Is underneath my coop adequate space to hangout?

[LKPete]

So my husband just finished our coop and our chickens still have about 4-6 weeks before they can move out. He is deploying for ~75 days tomorrow and I'm curious if the bottom is enough room for the chickens until he gets home to give them more outdoor space. I currently have 5 chicks but want to get 3 more. They will only be in there approx. 6 weeks before he gets home.

I can most likely let them out to roam around with my supervision on the weekends but just can't let them while I'm at work.

Also, I'm planning on putting sand down under the coop instead of pine shavings....thought?...

 

[junebuggena]

What is the square footage? I think it's adequate for 5, 6 week old chicks, but after 6 weeks, it will be way too small. You can build a run yourself quite easily. Since your coop is pretty solid and predator proof, your run just needs to be a good sized fenced in area to keep the chickens from wandering during the day. Some t-posts, a post pounder, and some wire fencing should do the job.

 

[LKPete]

It's 4x8. Our plan is to extend our dogs (don't worry he's a little shih tzu who is nice and loves the chickens) pen that we already have to the coop and open up the back door to that. He just ran out of time because the coop took WAY longer to build than anticipated.

 

[junebuggena]

4x8 is just a little over 6 sq ft per bird. By 12 weeks old, they are almost as big as adults. It would be way too small by then. Once overcrowding stress behaviors start (feather picking and aggression), they can be very difficult to stop. You can get a temporary run setup until your husband gets back home and builds a more permanent run. Or you could free range for several hours a day, starting with an hour or so in the evening around sun down at first and gradually increasing their supervised 'playtime.' Would it be possible to have them in the dog's pen during the day, and then put them back in the coop area in the evening? By 6 weeks old, you can start training them to come when called. Chickens are very food motivated and learn very quickly when rewarded with a favorite treat.

 

[PapaChaz]

very very nice looking coop!

I am going to be in the group that says it will be too small way quicker than you realize if that's the only area they'll have for roaming and scratching. Now I also know that there will be times they'll go inside as well, so that adds to the room for them. I'm surprised at how often I go in and find some of mine inside, on the roost, scratching around in the straw......and I have 12 chickens with 220 square feet of run, so I'm over double the general consensus for 'minimum' per bird.

My only concern from what I see for the actual coop itself is the angle of the ramp for them to go in and out, looks to be a bit steep. I can't tell from the picture if there are cleats on there, I hope there are and I hope they're no more than about 6" apart?

does he have a plan for the run? if not, I'll suggest a hoop type run. They are easy to build and go up pretty fast, search for a lady named blooey, or aart, or click my profile and go look at my coop build thread "future coop and run" I absolutely love the hoop run I built.

Where are you located? general area in what state will be a sufficient answer....maybe if there are a few local members here close by, they could/would possibly honor the service your husband does for our country and come build that run for y'all

 

[21hens-incharge]

4x8 is just a little over 6 sq ft per bird. By 12 weeks old, they are almost as big as adults. It would be way too small by then. Once overcrowding stress behaviors start (feather picking and aggression), they can be very difficult to stop. You can get a temporary run setup until your husband gets back home and builds a more permanent run. Or you could free range for several hours a day, starting with an hour or so in the evening around sun down at first and gradually increasing their supervised 'playtime.' Would it be possible to have them in the dog's pen during the day, and then put them back in the coop area in the evening? By 6 weeks old, you can start training them to come when called. Chickens are very food motivated and learn very quickly when rewarded with a favorite treat.

I would have to totally agree.

I would caution with any dog that they should be supervised with birds. I had a shitzu that was fine for 4 years with the parrot then one day............ no more parrot. He snatched the parrot off the birds playground while I was out of the room less than 2 minutes to grab a basket of laundry. Needless to say my dog had to leave forever since we have other birds and this particular one was very special to DH.

You may be able to get by for that very short time with the space under and the space inside the coop but I would not be willing to push it to far.

 

[JanetS]

THANK YOU to your husband(and you) for his service.

He did a great job on the coop. I agree the run is a little small but would probably work until he comes back home.
Your chicks will grow very fast. I actually would move your coop off the cement, back on the grass and dirt.

Chickens love to dig, scratch and take a bath in dirt.

 

[LKPete]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Once the girls go out to the coop I'll be keeping a very close eye on them and will improvise the space if I need to.

We were thinking of moving the coop back on to the grass but once again ran out of time and we'd have to level that ground and its
going to be a pain because we're up here in the mountains of Colorado and the ground is VERY rocky. Still on the list though.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thank you everyone for your responses.

Once the girls go out to the coop I'll be keeping a very close eye on them and will improvise the space if I need to.

We were thinking of moving the coop back on to the grass but once again ran out of time and we'd have to level that ground and its
going to be a pain because we're up here in the mountains of Colorado and the ground is VERY rocky. Still on the list though.

I did not know you are in Colorado as well. Welcome!
I am in Loveland myself.
There is a thread here full of great people also in Colorado.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/68894/colorado/24520#post_15550889

In case you want to join us over there.

 

[Toddrick]

That is a great coop, and the space is plenty for your chicks. At that age they won't use the ladder though, so if you want them back up top at night you'll need to get down there and grab them.