Our coop is 6x6 ft with 8 nest boxes built outside of the 36 sq. ft. The enclosed outside pen is almost the size of a large backyard. However, right now I have 21 chicks coming, which is about 8 more than I figure the coop should hold. The ceiling is 9 ft tall. If I build a 'loft' - a 2 ft wide shelf 5 feet high that chickens can reach from the laddered roosts, will that suffice to add appropriate floor space? My husband thinks I'll regret it because of the need for cleaning those shelves, but I plan to cover in vinyl contact paper....
