MissChick@dee
~ Dreaming Of Springtime ~
This is what I had to do.
Overcrowding causes so many problems. It can make them vicious towards each other. Expand if you can.
Best wishes
Last edited:
Overcrowded?
- Thread starter Tinkey71
- Start date
This is what I had to do.
Overcrowding causes so many problems. It can make them vicious towards each other. Expand if you can.
Best wishes
X2
If you have chickens (or other livestock), you will become a carpenter. It's all good.
Looks like 3-4 hens would be good for that coop. 4 is tight.
MissChick@dee
~ Dreaming Of Springtime ~
In the addition there’s 2 flatted 2x4 perches. 3 hens sleep side by side and are happy. My older hen claims the rest. I can’t wait to build a real coop I won’t get more chickens till I do. It’s a sleeping box nothing more.
I had chickens years ago. Built my own I wish I had it now! Lordy...that was like 30 years ago....now I just depressed myself (Ima old)
My guess is your coop is 4x4 on the inside and the run (including the coop) is 4x8 on the inside.
A 4x4 coop is appropriate for 3-5 birds depending on other conditions (like how often they're outside, bird size, etc). You might fit 6 bantams in there. The idea that that coop could hold anywhere near 10 chickens is absurd and gross. It's not even factory farm standards. In Ohio CAFO standards (and minimum legal requirement of space for birds) is 1.5sqft per bird, which means this coop can't even legally house more than 10 birds in my state, let alone 15.
Manufacturers hope to dupe people and unfortunately you got duped. I would write them an angry letter and then build your own. For 15 birds you probably want a minimum of 40-50sqft, so a 5x10 shed would be great. The rule of thumb is 4sqft per bird inside of the coop, but that can be fudged a little.
It's much more important for two birds to have 8sqft than 20 birds to have 80. And if you give 2 birds 7sqft they'll notice (and so will you), but 20 birds in 70 probably won't make a big difference. This is also true based on personality of your birds (some bullies/bullied birds need more space to sort out their issues, whereas a harmonious flock needs less space), the sheer size of them (Good luck even fitting a single CX into 1sqft, whereas a bantam may even be able to turn a full circle in 2sqft), and how often they're let outside and what that space looks like. If they need to stay locked up, possibly for days due to inclimate weather, 4sqft/bird is not going to be nearly enough. If the coop is just a place to sleep, you can easily get away with more birds in a smaller space. If their outside space is tiny or bare minimum, every bit of space in the coop counts as well.
So I suggest bearing this in mind, looking at designs in the coop construction parts of this site, and planning on building your own. A circular saw and a power drill will do most of the work for you and it's cheaper per sqft to build your own as well.
Alternatively... You could sell or eat your flock down to 5 birds. Also a legitimate option.
Good luck!
A 4x4 coop is appropriate for 3-5 birds depending on other conditions (like how often they're outside, bird size, etc). You might fit 6 bantams in there. The idea that that coop could hold anywhere near 10 chickens is absurd and gross. It's not even factory farm standards. In Ohio CAFO standards (and minimum legal requirement of space for birds) is 1.5sqft per bird, which means this coop can't even legally house more than 10 birds in my state, let alone 15.
Manufacturers hope to dupe people and unfortunately you got duped. I would write them an angry letter and then build your own. For 15 birds you probably want a minimum of 40-50sqft, so a 5x10 shed would be great. The rule of thumb is 4sqft per bird inside of the coop, but that can be fudged a little.
It's much more important for two birds to have 8sqft than 20 birds to have 80. And if you give 2 birds 7sqft they'll notice (and so will you), but 20 birds in 70 probably won't make a big difference. This is also true based on personality of your birds (some bullies/bullied birds need more space to sort out their issues, whereas a harmonious flock needs less space), the sheer size of them (Good luck even fitting a single CX into 1sqft, whereas a bantam may even be able to turn a full circle in 2sqft), and how often they're let outside and what that space looks like. If they need to stay locked up, possibly for days due to inclimate weather, 4sqft/bird is not going to be nearly enough. If the coop is just a place to sleep, you can easily get away with more birds in a smaller space. If their outside space is tiny or bare minimum, every bit of space in the coop counts as well.
So I suggest bearing this in mind, looking at designs in the coop construction parts of this site, and planning on building your own. A circular saw and a power drill will do most of the work for you and it's cheaper per sqft to build your own as well.
Alternatively... You could sell or eat your flock down to 5 birds. Also a legitimate option.
Good luck!
Thanks to all the ranters, you saved me some ire this morning.
I too get wound up about marketing illusions(lies).
Tongue in cheek humor ahead...
Wonders if they use day old chicks for populations sizes?
Like the brooder plates, which are also grossly over exaggerated regards to population capacity.
@Tinkey71 apologies for the rants, it's hard not to do.
Do you have any options for a larger coop, or reducing your flock numbers?
Knowing where you are located might help, milder temps can help.
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
I too get wound up about marketing illusions(lies).
Tongue in cheek humor ahead...
Wonders if they use day old chicks for populations sizes?
Like the brooder plates, which are also grossly over exaggerated regards to population capacity.
@Tinkey71 apologies for the rants, it's hard not to do.
Do you have any options for a larger coop, or reducing your flock numbers?
Knowing where you are located might help, milder temps can help.
Climate is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!
I might let three medium size chickens sleep in that. If they didn't free range that is about good for one.
MissChick@dee
~ Dreaming Of Springtime ~
Well I can identify with the OP. I’m all about solutions.
I hope the OP understands some of people’s frustration (rants) should be directed towards the manufacturer.
Being in the OP’s situation is not to be enevied or criticized.
Expanding the coop/run or down sizing the flock.
One takes work the other involves heartache.
We ALL learn. Sometimes it’s a hard lesson.
Either way I hope the OP knows there are people who empathize and understand.
Best wishes
I hope the OP understands some of people’s frustration (rants) should be directed towards the manufacturer.
Being in the OP’s situation is not to be enevied or criticized.
Expanding the coop/run or down sizing the flock.
One takes work the other involves heartache.
We ALL learn. Sometimes it’s a hard lesson.
Either way I hope the OP knows there are people who empathize and understand.
Best wishes
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #29
No problem about the rants- I had heard that people don’t like prefab coops and now I know why. I have a homemade coop for my ducks, the chicken coop was bought in a panic because of flooding issues made it hard to build anything at the time and they were getting too big for my other solutions
I live in Florida so 90% of days are nice weather- I tried letting them range a bit today ( their coop is inside a larger fenced in enclosure) and it went really well, so I may do that temporarily while I figure out how to extend my coop and or run.
I wouldn’t trust them being out during the night as the outer fence isn’t predator proof and lots of stories about people losing their flocks to coyotes and other things back here. But during the day I think they’ll be ok if I’m around to keep an eye. Thanks everyone
Despite my (mild) rant I don't regret getting a prefab at the start. They do have their uses, even if only temporary. Because I got a better quality one I was able to take mine apart and reuse pieces. Part of it became a brooder, another part held the waterer until I got a new waterer for winter, another part is a covered feed area. So it's still serving a purpose even though I have a new coop now.
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