proper coop addition

[Cherie1425]

I have a 6 foot by 12 foot coop with 12 nesting boxes for 25 hens, also have a outside old 6 hole rabbit hutch with out doors my girls like. I was wondering if a 6 foot by 12 foot addition would be enough room as I add another 20 to 25 pullets to my current flock? Do I need more nesting boxes too? They also have a 24 by 32 foot run which will increase to 30 by 48 with the coop additon. My girls don't get much outside time with all the Hawks and eagles around here.

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Sounds like your present coop is too small for your 25 hens already. Chickens need 5 square foot per bird in the coop. Any less and they can really turn on each other when cramped in. The run needs to have 10 square foot per bird for proper mental health as well.

Take a look at this article in our learning center for info on how much space chickens need...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Generally you need 1 or 2 boxes per 4 hens.so you may need to add a few more if you add to your flock.

Good luck and welcome to our flock!

 

[Cherie1425]

I was thinking it was but this is the second winter we have gone through with the girls and their coop this winter was horrible for us. Example of our place this winter. 6 6 by 9 kennels where the drift is in 4.5 of the kennels

 

[TwoCrows]

Holy Crow is that a lot of snow!! Makes me shiver just looking at that!

 

[Cherie1425]

Holy Crow is that a lot of snow!!  Makes me shiver just looking at that! 

our girls were very happy to have their small coop in this horrible winter. I put 3 heat lights in there for them and a light under their waterer for the to drink out of but still took warm water out to them.

 

[Cherie1425]

The top of our coop after all the snow fall

 

[TwoCrows]

That is just way too much snow for anybody! Did your chickens venture out at all into the snow? My birds are just terrified of snow. LOL

 

[Cherie1425]

Not for the first 3 days but they did start venturin out into the snow then would run right back into the shed to hide.

 

[Cherie1425]

The back of my girls coop.

 

[gander007]

Alright

great to have you joining the BYC flock

BYC has a very useful learning center