Nest size. Need some help.

[Cattle dog Mom]

Is that square the whole thing or is it just going to be the coop? Will they be shut up in it during the day or free to roam?

If that is the coop and run, that's only enough space for one bird without them eating each other.

Did you see the reply to me right above your questions? (It answers your questions.)

 

[Tired old Rooster]

I am not sure a chicken wire bottom is needed. They will need to scratch and peck the grass they will be on all day. A wire bottom will be very hard on their feet and prevent them from accessing the grass. Would others please chime in on this?

The bottom will remain totally open.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

So how big is the little box on top that will be enclosed for sleeping?

3 feet and 4 inches x four feet.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Don;t forget that you are going to need to leave a LOT of ventilation in the top part. Totally enclosed is NOT good. And as short as it is, how are you going to put a roost bar in there, AND have it be higher than the nest box? Or are you going to have a raised roof?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

3 feet and 4 inches x four feet.

Lol, that'll teach me to estimate square footage off a photograph! It looks like one foot by four feet to me!

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

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Lol, that'll teach me to estimate square footage off a photograph! It looks like one foot by four feet to me!

In the picture, the 1 foot part that is solid bottoom is for the next box.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Planning on a pitstop. Motorcycle tire set in ground. Stop once a week over that so the ladies can bathe.

I would think that even with 2 in there, they will "get on each others nerves" pretty quickly. And if you end up with 1 that is a bully, the other one won;t have a chance to get/stay away from her.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

Twenty square feet is the absolute minimum for 2. Once you add feeder and waterer, that number goes down. If they are free ranging during the day though you could get away with 2.

The whole point of the construction is that they have twenty square feet free to roam, with a new patch every day and the top box holds their food, water, nest and sleeping place. Only good for two?

 

[Tired old Rooster]

I guess the project is a wash then. One chicken on its own is pointless.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

The whole point of the construction is that they have twenty square feet free to roam, with a new patch every day and the top box holds their food, water, nest and sleeping place. Only good for two?

3x4 just isn't big enough for food, water, nest box AND sleeping space. 3x4 would be ok for sleeping space ONLY. Not including the other stuff.