Moving to the Coop

[smdcleland]

Looks like we can buy air vents. We will cut a hole in the coop and install a few.

 

[NatJ]

Looks like we can buy air vents. We will cut a hole in the coop and install a few.

Or you can just cut a hole and install hardware cloth over it to keep out predators.

Common guidelines for size:
coop floor area, 4 square feet per chicken
roost space, 1 linear foot per chicken
ventilation, 1 square foot per chicken (perhaps even more in the summer)
run space, 10 square feet per chicken

Bantams (small chickens) are usually fine with 2/3 or even 1/2 of that much space each, but based on the picture you showed, I think you have standard sized chickens.

 

[smdcleland]

We have Rhode Island Reds. Right now they are 6 weeks and still not full grown, but when they are, they will definitely not all fit comfortably. We are building an extension to the coop and will add plenty of bars for roosting and ventilation.

Thanks for the help!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Really might want to consider modifying the whole unit to serve as a coop, instead of tiny coop above tiny run. Note that this does NOT mean there's enough space for 6 adults, even then - by my calculations the total floor space of the whole unit is 19 sq ft which is tight for 6 standard birds. But modifying it will at least help address ventilation issues (those little circle vents are next to nothing as far as ventilation - think sq ft, not sq inches) and open up more space overall.

To turn it from 2 small "boxes" (tiny coop above tiny run) into 1 bigger "box" you'll want to remove as much of the inside coop wall as possible, plus the floor. Take out the old roosts too.

Nests might be able to stay as is, or may need to be relocated elsewhere or replaced - depends on the structure of the coop and how things inside stack up once done.

Run a new roost(s) lengthwise or widthwise across the newly open space, depending on how much roost is needed. Ideally you’d like 12” per bird but 10” can suffice in many cases.

Board up some of the external wire walls so that the roost area is protected from winds and rain. Do NOT fully cover up all the wire, you need ventilation and natural light, so at the very least a few inches under the roofline should remain open. If your climate allows for it, you can leave entire walls open with just the mesh, or make it convertible for the season by covering up open walls for winter, and then uncovering for summer.

Example of a modified prefab: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-renovated-prefab-coop.1440258/

 

[smdcleland]

My husband really likes that idea. I think we will do just that!