Is this good size..how many...

[LivingFate]

The coop that came to the house inside is divided in two sections- one section has nesting boxes 54x44 1/2, other does not 45 1/2 x 48. Outside is 65x148 but I am most likely extending that-plus hopefully trying to make them free range. Is this good size? How many chickens can I put in it? I have silkies nad cochins right now 2 wks old. Thanks

 

[patandchickens]

Personally I would not put more than 4 chickens in each of the two sides (i.e. 8 total) -- maybe a bit more for banties. (edited cuz I left out the 'not'

)

I hope that is within the realm of what you're wanting to hear

Pat

 

[LivingFate]

Well I have 8 total right now and hoping to get 2 or 3 Guinea keets. I wanted to start small 1. I wasn't sure how many were good to put in the coop. 2. I'm new to chickens and want to make sure it works out. 3. Not sure what other breeds were good egg layers, docile- great with small kids, hardy for new england winters, pretty easy to care for...now what else to add to my collection..

 

[masschix]

I'm a New Englander! What kind of birds do you have? I did a lot of asking around to my neighboring farms and they have said the following chicken breeds are good layers: Rhode Island Red (RIR), Golden Comets, and Leghorns.

I have 6 Aracaunas, 2 RIR, 2 Golden Comets and 2 Black Australopes. I willalso be getting a Speckled Sussex Rooster soon.

 

[LivingFate]

Quote:
Silkies and cochins right now, just babes right now. I won't get RIR, my parents had them in Portugal and they used to attack me all the time, mean little buggers- I'd have to research the others. Sent you a pm.

 

[Davaroo]

The coop that came to the house inside is divided in two sections- one section has nesting boxes 54x44 1/2, other does not 45 1/2 x 48. Outside is 65x148 but I am most likely extending that-plus hopefully trying to make them free range. Is this good size? How many chickens can I put in it?
Assuming that's all in inches, you have:
4.5 ft x 3.7 ft in the nesting box section, for 16.68 sq ft.
3.79 x 4 in the other area, for 15.16 sq ft.
TOTAL = 31.84 sq ft.
5.41 x 12.44 outside for 66.73 sq ft.
Thats roughly enough for 8 birds total, on the interior space and barely enough for that same 8 on the outside. Even then, part of the interior is taken up with nests and one hopes roosts. At roughyl 8 sq ft per bird outside, be ready to be a poo manager.

Silkies good, Cochins BIG. I'd say you are max'ed out.

 

[LivingFate]

I'm planning to expand it, but wanted to get an idea of what fits now so I can go from there. Thanks!

 

[Davaroo]

Sorry, I left a bit out of crucial info.

The Rule of Thumb for interior space for chickens is 4 sq ft/ bird. In the intensive commercial management schemes, it can drop as low as 1-2 sq ft/bird. You dont wanna go there and I wont belabor it.

Birds need enough room inside to roost, eat and nest and thats about it - once the sun is up and laying is over (noon-ish) they need to get their feathered butts outside.

Outside it varies and there are many, many possibilities. For range management, the old standard was 500/ acre = 87 sq ft.
M. Jull says 300/acre = 145.5 sq ft.

There is always some newfangled 'yard management' scheme making the rounds, but most people dont really grasp range management on the whole. They just figure anything outside is good, no matter how much (or how little) space is given. Some even think that any outside time, by itself, constitutes "free ranging."
Regardless, most dont even come close to that sort of space allowance, by a long shot.

I give these space allowances outside, but recognize that not everyone may be able to. If that is the case, FEWER birds are always better than more when space is tight and no matter what you do, you dont want them on bare dirt/mud. When space is tight, this means a litter of some kind is needed, which is second choice. Straw is good, shredded mulch maybe better. Live grass is best.

I hope this helps.