Question on chicken math with chicks!

[GodofPecking]

For your coop AND the conditions that you mention, I'd recommend a dozen chicks. They'd be fine.

While they are growing, you might turn your hand to building an extra coop, or get the local handyman to make some for you. Most commercial coops are made to eventually send the customer back to give the company further profits. I can already see the timbers of your coop as they weather and disintegrate. It will take a few years, but NOT a few decades. An extra coop built from scraps of hardwood would last decades, and you many find it very helpful to have a place to separate some of the birds, or to raise your own. Somewhere for the Hen and her chicks if one day that's what you want.

The coop is great, that one should be a few years, but a longer lasting one will have the roof project beyond the coop for at least 2 or 3 feet, to stop rain, snow, frost, and dew getting on the wood and wire. Something to think of in the coming months. 12 chicks will take a while to grow, 6 months till their first eggs, but it will be worth it. Don't forget to either feed them by hand rather than a bowl sometimes, or give them treats by hand so that they are never afraid of you. Also, when you feed them, practice a call for food so that you can call them later on.

 

[blucoondawg]

The recommended number of chickens per square foot of coop is 1 bird per 4 square feet, this coop equals out to 16ft so 4 adult chickens. That's only a guideline but it's a decent starting point, I use larger shed style coops and go a little over on the numbers because it's easy to add more nests and most importantly ventilation in a large coop.

I see you are in Florida where cold and snow won't be an issue, if you wanted to go with more birds you could partially enclose that entire run with a wind break and add roosts in there, sort of turn that whole thing into a coop and let them out to free range in your other area, that would work good. But I would not put more than 4 or 5 hens in that little box coop.

 

[GodofPecking]

Two things to remember. Calculations are different for chicks compared to chickens. Two, chooks which grow up together get along better than those who do not, and their requirements are not as demanding.

 

[blucoondawg]

Last time I checked chicks turn into full grown chickens in short order, the op is asking for recommendations for this coop as that is the coop they are building.

 

[Seatrout00]

For your coop AND the conditions that you mention, I'd recommend a dozen chicks. They'd be fine.

While they are growing, you might turn your hand to building an extra coop, or get the local handyman to make some for you. Most commercial coops are made to eventually send the customer back to give the company further profits. I can already see the timbers of your coop as they weather and disintegrate. It will take a few years, but NOT a few decades. An extra coop built from scraps of hardwood would last decades, and you many find it very helpful to have a place to separate some of the birds, or to raise your own. Somewhere for the Hen and her chicks if one day that's what you want.

The coop is great, that one should be a few years, but a longer lasting one will have the roof project beyond the coop for at least 2 or 3 feet, to stop rain, snow, frost, and dew getting on the wood and wire. Something to think of in the coming months. 12 chicks will take a while to grow, 6 months till their first eggs, but it will be worth it. Don't forget to either feed them by hand rather than a bowl sometimes, or give them treats by hand so that they are never afraid of you. Also, when you feed them, practice a call for food so that you can call them later on.

That isn't my coop - its the blueprint of a coop we are building from scratch - thus far we have the frame built - out of treated wood - it will last more than a few years - I have a large yard swing made of treated timber that has been out in the elements for 6 years and shows no wear. A dozen chicks is way too much for me, but thank you.

 

[Seatrout00]

The recommended number of chickens per square foot of coop is 1 bird per 4 square feet, this coop equals out to 16ft so 4 adult chickens. That's only a guideline but it's a decent starting point, I use larger shed style coops and go a little over on the numbers because it's easy to add more nests and most importantly ventilation in a large coop.

I see you are in Florida where cold and snow won't be an issue, if you wanted to go with more birds you could partially enclose that entire run with a wind break and add roosts in there, sort of turn that whole thing into a coop and let them out to free range in your other area, that would work good. But I would not put more than 4 or 5 hens in that little box coop.

We are planning on putting two roosts in the run area - yep - wind isn't really an issue here until we get a hurricane, and then nothing really matters. The hens will ride out any storm we go through in my garage - the coop will just have to brave it. I agree, four hens is ideal for this size coop.

 

[WFHomestead]

It's just sooo hard to know what is going to happen, and nearly impossible to predict how many adults chickens you'll end up with in the end. Be prepared to be flexible- have contingency plans for if you end up with too few or too many. Best of luck!

 

[Percheron chick]

If you are concerned that 4 chicks doesn't give you any wiggle room if something were to happen, get 12-15. Raise them to 8-10 weeks. By then, you should have a good handle on sex and personality. Keep 4 pullets and sell the extras. It's no more work to raise 15 instead of 4 and the coop is plenty big.

 

[Seatrout00]

If you are concerned that 4 chicks doesn't give you any wiggle room if something were to happen, get 12-15. Raise them to 8-10 weeks. By then, you should have a good handle on sex and personality. Keep 4 pullets and sell the extras. It's no more work to raise 15 instead of 4 and the coop is plenty big.

I have seriously given this a hard think. That would be a lot of chicks - I don't think I'd go over 6 and am now leaning toward just five - figuring all five will survive. It is true, I could sell extras should I get them .... or eat them even ... I can't really seem to decide ... keep going back and forth.

 

[Seatrout00]

For your coop AND the conditions that you mention, I'd recommend a dozen chicks. They'd be fine.

While they are growing, you might turn your hand to building an extra coop, or get the local handyman to make some for you.

Building an extra coop is money I can't spend - and the kind fella that is helping me build mine is from our church and doing it because "God nudged him that way" and to impose on him would be terribly rude, I feel. I also have a smallish yard - only live on 1/4 acre of land, in the middle of my city with a pop of 80,000 - so having more chickens than 6 is just not a reality for me.

I would love to have a flock of 50 or so, and sell eggs as a side project - but at them moment, that is not possible.