My co-op and run?

[cockadoodlewho]

I've built my first coop and the co-op is 6ft x 4ft x5ft and the run is 10ft long by 6ft wide how many chickens is that good for?

 

[KprsMom]

According to all I've read, you should have a minimum of 4 sq ft per chicken in your coop and a minimum of 10 sq ft per chicken in your run. I understand that to be floor space, not vertical space. So - with those calculations you have room for 5 chickens comfortably, 6 if you squeeze them in - which I don't think is recommended. Our coop is 4 x 8 and our run is 12 x 8 - our five chicks are super happy with the room they have to stretch out. Our city ordinance does not allow free-ranging, so I wanted to make sure they have plenty of space in both their coop and run since it's all they get.

Nice coop. You may want to consider skirting the bottom with hardware cloth to keep out nighttime predators. You can find good examples of that on this website. Want to keep your peeps safe.

 

[aart]

What is your climate?
Putting your location in your profile helps folks give better suggestions/answers.

I wouldn't put more than 4 in there.

 

[cockadoodlewho]

I live in Alabama don't get cold much here mabey one month of low of 26 or so only at night. It gets hot but plenty of shade. Coop is 5 ft high and am not done by far the skirting I have thought of doing the chicken wire at bottom and come out 18 inches on the ground to stop digging in. I plan to raise the coop and run to 8ft tall. Thanks for all the suggestions I am going to add constantly so all feedback is great

 

[junebuggena]

The run is big enough for 6 medium sized birds at most. Medium sized breeds are Leghorns, and most other white egg layers. Dual purpose brown egg layers are larger and, therefore, need more space. Your coop/run is big enough for 5 dual purpose birds at most.

 

[aart]

I live in Alabama don't get cold much here mabey one month of low of 26 or so only at night. It gets hot but plenty of shade. Coop is 5 ft high and am not done by far the skirting I have thought of doing the chicken wire at bottom and come out 18 inches on the ground to stop digging in. I plan to raise the coop and run to 8ft tall. Thanks for all the suggestions I am going to add constantly so all feedback is great

Probably gonna need way more ventilation...hopefully it's in the shade most the day.

 

[cockadoodlewho]

Probably gonna need way more ventilation...hopefully it's in the shade most the day.

its in the shade all day except for early morning after 10am is all shade. It has a 8 inch gap in roof ask the way around it and a four and a half door as of now that is just temporary

 

[barneveldrerman]

That's good for about6-7 chickens at the most. It's 4 sq.feet MINIMUM per bird in the coop. The run should be about 10 sq.feet per bird. I personally would only put 5 chickens.




Hope this helps!

 

[henless]

Since your in Alabama, I'm assuming it gets hot and sticky there? I would definitely add more ventilation. Maybe a couple of windows to get a cross breeze going during the summer? You can cut an opening in your walls, cover with hardware cloth and then use what you cut out to cover back up in the winter.

I would also change out the chicken wire in the run with hardware cloth. It does cost a bit more, but it is a lot more secure than chicken wire. Chicken wire is easily torn by dogs or coons. It really only keeps chickens in/out, not much anything else.

Be sure to put a wire apron around your coop/run to deter diggers from digging under to get to your chickens. Hardware cloth or welded wire 1"x2" would be good, 18"- 2' out is plenty.

 

[Cacique500]

Agree on the ventilation others have mentioned. I can't tell from the picture, but it looks like the 8" gap on the roof has no wire in there...if not, I would DEFINITELY put hardware cloth up there. You may also want to consider covering part (or all) of the run to keep it dry, which will keep down the smell.