Need bigger coop but no available space

[aart]

It wasn't my decision, I was really held back by my mom who knows less about chickens than I do.

If you are a minor, you might just have to listen to your mother.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

If you are a minor, you might just have to listen to your mother.

I do believe aart makes the most valid in of point of all.

 

[caracals]

If you are a minor, you might just have to listen to your mother.

I'm an adult

I do believe aart makes the most valid in of point of all.

Not sure what you're trying to say here. I create art for others and sell it. I usually get about $30 a piece at times. Have over 100 at the moment, and with the help of my mother a bigger coop is possible

 

[caracals]

I've listened to all of you and glossed over replies as much as I could. I will send pictures of progress as it happens after I measure the available space in our backyard. PRETTY sure we do have viable space for a bigger coop and run to suit their needs! So I have high hopes that we can work this out : )

I may just convert the run into a coop as best as I can. It's a thick wire cage. Anyone able to pitch in help so I can transform it? It's 10 sq ft long and 4 sq ft high! It also has detachable parts so I can build in some nesting boxes if necessary. I think I will take some space off of the length and make it a partial run-coop thing, and add another run to connect with it so they can have more room to be free, soak up sun, and scratch/roll in dirt!

We also have chicken wire to cover the run a little better so that predators don't get in, but I've heard that they can still chew through it? What's a better wire to use?

 

[lazy gardener]

You might be able to find some shipping boxes or pallets that could be turned into a coop. Use some cinder blocks to level out an area, then start your build from there. That you know that your birds are not having their needs met is the first step. Whether your mother is holding you back, or finances, or the lay of the land is inconsequential. Either get an adequate coop built or re-home all but 2 - 3 birds.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

You do not need level ground for a coop and run. I haven't got a single square foot of level ground on 36 acres, but I managed to get a fabulous run built on a slope with two small coops at each end. Whatever surface area you possess, you can make it work. The secret is terracing and stepping the foundation. https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/albums/new-pen.6343434/

 

[JaeG]

Use galvanised or hardware cloth. You could try something two storied as well for the run to maximise space perhaps? Wire tunnels are good too, just so the chickens have opportunities to get away from each other. I've seen someone make wire tunnels so her chickens could go all around their property. I'm sure there's a solution out there - it'll just take a bit of planning and thinking (and being an artist you've got all the skills necessary)!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Personally I don't listen to people who think they're infallible. But that aside...

If you have extremely limited space you can do several things to make your pen and coop better. You could add roostbars to the coop. It's a 3' high coop you said, that's enough to add some low bars. If you are concerned about the roostbars getting in the way of cleaning, make them removable.
I agree with 4sqft per bird in and 10sqft per bird out. Those numbers can be flexible, though. If your chickens are let out of the coop at dawn and only closed up at sunset (say, with an automatic door), you can get away with a slightly smaller coop. This is especially true of larger numbers of birds. A chicken might need 2 sqft as "personal space" and another 2sqft to preform normal healthy behavior (stretching, flapping, scratching, preening). But the more chickens you have, the lower the chances of all your chickens doing this at once, so a little smaller generally won't hurt too much if you're planning on 6+ birds, especially if they have near-constant access to their pen space.

You can make a small pen FEEL larger for the birds as well. There were studies done on zoo animals that basically said the animals were more active, responsive, and had better health if they couldn't see their entire pen all at the same time. Something about seeing the entire extent of your world and living space is depressing. So putting in a divider into a small pen, like a wall or a small hedge can make it feel bigger than it is by making it feel like two separate spaces one can travel between. This also gives the chickens space to get away from each other. Having interesting things to interact with can also help, such as chicken swings, treat toys, tunnels and hiding places, dust baths, etc.

Keeping an animal happy in confinement isn't just a factor of space, it can also be factor of other things, so even in a small pen you can improve things.
Also, definitely look into terracing the walls of the pen down the slope. It's not hard and could pay off for you as you expand.
Good luck!

I don't at all think I'm infallible.

As a matter of fact, most days I think quite poorly of myself. Thank you for reinforcing this.

I have the social graces of a cow but the love and compassion and insight of someone entirely other than how I seem to come across online.

And now I'll remove myself from the BYC forums, the one place I've managed to find friendship and community. I am clearly becoming an unwelcome burden.

Adieu.

 

[Welshies]

Okay, no banter guys.
OP, I hope you figure things out.

 

[caracals]

Okay, no banter guys.
OP, I hope you figure things out.

Thank you so much! I've spoken with my mom about this and she isn't fighting with me about it anymore. I think she's finally listening

Just want my babies to be happy and healthy!