Just bought a bunch of problem pullets. What should we do?

[21hens-incharge]

Did I read that right?? You have a 5x5 coop with 3 existing birds and are adding 6 more?
That would be 9 birds in 25sq feet with existing behavior issues.

Man that is gonna be rough. Way to many for that coop. The 25sq feet is not subtracting for feeder space, water dish space or internal nests since we don't know about any of that.

I would be rethinking the plan.

 

[RAsChickens]

I'd separate them for a few days

 

[lhgrappler]

Did I read that right?? You have a 5x5 coop with 3 existing birds and are adding 6 more?
That would be 9 birds in 25sq feet with existing behavior issues.

Man that is gonna be rough. Way to many for that coop. The 25sq feet is not subtracting for feeder space, water dish space or internal nests since we don't know about any of that.

I would be rethinking the plan.

That is for the coop - which is two levels - upper is two 5 ft roosting bars with a poop board and lower is nesting boxes the coop is for sleeping and laying only - PLUS 50 sq foot run (they also get time outside of this enclosure) The feeders are external (no floor space), just the waterer in the run, which I might also be switching to external.

Plus we are more than doubling the run size.

It's similar to this http://www.thegardencoop.com/chicken-coop-plans.html

 

[21hens-incharge]

I think I will simply say that with behavior issues and limited sleeping/laying space troubles are already there.

You sounded very defensive so I suspect you already know it is to small.

 

[JRNash]

I'm currently working on a 10,000 sq ft pen. Just finished one for the ducks.
I have around 300 chickens. Ducks 35. They are very happy.lol

 

[JRNash]

You can't go wrong with more space. There will STILL be the Charles Manson in the flock from time to time. When I get one that is a perpetual problem (cannibalistic) I send them to camp before they get a cult following

 

[21hens-incharge]

Lol Nash! Are you trying to make me do math??
To many zero's so I ain't gonna.

 

[JRNash]

No,lol I have had a problem from time to time with overcrowding. Sometimes my hatching addiction overcomes good sense.

 

[lhgrappler]

Sorry, I don't mean to sound defensive. I just wasn't sure if you were understanding properly. I do appreciate everyone's input

 

[ChickNanny13]

When I was researching....
Coop = 4sq ft per bird
Run = 10sq ft per bird
14 sq ft per bird = minimum as it's been said, more space the better