Is my coop too narrow?

[JessicaL]

We have six chickens (I think they are pullets right now?). Depending on how we do with these, we will get more in the spring for a total of around 12 or so.

Currently, our coup is attached to our house. The dimensions are 12' x 3' with a feeder box, 6' x 6" and a nesting box that is two layers, 6 on top and 6 on the bottom. We just decided to let our chickens free range.

Is our coop to narrow?
Will it work for them in the winter?
We get quite a bit of snow.

 

[Y N dottes]

no, I wouldn't say its too narrow at all. in fact, in the winter they might be warmer if there is less air to heat

 

[iwiw60]

I would say you're fine .... for now with 6. But if you increase your flock to 12? Way too "tight" for 12...

 

[thomasboyle]

I would suggest you raise the nesting boxes to 18" or so, you will gain back that amount of floor space, and the chickens will have no problem getting into them at that height.

 

[Biologrady]

Looks good, and you can also add a ramp to a shelf/ledge to add another level of floor space. Gives them a little more opportunity to get away from each other, helpful when they've been cooped up too long in bad weather I find...

 

[aart]

OK, I'll say it.... yes, it is too narrow.
Once you flip down the perches to open the nests, it will be even narrower.
I say this with surety because I too dealt with a narrow coop space and mine is 6' wide

Where is the roost?
....and how will they get down from the roost(or that upper nest)without the room to fly down....adding a ramp would take up alot of room) ?


Trying to think how to make that space work......


Maybe if you could put that nest bank on the other side of that divider wall (on the left of pic) and cut holes in the wall to access nests......
.....you only need the bottom row of nests, so that eliminates that height problem.
Ladder roosts along short end of far wall, keeps the poopiest area out of the walking path, they can hop down ladder to get down....would take up about 4 feet of floor space tho.
You could probably build some slim line feed and water devices into the wall on the left too.

It's still pretty small for the winter confinement of 6 chickens, I'd never put 12 in there.

 

[iwiw60]

OK, I'll say it.... yes, it is too narrow.
Once you flip down the perches to open the nests, it will be even narrower.
I say this with surety because I too dealt with a narrow coop space and mine is 6' wide

Where is the roost?
....and how will they get down from the roost(or that upper nest)without the room to fly down....adding a ramp would take up alot of room) ?


Trying to think how to make that space work......


Maybe if you could put that nest bank on the other side of that divider wall (on the left of pic) and cut holes in the wall to access nests......
.....you only need the bottom row of nests, so that eliminates that height problem.
Ladder roosts along short end of far wall, keeps the poopiest area out of the walking path, they can hop down ladder to get down....would take up about 4 feet of floor space tho.
You could probably build some slim line feed and water devices into the wall on the left too.

It's still pretty small for the winter confinement of 6 chickens, I'd never put 12 in there.

@aart has given you excellent pointers on your setup, and yes for just your existing 6 chickens will be a tight one for sure, no way should you put 12 in there. I, too, had questions as to just where the roost was. I wish you all the very best, but please do re-think your setup, it does need tweaking.

 

[Aronia]

Does anyone live near St. Catharines, ON?

 

[Biologrady]

Loved aart's idea about putting nesting boxes through the wall... Brilliant! You could maybe do that with PVC pipe feeders too.

 

[osiel]

Its okay for 6 chickens but adding a second floor would be a good idea. Raising your nest boxes high would also be a great idea this will help them to not eat the eggs as well some chickens will eat eggs if they are bored so item would be a good idea to raise the nest.