Newbie

[Cooba]

Hello....just bought a really small coop 4x4 and ordered 5 Dominique chicks. Feel free to give me any advice. I know it should be just 4 chickens for the square footage but minimum order is 5. Coop needs much renovations for my liking.

 

[ValerieJ]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! Very cute coop! Chickens are huge fun to have if you give them what they need. The biggest thing they need is space. If they are too crowded they will peck at each other and may even begin to cannibalize each other.

The first change I would make to the coop is to increase the size. I would double it. In the long run, you'll be happy you did. There are many ways to do this and you can find a lot of ideas in the Coop & Run Design forum, including coops made entirely out of pallets which are free at a lot of farm supply stores.

Are you going to build a secure run to attach to it? That would be my second suggestion. You can learn what that requires in the same section.

Good luck with your new chickens!!!

 

[BDutch]

Welcome to BYC.

Domique‘s are quit big. So the space is really limited for 5 chickens. I would start to build a safe and roofed / sheltered run to the coop. And leave the chicken/coop door to this run open in the night. This way the chickens can go outside at sunrise. And have enough space in nasty weather.

Use 1/2“ hardware cloth, second hand windows and good roofing to keep predators and nasty winds outside. And let fresh air and the sun come in.

Make a larger run , a pen or free range during the day. Depending on the risk you take free ranging or an open pen (hawks).

And most of all, enjoy you’re chickens.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Yep, that coop is probably going to be on the small size for 5 birds. You don't list your location, but if it becomes necessary to confine the birds to the coop real problems will arise. Given a large, protected run with constant access things may be okay. Good luck.

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck with your chick's!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
That coop size can work fine if you build a large fully predator proof run attached to it so that you never have to close the pop door.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. I hope that you enjoy your time here.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I agree with the others, the coop is a bit small for 5 birds especially if they will be stuck inside together during long periods of bad weather. However the addition of a large enclosed run might work with your large breed choice.

Good luck and welcome to our community!

 

[N F C]

In addition to the size issue and the need for a covered run, it looks like more coop ventilation could be needed.

Best wishes with your upcoming flock, it's nice to have you here!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!

Best wishes and have Lots of FUN!