Opinions on a frequent topic

[aart]

Thanks for your feedback. Just roof venting...

The 4sqft is minimum IMO...despite some being bantams.

Also extra room is needed to keep birds separate during integration of additional birds.

Do you have ventilation up high above roost area for winter?

I also do have a full length 4ft screen door (hardware cloth).[/QUOTE]
In winter, depending on your prevailing winds and the layout of your roosts and nests, you may want more ventilation up high.

You want lots of air to be able to escape the coop but no strong drafts on the roost area especially. (Strong drafts meaning anything strong enough to literally ruffle the feathers that keep them warm).

The more birds in a smaller space amplifies humidity and ammonia from respiration and poops.

Closed waterers can help reduce humidity, I use a heated water jug with horizontal nipples for very little evaporation and no frozen water.

 

[sundancepm]

Good tips. Thanks!

 

[Folly's place]

I have five sq. ft. per bird, and 1/3 of them are bantams, and in winter it's tight in there when there's snow and they want to stay inside. This year I added a roof to my run, so things will be better in winter. Crowding leads to all kind of problems, IMO. Mary

 

[sundancepm]

Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately everything I read prior to acquiring my flock led me to believe they'd be fine...read books, blogs. I will have decisions to make as it unfolds I guess!

 

[Folly's place]

You've got time to see how things work out. Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Chickens will always surprise you, I too would wait and see, but have a back up plan.

 

[sundancepm]

Thank you! At this point I will deal with issues as they arise. I already love each member of my flock!!

 

[aart]

Thank you! At this point I will deal with issues as they arise. I already love each member of my flock!!

Sometimes that's the only way to go, as every situation is different.
Just read as much info as possible and you'll have it in mind, when a situation comes up you might already have the answer.

 

[Mrs. K]

Some things to watch for:
* Often times, what seems to be more than enough room when the birds are young, shrinks to not enough room when the birds are full grown. So what works now, might not work later.

Signs of stress:
* irritability, feather picking, bullying a single bird, decresed egg production, fighting.

A couple of things that help stretch space is 3 dimensional use of it. In the run make sure there are multiple areas of shade, a platform (just a pallet up on blocks) allows birds to get under it and perch on top of it, but out of sight of other birds. A pallet leaned up against the wall with openings at either end, allows a weaker bird to hang out of sight, it gives her a place to run away to. A couple of roosting perches in the run are also good.

Adding more than one water/feed station is another way to help keeps things happy in the run, especially one that is behind something, so that an aggressive bird can't see a lower bird eating.

These things will help stop bad habits before they begin. Without a doubt, you are near your capacity for the flock. One of the hardest part about chickens is the math, people love to add, and hate to subtract. However, without subtracting, you can get miserably, stressed flocks.

Mrs K

 

[sundancepm]

Thank you for your reply. I understand things will change as they grow for sure, looking into adding a second coop. As far as the runs, I think I have everything you mentioned covered. I have two 100 square foot runs that are separated but attached, meaning there is actually a chain link fence between them but both are closed off as a unit, so the chickens can freely go to one or the other. I have food and water and toys in each one, as well as a roost in one, a chicken swing in the other, a sand/DE bathing area, a log, etc. There is a 3 foot wide L-shaped walkway adjacent to both of them as well as all-day coop access. In the Fall or Spring, I will be adding a 3rd 100 sq ft run adjacent to the current two giving them access to all three areas I'm hoping these changes will be enough?