My new $700 coop

[deighmey]

I just made this coop. It's 6'x4' so I'm wondering how many chickens I should keep. The attached run is 150 sq. ft. I plan on free-ranging my chickens also when they get older. I used plywood, 2x4s for framing, and timbers for the uprights, as well as a bunch of 2x2s. We are in So. Il so we are relatively warm in winter. Anyway, that's me!

 

[thriftyfarmer]

I'm thinking 10-20. Anyone else?

 

[jetdog]

4x6=24 sf,4sf per bird=6 birds max in coop.

 

[g17jimmy]

I thought it was 4sqft per bird if they were kept in at all times and free range was less. I have 7 large hens sharing a 16sqft coop at night. They free range during the day.

 

[Irishhenman]

If you don't get much snow you could keep up to 20 hens in there, if you get a lot 6-12

 

[juliefurry03]

My coop is similar sized and we were told no more than 6. So we got six and will downsize if they are too cramped.

 

[g17jimmy]

The only time all of mine are in the coop is roost at night and there is more than enough room for 6-10 hens to roost in a 6x4 coop. The rest of the time mine are outside scratching and digging up bugs.

 

[juliefurry03]

The only time all of mine are in the coop is roost at night and there is more than enough room for 6-10 hens to roost in a 6x4 coop. The rest of the time mine are outside scratching and digging up bugs. 

Do they free range or are they penned? There is also a difference depending on how they are allowed out.

 

[deighmey]

Right now my chickens are only 4-6 weeks old. I open up the coop to the yard every morning and close them up at night. I have a large number but I am planning to downsize to the ones I really like as they get bigger. My full-grown chickens free-range about 5 days per week When the little ones get to be 3-4 months I will start letting them out into the yard. We have a 3-acre "yard" and 14 acres of pasture surrounding. We usually have around a dozen cattle in the pasture in the summer to keep the grass from taking over so we can keep a pretty good eye on things. Our dog is good at watching over the chickens, too. So far his German Shepherd side is making him a good guardian, but then I think his Lab side has come to an understanding with our rooster. Maybe he just decided wild rabbits are more fun, lol!

 

[g17jimmy]

Mine are free range on ~ 2 acres.