Question

[LilyD]

When building a coop do you take into account the height of the coop as well as the length and width for figuring out space for chickens.

For example a 10X10 coop with tons of roosting space will allow for more chickens than a 10X10 without roosts right?

Just curious.

 

[Luciesbuddys]

I moved my chickens into the new coop before i had put up the roosts they were soooooooooooo ticked at me. they sounded like they were crying for about an hour so i scrambled and put one in and threw them on it. The roost was all that they wanted so i don't think mine would be happy with out roosts.

All of mine roost together if i had 6 roosts they would all squeeze on to the same one.

 

[Huskeriowa]

no. The usable floor area is what they use to get the 4 sq ft per bird from. Roosts are sort of a given.

 

[elmo]

For example a 10X10 coop with tons of roosting space will allow for more chickens than a 10X10 without roosts right?

No. Chickens spend most of their waking time on the ground so floor space is what you consider. But at night chickens naturally want to roost up high so you also have to allow enough roost space, too. Figure about 1 linear foot of roost space per chicken. And chickens poop all night, so whatever is below their roost (ideally, a poop board or tray of some kind) will be filled with manure every morning.​

 

[Teeah3612]

Has anyone ever built a second story on a chicken coop or at least a partial one? I would think with a 6 or 8 foot tall coop you could do a small portion with two floors and increase your available floor space that way. Just an idea. Any comments?