Is my coop too cramped?

[ChickenQuest]

We have a 8' x 8' insulated coop and 12 buff orps and six laying boxes. We hadn't planned on keeping all of the chickens over winter, when they would be more confined because of weather. Now I'm worried they're too crowded. From what I've read, 64 square feet be okay. What do you all think? On most days, we leave the pop door open so they have the option of free-ranging, but with the snow and cold temps, they're not out that much.

Thanks!

 

[cristina33]

Its fine cozy imo.

Crisitna

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Sounds huge to me! Shoot.. sounds like you have room for some more!

 

[FortWorthChicks]

thats the coop ... and they can free range if they want. Sounds like a good scene.

 

[mstricer]

Thats more then enough room. I have the same size coop and I have 24 birds in there and they are happy go lucky. I have 3 perchs 8 ft in lenght and a ladder perch and 6 nesting boxes. Everyone seems to be getting along (no injuries) They've been locked up for days now due to the weather.

 

[NellaBean]

I have an 8x8 coop with 26 chickens currently...I had 31 until a week or two ago. They are only confined at night and have access to free range during the day. I actually think it would be "warmer" with probably 40ish in there at night. As it is now, there are a few groups that huddle only 2 or 3 together at night.

However, on days where I have to keep them locked up, it feels awfully cramped. I don't mind making them stay in an extra hour or two in the morning if I am running late...no big deal....but I do not like having to lock them up any longer than normal. Feels a bit cramped. Even when it is below 20 degrees, my chickens choose to go out, even the young ones.

 

[teach1rusl]

Yeah...you're good to go. That's one reason why many suggest to build bigger than you think you'll need (more chickens would be the other reason...lol). The extra space is really nice for them when they have to be cooped up...

 

[bufforp89]

Mine is 8X4 and I have 15 Chickens in it right now. They free range everyday though and are never locked up.

 

[chick_newbie]

Wow!! According to you all I can run to the store and get a whole bunch more chicks this spring!! I had 11 in a 5x7 last year and felt like they were crowded so this year I got DH to make a bigger one as I wanted more chickens anyway. I have 22'8"x6'8" and 18 laying hens of various breeds!! They spend most of their time in the house since they think that they are too good to go out in the snow, even though I put down straw in the run to help keep them from getting too cold out there.

 

[gsim]

First to Chicken Quest, welcome to BYC.

Your coop is perfect for what you have. Just expect to clean it more as this cold snap continues. May have to scrape the poop planks twice a day

instead of once, and turn litter a bit. I have 24 and a coop twice the size of yours. In a pinch, mine could stay in if they chose to or if I had to force them to. Same for you. I would not add to your flock tho. A roo might be one thing but not another bunch of layers. The more crowded it is, the more fighting and bullying there is. the 4 sq ft/chook is a minimum rule of thumb. You and I have over 5 sq ft/chook so some bad weather days will not be as stressful to our chooks as it would to those in a more crowded coop.