Opinions please :)

[mgarrett]

Hey everyone!

I have attached two pictures of my coop for my 3 new chicks. I'm basically hoping everyone can take a look at it and let me know if you think this will be enough room for my 3 girls. I've heard such varying numbers for how much space they actually need, so I'm hoping this will do the trick. The two inserts you see can slide out and be easily removed.

So, in other words, how many hens do you think this coop can handle?

 

[Teepov]

I've read& been told repeatedly that 4sq/ft is the minimum amount of space you need per bird. So far, I've done done more; somewhere between 4.5 and 5 sq/ft and everything has gone great. The number of hens your coop can handle also depends on roosting space... they'll need a whole foot of roost to themselves. So even if your coop measures 40 sq/ft, if you only had a 5 foot length of roost, you could only house 5 chickens... does that help/make sense?

 

[mgarrett]

Hhhmm..I've also heard the 4 square feet measurements pretty frequently but have also heard varying numbers. The 4 sq. ft. does seem to be the most popular... I guess I may have a problem if that's the case. The actual coop itself is 3 x about 3.5 ft. There are currently two different levels, but I'm still not sure how that works space wise. It just seems like so many coops I see for sell or that people have built are even smaller than mine and talk about having 5 or 6 chickens, but mine doesn't even seem like it may work for my 3. I just don't know. Thanks so much for your input though- every little bit helps. I do see what you mean about the roosting.

 

[Teepov]

From what I can see, I think your birds will be just fine. It seems like you're using the bottom level as a run? Because of the two levels, I would count your base square footage twice (they do, after-all, have two floors to roam around in).
Keep in mind, if you're planning on letting your chicken range outside of their enclosure during the day, you'll get more than the minimum 4 sq/ft. Based on what I've learned/experienced, that 4 sq/ft minimum includes all of the space they're living in.
Therefore, if you're using your coop just for laying and sleeping, (which is what I've usually done, with a small run-like space attached in case I'm gone for a weekend or something) you only really need enough roost and nest box space for your birds.

However, if you're using the coop as a permanent, all-the-time home, it needs to be bigger so they can still run around a bit without stepping all over one another.

But again, from what I see, I think they'll do great. Nice work

 

[Teepov]

Actually, now that I look at those pics again, I have a question for you: will that top level have it's own floor?

 

[mgarrett]

It will be more like a half floor...they will be able to get up to it and walk around some and there is also a roost. They will definitely be free ranging in the yard the majority of the time when I am home, but they will always have the enclosed area of the coop to roam in except for when they are sleeping. I was taking the 4 sq. ft. minimum as for the entirely closed in area only. If it does include the run as well it definitely fits that minimum.