new coop

[mommyoftwo]

I just went and picked up my new "used" chicken coop. He had it for 3 years the kids used it for 4h chicken. They have since moved one from chicken to other animals. The coop is 4 by almost 4 ft and 41/2 tall. Their is a run attached that is 4 1/2 by 8 ft long by 6 feet high. He had 6 to 8 chicken in the coop. Is the coop to small for that? And I'm wanting to add nesting boxes to the back so I can get eggs easier. That will add a little more square footage. And what should I use for roosting poles as of right now their are none

 

[Judy]

I would not put more than 3 or 4 in there. Might have something to do with why they got out of chickens...

My roosts are the wide side of a 2x4, which work fine. Chickens' feet just don't curl around a round pole like a broomstick, in the same way that many other birds' do. Lots of people use a fat branch without a problem. Really big birds like JG or big Orps sometimes even prefer a shelf. Also, if you are up north, a flat surface lets them keep their toes warm with their bodies, which helps prevent frostbite.