More chickens.

[Tom90]

So where I live it's currently 0°c - 12°c (32f-53f) and my girls are outside from dawn to dusk. As for rain Melbourne is known for having 4 seasons in one day so it's hard to say but they have the coop and also a sheltered area when it's wet. Spring it usually wetter than winter but alot warmer

 

[Tom90]

From what i can figure you have plenty of room i believe 4ft quare per chicken is recomended ( happy to be informed to a correct space ratio if im wrong) personally id prefer more than the minimum. And given my tendency to jump feet first id go for it now. Why wait lol. If you can give a good home to them then go for it. To my mind your capability to look after them trumps time of year. But once again im happy to learn if someone dissagrees with a valid arguement.

Thanks for the reply. I too feel impulsive to get them now I'm just new to chickens and wasn't sure about any possible issues introducing them during the cold weather or anything like that.

 

[LostBoi73]

Thanks for the reply. I too feel impulsive to get them now I'm just new to chickens and wasn't sure about any possible issues introducing them during the cold weather or anything like that.

Sink or swim baby! Lol
And if they have to huddle then that my help them bond quicker

 

[Tom90]

@Tom90, where are you located? You can add your location to your profile, and then it's always there. Your climate matters a lot when it comes to what advice people will give you.

Before you get any more chickens, read up on integrating groups of chickens so you can see what you need to do. That might help you decide when to get more.

Hi thanks for the reply. I will try to update my location. But in the mean time I am in nunawading Victoria. I have read a lot about integrating new hens to a flock however none of what I have read said anything about time of year is best other than that most breeders hatch new chick's in spring.

 

[aart]

my coop is roughly 1.2m3

Did you mean 1.2m2?
1.2m squared is only 12 sqft, fine for 3 birds.

 

[Tom90]

Did you mean 1.2m2?
1.2m squared is only 12 sqft, fine for 3 birds.

No it is a 1.2m cube with 3 nesting boxes multiple levels and enough room for 2 roosts but currently only has one. Also they are only in there at night and to lay.

 

[Tom90]

This.

My Little Monitor Coop is a 4x4x4. It is meant for 4 hens and I am currently getting away with having 5 in there due to living in an area with an unusually clement climate where my chickens are never confined to the coop alone and to having a vastly-oversized run.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/the-little-monitor-coop.76275/

For 6 chickens you'll need:

• 24 square feet in the coop. (2.25 square meters)
• 6 feet of roost (about 2 meters)
• 60 square feet in the run. (5.6 square meters)
• 6 square feet of ventilation. (.6 meters)
• 2 nest boxes, to give the hens a choice

Integration is one of the situations where extra space above these minimums is a good idea.

Here are some useful articles on integration:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-coop-brooder-and-integration.74591/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/introducing-new-chickens-using-the-“see-but-don’t-touch”-method.67839/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/adding-to-your-flock.47756/

I made an integration pen out of a very large dog crate and a "playpen" I'd been given: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mini-coop-or-integration-pen-from-a-large-dog-crate.76593/

Thanks for the reply. Those measurements are helpful, so my run area is roughly 430 square feet with several undercover protected places. So that's covered, but in regards to the coop it has a floor space of 4 square feet and currently 3 nesting boxes and 4 feet of roost (with space for another 4 feet). I'm not sure what set up you have but my girls come outside when the automatic door opens in the morning and only go back inside to lay and at night, so I am unsure as to why so much floor space is needed inside when it is never used?