New plan--Buying a coop

[Seaecho]

Well, after getting a quote of $1,000-1400 to have a chicken run built, hubby and I were looking at coops online, and I found this one on sale. It's a polymer blend (more of less plastic, I guess) and it's only $149. We already have three cages that we can link together to make a 15 ft. x 4 ft. run. We can back it up to the coop. Why didn't we think of this before, instead of getting someone out to build a run to fit our coop? This will be much, much easier. Here is a pic. We will put treated wood underneath it to raise it a little. Does it need more ventilation? The coop door will always be open, so I'm thinking that will be enough ventilation? For those of you who didn't see my prior posts, I'm getting 4 bantam hens. AND all the cages have tops, so no threat of predators. We are also putting stakes in the ground with 1/2" hardware cloth up a foot inside the run and out 2 feet for a skirt on the outside.
https://www.wayfair.com/pet/pdp/new-age-pet-fontana-chicken-barn-new1073.html?piid=16696431

 

[nminusyplusm]

Just an FYI: the interior dimensions are 5.13 sq ft and I can't tell if they're including the next box in the square footage:
http://www.newagepet.com/product/ecoflex-fontana-chicken-barn/

From what I've read here, that seems on the small side even for bantams. If you give them 2 sq ft in the coop each, you're looking for an 8sq ft interior.

 

[ChickNanny13]

It's been "recommended" 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop with 10 sq ft per in the run, however more space the better = less flock squabbles & issues.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

It's been "recommended" 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop with 10 sq ft per in the run, however more space the better = less flock squabbles & issues.

X2

 

[nminusyplusm]

It's been "recommended" 4 sq ft per chicken in the coop with 10 sq ft per in the run, however more space the better = less flock squabbles & issues.

Definitely 4 sq ft minimum for LF, and the more the better, but what do you think for bantams? I'm not a bantam person but I'm curious. I've searched around here and found the low end to be about half the LF requirement, and that still seems small to me.

 

[Seaecho]

That's why we went for it--bantams are only-what? about a third the size of full size chickens, so I thought this would be enough room.

 

[Seaecho]

4 ft. by a little over 4 ft. is 16 sq. ft., but I forgot to take the nest box into consideration. I was figuring it would give 4 s.q. to each bird. Well, it's too late now I already ordered it.

 

[nminusyplusm]

You should do a lot of searches here for the right square footage for bantams but what I've found doing the same is that people are saying 2-3 sq ft *minimum* for bantams. Of course, more room is always better.

If you have 4 bantams that's a 8-12 sq ft coop interior. The coop you linked to would give each bird a little over 1 sq ft. That's too small, IMHO.

 

[nminusyplusm]

4 ft. by a little over 4 ft. is 16 sq. ft., but I forgot to take the nest box into consideration. I was figuring it would give 4 s.q. to each bird. Well, it's too late now I already ordered it.

Next box square footage doesn't count. What's the return policy, in case you want something bigger after you see it?

 

[nminusyplusm]

4 ft. by a little over 4 ft. is 16 sq. ft., but I forgot to take the nest box into consideration. I was figuring it would give 4 s.q. to each bird. Well, it's too late now I already ordered it.

I'm not sure I understand, where are you getting 4' x 4' and 16 sq ft from that coop?