New coop size

grizzly21260

In the Brooder
7 Years
Joined
Aug 27, 2012
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Points
22
Location
Acushnet MA
A rooster and 1 hen were given to my wife and I. We have never had chickens before but they are already a part of the family. We were unprepared so we are using a dog house and kennel that the dogs never used for now. We are going to get 2 or 3 more hens and I am building a new coop for them. The kennel is made from chain link and is 15' by 30'. I put a wire top on it because of a number of hawks we have in the area and I am building a coop that will be 7 1/2 ' by 4'. Will that be enough room for 4 hens and 1 rooster? They will be locked in at night and I don't want them to be too crowded. Thanks for any help
 
In a coop, you should have 3 to 4 square feet per bird, so the size you're planning should be plenty! Kudos on your run...that'll make it very predator proof. Our primary predators here are also raptors, so we have a covered run as well. Sounds to me like you're got a great beginning. Welcome to BYC!
 
As far as I am concerned there are no magic numbers for chicken space required. A lot of people on this forum use 4 square feet in the coop along with 10 square feet in the run, but there are just so many variables in flock make-up, management techniques, climate, urban versus rural, and who knows how many other things that we can't have one number that is perfect for all of us. That 4 and 10 will keep almost everybody out of trouble and is actually excessive for the absolute minimum requirements for many of us, but occasionally even that gives problems. A couple of things I like to mention is that the more space I give them, the less hard I have to work to maintain them and the more flexibility I have to manage things that come up.

With all that said, I think you will be in good shape until you decide to hatch out more chicks. Even then, you might be OK as long as you don't overdo it.

One thing I'd consider. In Massachusetts, you will probably get some snow. Chickens usually don't like snow when they first see it and don't go out into it until they get used to it, which can take several days for mine. Mine will go out and forage and sun bathe in zero degrees Fahrenheit weather, but they don't like a cold wind. If a cold wind hits them, they get into shelter.

I'd suggest you look at how you could create an area that gives them wind protection and keeps the snow out of a portion of the run so they can more easily get outside in bad weather. Some people use tarps and such for that, but it sounds like you are in an urban area and "cute" may be very important to you and your relationship with your neighbors. You may need to be a bit careful how you do this.

I have a corner created by the coop and a wooden gate that gives them a good spot outside for wind protection. I have a roof over part of my run, but snow does blow in from the side. In my climate, that happens so seldom it is not worth fixing.

But all in all, for five chickens what you have sounds great. I think you will be fine.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom