Is my coop too small?

[Secilyd]

I’m good at chicken math, but not regular math. I bought this coop but haven’t set it up yet. After further thinking, I’m worried it’s not going to be big enough, but this is my first time having chickens. Reviews for all prefab coops seem to be so hit or miss...I get that it's not the best, but realistically is it safe/healthy? One person says don't put more then 4, another says they have 10 ducks living in here. So confusing! I live in the Midwest and was hoping for 6-7 chickens to start. We are not allowed to free range because we are in a neighborhood. We were hoping to build or get an omlet coop next year. Will this coop fit 6-7 until then? I’m open to getting a second run to put off the other side too. Also, any recommendations on “winterizing” a prefab coop like this? View attachment 4309501

No I took mine back and I have four

 

[Nonafel]

All things considered prefab stuff is incredibly junky.
You would do best to check around for any local shed or outdoor structure builder, even a local handyman of sorts.

I've seen prefabs basically show up as cardboard level when it should be wood. Prefabs that are sight unseen also bring risks.

Before anything, ensure you aren't planning on more chickens anytime in the future, then build to fill that maximum goal.

You can use sheds or carports, honestly anything to make a coop. Putting together a run is quite easy by comparison.
If you need to plan for snow that helps make decisions for how to setup your coop/run.

 

[singswithravens]

So, I totally get you. I was lucky enough that I didn't buy a pre-fab for chickens - I got one as a catio. But my cats refused to use it. So, I repurposed it as a nighttime summer coop (they love it). I only have 6 hens, and 4 ducks, and for roosting, it's fine. Not for living in - that would be cruel. I have a tarp over the roof and down one side (the other side borders my back deck so the roof protects it). They can't be winterized in a way that's safe, because even with a tarp, it would get way too cold. I'm not quite Midwest (east TN) but it gets cold enough here that I couldn't use it as a winter coop. Instead, I turned an old shed into their winter coop, complete with heaters. They prefer it to the pre-fab. But I also understand that you can't let yours free range (mine are, but I have a fenced in yard - not that that matters, they still go wherever they want) so you might be better off with a pre-fab RUN, which looks like a huge dog kennel. But then you'll have the problem of winterizing. I suggest you do a lot of reading to figure out what will be best, because whenever an ad says "good for X amount of chickens", they're lying. You'll need a lot more for them to be happy. Whatever review you read that said they have 10 ducks in it, they're either lying because it's a paid review, or they're incredibly cruel. I have 4 ducks and I would never sequester them to such a small space unless it was just a roost.

 

[jwcarlson]

I built this when I first started. Modified the plans to make is 4x6 instead of 3x7.

https://backyardpoultry.iamcountryside.com/coops/free-chicken-coop-plan/

Kept up to 12 hens in it. With a covered run of 8x16. So the coop itself was never where they lived all day. And I'd wrap the run in plastic for the winter to keep it from having a bunch of snow blowing in. Though it wasn't completely snow-tight. It worked well.
Might be able to save some money if you or your partner is moderately handy. I will say that it's quite heavy, but not designed to be light, so not surprising.

If money isn't a huge concern, I'd consider putting whatever coop you decide on inside of a good sized covered run.

One other thing to consider is that it might not seem important now. But you not being able to stand up inside of your coop or run will almost absolutely make you mad at some point in the future. The coop linked here I could basically reach most of and because of the layout it was actually up on a deck, so was about belly height. Comfortable to get into.