Is this size ok for 6 hens?

[sroy01]

Hello, I just got 6 chicks that are 2wks old (3 RI red, 3 Buff Orpington) I have read numerous threads and looked at tons of the coop pics on here. I'm working on their coop design for my husband to build. I'm looking on building a 6x5 coop with slated roof 2-3ft off ground with a 5x13 run (6ft of that run is under coop itself) and 2-3 nesting boxes on the outside for easy access to eggs. Is this enough room for them to be comfortable? Also any suggestions on how tall the coop itself should be? I am hoping to keep it no higher than my 6ft fence. Thanks.

 

[Hawgon]

Sroy-I would think that would be enough space. If you search around here enough alot of people tell you 4 sq/ft. per bird in the coop and ?? sq/ft in the coop if confined in there. I have found and read in other places that it depends on if you let them free range and other things. From my personal, limited experience I have a samller size coop with 6 hens and a fully enclosed with hardware cloth 8 x 16 foot run. You can see pics if you search "Hen Heaven" on this thread. I have had absolutely no problems and I dont even shut the door to the coop at night but first thing in the morning I let them out of the run to free-range and about 7pm at night they go back up into run and into the coop on their own. Just like clockwork. I just lock the run every evening. I dont even hear them bicker or anything and find very few feathers in the coop during cleaning so i dont think they are "fighting" in there. It seems to me they just go in there to sleep and that is it. It will be early July before mine are old enought to lay eggs so I have the nest boxes blocked off for now. I dont know if they get fiestier or not when they start laying. I hope this info helps....Best of Luck..

 

[Nicole01]

It doesn't sound too bad. They will have nice shading under the coop. It's pushing it, but it might work. If its not enough room, they will fight for the space and pick each others feathers.

I will have 10 chickens total. My coop is 12x4x9 and my run is 22x5x5. I free range daily, but only a few hours a day due to supervising them from hawks mainly. During the winter, I cover my run in plastic and heat the coop with a heater and they have nice winter space. It's worked out wonderfully this past year. I had 7 standard and 1 bantam. I'm adding 3 more, but taking one out due to her being a non layer with a total of 10.

 

[Abirdbrain]

Hey! Ihave several tractor coops, sized 4x12, with 2x4 framing, the four foot heigth matches the heavy 1x2 mesh wire it is wrapped with, with 1 inch chicken wire over the top. A low nest box House with about 16 inches above the ground, and at least 3x4, in dimension gives up to 20 birds room to run and avoid bickering. The nest house is about 4x3 or 4x4, and has a ladder from the yard, a chicken nipple system for water, and a tray for feed. Theoretically, 4 x 8 should handle 4-6 birds easily, but I burn out the grass with their scatching and hunting, so we move the pens, every coupla days or so. In reality, it depends on your birds, whether there is eough wing space. Some aggresive breeds will bicker for space constantly. others, are quiet, as long as there is ample food and water. We have Appenzellors, that are not supposed to do well confined. They just cackle about, and call when they see us without apparent stress in the flock. (If free ranged they will roost in the trees at sundown and not retutn to the coop. We removed a Fox to another location, last week, but that does not make the grounds predator free).

My last pen is 3/4 PVC hoops on a heavy frame, 4 x 12, with chicken wire and a tarp covering the front. inspired by a lister here, we decorated the front like a Western false front building, and named it Chicken City, for a former dining chain, and because it was built to grow out some 20 X-rocks for Freezerville. It gets attention from the road, and will support the EGG sign, out there.

We have caging, from rabbit run size to 6 x 5 houses with 50 ft of wire surrounding an open top yard.. The chickens enjoy the outdoors, but the shade under the houses too, and usually will shelter under the house rather than in it.