Question about my coop size...

[Zolasmama]

I have six new chicks, 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte’s, 2 Gold Laced Wyandotte’s, and 2 Rhode Island Red’s.

The coop I have for when they are older is a dog house with a roof that can be lifted up for easy access.

My question is how much space will my girls need? I’m thinking I need to add way more space to this “coop” but will have to add to it vertically from the bottom. Any advice?? The run will be built off to the side of the coop.


Measured the square footage and it was 4.8sq feet...

3 feet length, 1’ 8.5” width, 1’ 8.5” deep

 

[Molpet]

I have six new chicks, 2 Silver Laced Wyandotte’s, 2 Gold Laced Wyandotte’s, and 2 Rhode Island Red’s.

The coop I have for when they are older is a dog house with a roof that can be lifted up for easy access.

My question is how much space will my girls need? I’m thinking I need to add way more space to this “coop” but will have to add to it vertically from the bottom. Any advice?? The run will be built off to the side of the coop.


Measured the square footage and it was 4.8sq feet...

3 feet length, 1’ 8.5” width, 1’ 8.5” deep

4 sq ft per chicken in the coop... not counting nest box, food and water area
10 sq ft in the run per chicken are general guidelines

so 6x4= 24 sq ft for coop space

I use dog houses as broody boxes... or isolation wards for one bird.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You only have space for 1 adult bird. Building vertically won't work... I'd suggest saving this unit as an isolation pen or chick brooder and aiming for something much larger.

 

[Zolasmama]

Unfortunately this is what I have to work with...I am wanting to make it work even if I have to add to the existing structure...

 

[rosemarythyme]

Unfortunately this is what I have to work with...I am wanting to make it work even if I have to add to the existing structure...

I have to be very frank with you - I don't think it's worth adding on to as you have to add 6x the amount of floor space to meet the minimum suggested space. Plus no headroom for roosting, and a complete lack of ventilation and light.

You'd be better off building from scratch using recycled pallets or scrap wood, if you need to keep the cost down

 

[Zolasmama]

Well thank you for being honest. I appreciate it.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree that would be ok as a broody house or isolation coop.
It needs to be much much larger for 6 hens.

There are a lot of great ideas in the coops pages here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

What part of the country are you in?
Knowing your climate will help us to help you.

 

[Zolasmama]

I agree that would be ok as a broody house or isolation coop.
It needs to be much much larger for 6 hens.

There are a lot of great ideas in the coops pages here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/

What part of the country are you in?
Knowing your climate will help us to help you.

I live in Southwestern Colorado.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Well hi there neighbor (ish).


I am up by Fort Collins.

Yeah you will need a coop big enough they can be comfortable staying in when weather gets nasty.

Personally for 6 birds I would go with a 4x8 coop. The feed dish and water dish and nests all take up space.
I certainly would not want crowded cranky hens beating each other up.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I bought a whole coop that claims it holds 8 chickens . I am currently building a whole new huge coop and attaching to my run. As stated large enough space is necessary. Good luck though.