section of the run with the shorter fence would be impossible to add a roof to.