Roost Space

[RebelEgger]

We have 4 chickens (1 Rooster and 3 ladies) they are only 12 weeks old now. Our roost is 4 feet wide, I'm at max capacity aren't I? Was considering adding another hen (or 2 at most) but want everyone to remain comfortable and happy.

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes, I would think you would do better to think about adding chicks maybe next year. You will have gotten full size birds, at 12 weeks, they still have a lot of growing yet to do. You will also have gotten through the winter. Basically a little more experience.

The coop does not get bigger, and what seems to be enough space now, will shortly NOT be enough space when birds get full size. A lot of problems on here are from not enough space.

Mrs k

 

[NatJ]

We have 4 chickens (1 Rooster and 3 ladies) they are only 12 weeks old now. Our roost is 4 feet wide, I'm at max capacity aren't I? Was considering adding another hen (or 2 at most) but want everyone to remain comfortable and happy.

I agree, 4 chickens is max capacity for a 4-foot roost.

Adding another roost might be an option, but that depends on how big your coop is. It might not be big enough for more chickens even with another roost.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Our roost is 4 feet wide, I'm at max capacity aren't I?

There is a lot more to this than just roost space. The overall size of your coop, for example. You are in Nova Scotia, your winters will be brutal compared to many of us. If your chickens are stuck in the coop only for extended periods of time, extra room can be precious. A four feet long roost implies a small coop. A crowded small coop in a harsh winter could be bad.

I've seen a lot of different suggestions as to how much roost space chickens need, anywhere from 7" per chicken to 15". Which one of those applies to you? It will depend on your individual chickens and their personality, how many you have total, how do they get up and down. If they can just hop up there they don't need room to spread their wings and fly up or down. They don't take up that much room once they are on the roost and settled down but getting up and down and into the right position on the roost requires more. The ones highest in the pecking order will sleep wherever they want and may knock others off the roosts getting there.

I agree with Mrs. K, go through a winter before you add any more. You will be in a better position to make a good choice.

 

[RebelEgger]

@Mrs. K @NatJ @Ridgerunner

Thanks guys. I definitely put their comfort first before I would add anyone else. (But you know how easy it is to ponder adding more with chicken math)
Ours are EE and I don’t know how big they will get yet. I will wait for sure, I may even end up waiting until we build our new coop (yup already have plans drawn up for a shed coop) in a couple years. I really don’t think we could comfortably fit another roost that would allow everyone room to move around and get up/off current roost. They can either hop up or use a ramp to the current roost.
I just wanted to see what the experts had to say

As for being ‘cooped’ up in the winter, our (15’5 x 5’8) run is covered and we are going to make panels to go on sides of run to keep out wind and snow so hopefully this will allow them to spend as much time outside as possible but I guess I won’t know how it will all work until we do one winter with them.

Thanks again for the responses!