Need advice for amount of chickens 4x4x6 coop please.

[NatJ]

stick with your 4 -- that is literally the perfect number of hens for daily egg usage. Once they begin laying you will get 1-4 eggs a day and that is literally all you will ever need.

That depends on how many people are in the household and how many eggs they like to eat. There is no perfect number that will work for all situations.

In this case I agree that OP should stick with the four pullets and not add more, but I say that because of the coop size not because of how many eggs will or will not be produced.

 

[thistlewick]

That depends on how many people are in the household and how many eggs they like to eat. There is no perfect number that will work for all situations.

In this case I agree that OP should stick with the four pullets and not add more, but I say that because of the coop size not because of how many eggs will or will not be produced.

That is precisely what I said, nuance is fun.


I didn't mention coop size, because I didn't have to, it was implied already since that is the subject of the OP's post.

And the OP did mention they were married, didn't mention any children. So 1-4 eggs a day for 2 people is spectacular!

Thanks for your concern.

 

[LaFleche]

With so little coop space I would even advise to pick the bantam version of your mentioned breeds and maybe two of the preferred breeds instead of one of each.

 

[paintedChix]

You didn't mention the amount of ventilation you are or have already installed. What are your plans for your girls during prolonged winter storms?

Also, where will feed/water be located? That will be very difficult w/ such a small amount of space for four large, fluffy girls. Even Orpingtons turn on each other in such a small space, if have to be cooped while they are awake during storms.

I had 2 Orp hens & an Orp roo in a 4x8 coop w/ a combo of movable fencing & free ranging. They were NOT my happiest breed of birds in such a small coop area. I did have feed & water in the corner next to door & nestbox over the feeder. In good weather, the feed & water moved out, but in bad (hurricane, ice/snow storm), when birds were penned (open air CP hoop coop), the feed & water took floor space. When i changed types of feeders/waterers, taking less space as hung from wall, but it didnt really matter. They just didn't do as well in that size of coop & it's 2x the size you're working with.

That same space is in the works to be enlarged from 4x8 to 8x10 w/ a permanent run that will probably start @ 10x 16 & be able to be permanently enlarged in a couple of different configurations. I'm not planning on more Orps at this time, but will have larger, meat line of Delaware in this coop to start. If not large enough, they will move to a 10x16 coop in our pasture (also being rebuilt from an 8x8 CP hoop coop) w/ run that will be 10x16 & attached to larger garden area (seasonal & rotated w/ another coop).

 

[Yardmom]

I guess the number of eggs that a person needs can really vary. My DH eats at least a half dozen every day on his own. We figure about a dozen a day to meet the needs of our family of 4. Having 50+ birds keeps us covered and then some for giving away year round.

 

[NatJ]

And the OP did mention they were married, didn't mention any children.

Where? I've read and re-read the thread, and I just can't find it at all.
This is now driving me crazy, that you say they said and I can't find it.

So 1-4 eggs a day for 2 people is spectacular!

Again, that depends on the people.

 

[tlcmurphy]

Where? I've read and re-read the thread, and I just can't find it at all.
This is now driving me crazy, that you say they said and I can't find it.


Again, that depends on the people.

I don’t see it either.
We have 4 hens in a similar sized coop (which will not fit more, trust me).

I “determined” 4 was the perfect number of hens for eggs for a family of 4. What I didn’t plan on was 1 hen deciding she didn’t want to lay anymore, and my kids deciding they could eat as many eggs as they wanted since “They’re Free”. So, it truly does depend on your family and your hens

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I notice OP mentioned her coop will be insulated. Not sure that's really necessary? Ventilation, however, definitely is. Plan one square foot of ventilation per bird. Lack of ventilation leads to condensation, and condensation in freezing weather leads to frostbite on combs and wattles, a serious and painful condition! Just be sure the ventilation is above the chickens' heads when they roost and won't cause a draft that can ruffle their feathers.

You say you don't have the roof on yet. Consider a clerestory type ventilation along the roof line as well as vents at both ends, all covered with 1/2" hardware cloth.

 

[thistlewick]

Where? I've read and re-read the thread, and I just can't find it at all.

I swear she said 'my husband' somewhere, but I went back and looked and it's not there. So I must have read it on another thread that I read right before reading this one and just mixed up the info.

And yeah, 1-4 eggs a day for 2 people is perfectly fine.

I get 7-12 a day for 2 people and it's a joke. I donate 4-5 dozen a week to my local food bank. When I began doing that, I wish I had more chickens, it feels really really good knowing I'm helping in some small way in my local community. But I also cannot handle more than 17 chickens lol

 

[NatJ]

I swear she said 'my husband' somewhere, but I went back and looked and it's not there. So I must have read it on another thread that I read right before reading this one and just mixed up the info.

Thanks. I was getting really bothered about the fact that I just could not find it. Glad to know it's not there to find.

I've done similar things before, when I remembered something that wasn't there (often from another thread or another poster in the same thread.)

And yeah, 1-4 eggs a day for 2 people is perfectly fine.

It still depends on the people.

1-4 eggs per day would not be enough for a person who eats 4 eggs for breakfast every day, and sometimes eggs at other meals too. I know a person who does that.

I get 7-12 a day for 2 people and it's a joke. I donate 4-5 dozen a week to my local food bank. When I began doing that, I wish I had more chickens, it feels really really good knowing I'm helping in some small way in my local community. But I also cannot handle more than 17 chickens lol

That's sounds like a good way to have the number of chickens you want and not have extra eggs going to waste