Newb coop question

[Clemvet]

I have a welded aluminum rectangular frame that is 12' long x 42" high and 42" wide that was left over from a project. I planned on closing in the back 4' of the 12' for a coop and covering the remaining 8' with hardware cloth for a small run.
I should have enough room in the coop for about 3 nesting boxes and a perch or two.
My questions is... Is this enough room for 10-12 birds? They will probably be all Dominiques or Barred Rock.
Thanks and what a great forum!!

 

[clayhill]

Sounds like enough room for 3-4 birds max. Might do for a little while untill you can build something larger. As anyone else here will tell you, once you have a few you'll want more.

 

[patandchickens]

12x3.5' = 42 square feet total.

If you put 10 chickens in there, that would be only ~4 sq ft per chicken TOTAL, which IMO is not near enough unless they will be free ranging for most of every day, which doesn't sound like it's your plan (?).

I would not personally put more than 4 chickens in that size enclosure, max. Maybe one or two more if you construct an "upstairs" house part so that the entire 12x3.5 footprint is available for pen.

JMO,

Pat