New Set up advice

[Disecky]

I am first time chicken owner. I am employed at Storey Publishing in the design department and have worked on many of our chicken books but now I am jumping in with both feet.
I live in the Berkshires so our winters will be cold and snowy.
I would like to get some feedback on my choices for set up.

My plan is to have 8 chickens. 8 hens, or 7 hens and 1 roo.

1 Black Sex Link
4 Silkies
1 lavender Orpington
1 Splash Orpington
1 silver laced Wyandotte

8 Birds total, would love more

Is my set up big enough for 8 birds? Manufactor says coop will hold 12-15 birds but that seems off to me.

1. 4 x 6 coop from Shedman. Adding Poop boards with pdz. Thinking I will need to lower the roost bar for my silkies, possibly add a bar.
Deep hemp for the inside of coop.
2. 8 x 8 Producers Pride wire coop from Tractor Supply as my run. Adding hardware cloth around the outside 1/2"x1/2"x36" 19G black. Chain link skirt buried around perimeter. Metal corrugated roof added to run for protection from elements.
Clear plastic shower curtains on a couple of the sides as needed for winter, the back side is protected from the garage.
3. For the run I am thinking about using ramial wood chippings, but I am open to suggestions. I was originally thinking sand until I saw a winter post in one of the threads here. I am a composter so am comfortable with that too.

https://shedman.com/in-stock/chicken-coops/
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...l-poultry-pen-8-ft-x-8-ft-cr0808?cm_vc=IOPDP2

This site is amazing, so much wonderful stuff.
Thanks in advance for your help.

Liseann

 

[RooBeeC]

I think it would be big enough. I started out with something similar. Chicken math has totally taken affect and I up graded the size of my coop and run because I have a lot more chickens. If you dont plan to add more ever year youll be fine . My only concern is adding silkies with larger breeds. I would be worried they get picked on.. I got a few polish bantams at one point and my standard size girls would pick on them to the point were they lost their head feathers.

 

[pozees2]

I agree it may be a bad idea to mix Silkies with Large Fowl, their crests make them defenseless against anything overhead, including taller chickens pecking at their heads, which are often vaulted making them more vulnerable to head injuries caused that way. A 4x6 coop IMO is the right size for 6 Large Fowl chickens, not 12. If you are planning on all bantams it's fine, but I think it will be tight for 12 on bad weather days they spend more time inside the coop. This time of year you can get away with more because they're usually only inside to lay and sleep. In winter, there is a better chance they will want to stay inside more often, unless the run is well shielded from wind and precipitation.

 

[Disecky]

I think it would be big enough. I started out with something similar. Chicken math has totally taken affect and I up graded the size of my coop and run because I have a lot more chickens. If you dont plan to add more ever year youll be fine . My only concern is adding silkies with larger breeds. I would be worried they get picked on.. I got a few polish bantams at one point and my standard size girls would pick on them to the point were they lost their head feathers.

Thank you

 

[Disecky]

I agree it may be a bad idea to mix Silkies with Large Fowl, their crests make them defenseless against anything overhead, including taller chickens pecking at their heads, which are often vaulted making them more vulnerable to head injuries caused that way. A 4x6 coop IMO is the right size for 6 Large Fowl chickens, not 12. If you are planning on all bantams it's fine, but I think it will be tight for 12 on bad weather days they spend more time inside the coop. This time of year you can get away with more because they're usually only inside to lay and sleep. In winter, there is a better chance they will want to stay inside more often, unless the run is well shielded from wind and precipitation.

I can absolutely shield the run better if I need to, I have large sheets of plexiglass too.

 

[pozees2]

I usually advise people to plan for twice the number they think they're going to have, because chicken math. They are among the most irresistible creatures on earth

 

[Disecky]

I usually advise people to plan for twice the number they think they're going to have, because chicken math. They are among the most irresistible creatures on earth

I bet, I have 4 house rabbits

 

[pozees2]

I bet, I have 4 house rabbits

See?! You know!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your set up is big enough for 8 but does not allow for any further additions, since you mentioned possibly wanting more.

If your dream flock is 10, build for 15, etc.

 

[Pork Pie]

Maybe take a look at this link - Space requirements