is my coop to big?

[meetthebubus]

Your flock is a perfect size bc it's the size you picked

 

[thewatsonfarm]

Your flock is a perfect size bc it's the size you picked

ChickensFromIdaho,

I hope you didn't take any offense from my comment about getting more chickens. I meant that in a kind-hearted way. It's just what I would want to do, because I adore my girls so much! To me, more chickens = more to love!

 

[meetthebubus]

i know you were adressing the OP, but i think your comment was nice, light hearted
i wish i could have more chickens too!

 

[ChickensFromIdaho]

ChickensFromIdaho,

I hope you didn't take any offense from my comment about getting more chickens. I meant that in a kind-hearted way. It's just what I would want to do, because I adore my girls so much! To me, more chickens = more to love!

of course not haha! i knew what you meant and have been thinking the same thing to be honest. i want a rooster as well. but I'm gonna take it slow since I'm still knew to keeping a flock. i just wanted to see what you all had to say about having too big of a coop. its good to know that it seems like an impossibility hahaha. thank you all for your replies

 

[thewatsonfarm]

of course not haha! i knew what you meant and have been thinking the same thing to be honest. i want a rooster as well. but I'm gonna take it slow since I'm still knew to keeping a flock. i just wanted to see what you all had to say about having too big of a coop. its good to know that it seems like an impossibility hahaha. thank you all for your replies

It's a lovely luxury to have a large coop for your flock! You could also decorate to make the space seem more "homey" if it just feels big & empty. We have two smaller-size coops inside a large run, and I decorated the run with baskets of hanging geraniums, some custom chicken art, a structure for roosting, and a big tree stump that I sit on sometimes, because I just like being out there.

 

[lazy gardener]

That coop is a wonderful size. It gives you room to change things up as your flock dynamics change. You will have room to add a broody pen, or a broody buster, perhaps even a storage place for your feed. You can also give them plenty of "play space" with creative positioning of hay bales. Chickie delight! No matter the coop size, be sure it has plenty of ventilation, plenty of natural lighting, and is predator proof.

 

[chick mansion]

You should see my pen. I have a flock of 13 and a 20x20 run, along with a 10x10 coop. In my opinion, your coop can never be too big.

 

[bobbi-j]

Mines a 40x40 pole building, a coop can never be too big in my opinion.

Agreed. The more room for your chickens, the better. When they're crowded, you run into behavioral problems.

Well the only thing would be winter if it's really cold they might find it hard to keep warm but yours doesn't sound too big for that issue either, space for chickens is important and too small would cause issues

In a well-ventilated coop that protects them from the elements, they do fine.

Why do you think it's too big? If we knew why we may be better able to reassure you.

My regular laying/breeding flock is one rooster and 7 to 9 hens, that's what I usually go through the winter with. The numbers go up a lot in the summer, but it reduces back down when they reach butcher size. My coop is 8' x 12' with lots of room outside. In no way is it too big for them.

Knowing where you live might help too so we'd know your climate. Some people seem to feel chickens need to warm up a coop in winter. They don't. Chickens' feathers keep the chickens warm, just like the wild birds' feathers keep them warm when they overwinter. I don't know if that was part of your thinking or not, but chickens do not need to warm up the coop. Because of potential behavioral problems, they generally need more coop room in winter than they do in summer.

I personally think a 9x8 for seven chickens is a fabulous size. But without knowing why you are concerned it's hard to respond.