Room for more birds?

[BarnyardChaos]

If you add a second coop, or build on to the existing one, you might have room for more birds. However, I don't suggest adding more yet. It'll just be too crowded. Chickens have their 'personal space' too, and over-crowding leads to injuries and unhappy birds. If you add birds, they'll have to have space to escape while the new pecking order gets sorted out.

Also, I agree with Momatomany above - your run isn't as secure as you think with the chicken wire. A determined raccoon or dog/fox/coyote can rip through chicken wire pretty easily. And snakes can easily enter. Hardware cloth is a better option. Meanwhile, you could add a locking door to that coop entry, and lock them inside at night.

No apologies needed for using leftover materials! It's the BEST kind of building for DIY chicken coops. I love it!

 

[Laylahege]

Since you're in Georgia, unless you're in the coolest part of the mountains, you could turn that entire arrangement into an Open Air coop and forgo having a fully-enclosed coop at all.

Open Air coops are highly recommended for hot climate areas.

Open Air Coops

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/jens-hens-a-southern-texas-coop.75707/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/my-positive-local-action-coop.72804/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/california-living.68130/

Thanks so much for this info! Going to look into this more. I'm in the ATL suburbs, it stays above freezing virtually year round. We get a day or two of 20s temps every now and then. I'm more worried about the heat right now. I've been giving them ice water every day.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks so much for this info! Going to look into this more. I'm in the ATL suburbs, it stays above freezing virtually year round. We get a day or two of 20s temps every now and then. I'm more worried about the heat right now. I've been giving them ice water every day.

Here's my article on hot climate chicken keeping: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/hot-climate-chicken-housing-and-care.77263/

 

[Laylahege]

This is such good info. I got my birds in winter and was so worried about them being cold... I think I will totally re-vamp the coop/run.

 

[3KillerBs]

This is such good info. I got my birds in winter and was so worried about them being cold... I think I will totally re-vamp the coop/run.

Chickens tolerate cold better than heat. Well acclimated, they can handle at least down to 0F as long as they are dry and out of the wind.