Is our coop big enough?

[Fred's Hens]

If you decide you really enjoy chickens, and wish to keep a few more, there are huge benefits to having two coops. Consider it. The flexibility it provides is wonderful. I have a barn with three pens. Lots of reasons.

 

[Arielle]

My hen hates being cooped up in her dog crate and will pace and scratch to get out, even in the snowiest weather; then scoot on over to the ram shed to hang out inside their open sided house!! so funny that girl!!! Oh and the rams are in side too!

 

[ThinkingChickens]

I covered my run when it snowed and the chickens stayed out the whole day, despite some snow on the ground. Here's our coop in the snow....

Eglu Go in snow by Raven Wren Designs, on Flickr

 

[sunshineyarns]

A great idea having two coops... And, I love the shower certain idea to cover the run! Thanks for sharing your picture.

We live on 2 acres here, so there is always the possiblility for expansion. I'm a little worried today that our Ancona could be a roo. We have a friend nearby who lives on huge farm who offered to take a rooster --- we'll see! We have all different breeds, so I don't have much to compare her to right now

 

[ThinkingChickens]

You are very lucky to have acreage. We have just a regular, maybe a little larger, backyard. So, we are VERY limited. We also have the most awkward shaped yard. Ha ha

 

[sunshineyarns]

Thanks.... we were lucky in terms of getting a little piece of land. We just bought this house last August -- and were evacuated for the FourMile Fire here in Boulder (our second week in this house). The house needs some work, but we'll get there eventually...We built our coop in the Fall, so we have been ready and waiting for chicks. Building the fenced enclosure was blood, sweat and tears for my husband and I. My dad built our coop for us --- which is why I'm just praying it works for now.

Happy Sunday!

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Yes, that fire was awful! I have family in Boulder. We are surrounded my National Forest so fires are something I am constantly worried about. Ugh!

 

[outlawfarmer]

You should be fine, esp if they are only in at night... great pic too

 

[lady feathers]

I live in N. Michigan and am building a new coop for my new batch of birds (expanding from 6 birds to around 120 this year- that chicken math you heard about starts with addition and goes straight to multiplication). Anyway, there are plenty of you who will probably BAWK at this, I currently have 5 hens and 1 roo who reside in a small coop that is only 2ft x 4ft. Yes I know! Anyway, my husband works 12 hours shifts with a one hour commute in either direction and winter was closing in fast!

So, I set to work to make a temporary coop that oculd house the then girls, until this spring when we make our MUCH, MUCH, MUCH larger chicken barn.

Our chickens and rooster are let out as soon as we get up (sometimes as early as 7 am when my husband gets home, sometimes not until 10am). And they put themselves inside at night when it gets dark and I go and shut it when I do the evening chores. We haven't had any trouble with fighting at all! I hang a bird feeder inside the coop on a finishing nail to sustain them until they get let out and the 2 nest boxes are on the exterior. They have a 2x4 roost that sits about 1ft off the ground as the coop is roughly 3 ft high, but all of them manage to fit across it. It does have a window too.

My point is with the right birds (good temperments), and all the necessities; nests, windows, ventilaton, roosts and good deep bedding! Your birds can definately be kept in your current coop. Especially, if you are aready making plans to expland/build additional coops.

My chickens are happy, healthy, and have access to our entire property when theycompletely free-range throughout the day, weather permitting! (Yes, they spent a handlful of days this winter only in the coop). This winter was particulary bad, with very low temps and nasty drifts, but my birds were warm and cozy, and happy!

Good luck on your chicken venture, we all have to start somewhere and all learn from our mistakes-even if they are too many birds in "too small" a space.