Rooster pad

[Hilltop Flock]

I have a coop that is 7.5x2.5 feet—so a little over 18 feet in area. The roosting bar is as long and wide as the coop pretty much. There is an attached covered run that is about 16x8 (128 sq ft) plus a yard that is between 1500-2000 feet in area (it’s an oval).

Does this seem like adequate room for 6 roosters/cockerels? They would only be going in the coop to roost at night.

I know that more room is better, but using this would save me from having to build another coop and that would be grand!

**I know the run size is fine, but is the coop size going to be an issue? Or does access to a large run mitigate that tension?

 

[3KillerBs]

I have a coop that is 7.5x2.5 feet—so a little over 18 feet in area. The roosting bar is as long and wide as the coop pretty much. There is an attached covered run that is about 16x8 (128 sq ft) plus a yard that is between 1500-2000 feet in area (it’s an oval).

Does this seem like adequate room for 6 roosters/cockerels? They would only be going in the coop to roost at night.

I know that more room is better, but using this would save me from having to build another coop and that would be grand!

**I know the run size is fine, but is the coop size going to be an issue? Or does access to a large run mitigate that tension?

No.

Roosters are larger and more aggressive than hens. They need more room, not less.

18 square feet is enough for 4. Maybe. If they get along well. BUT, at only 2.5 feet wide there isn't enough room for a subordinate bird to pass a dominant bird at a respectful distance to show submission and non-aggression.

Here's a quote from an article I'm writing, not all of which applies, but which might help you think about the problem:

But I free range/have a huge run and my chickens only use the coop to sleep and lay eggs! Why do I need all that space inside?​

​

You might not. As I've said, these are guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.​

​

If you never close the pop door so that your coop and run function together as a fully integrated system that is the equivalent of a huge, open-air coop, then your flock might be just fine for years, even decades.​

​

If you are always out there to open the pop door at the crack of dawn or you have an ultra-reliable automatic door so that your chickens never lack access to their free range territory during the daylight hours, then your flock might be just fine for years, even decades.​

​

If you live in a mild climate where chickens can always go out into their run/range and are never kept in by snow or storms, then your flock might be just fine for decades. People who keep chickens in places with tropical and subtropical climates do successfully go without a coop at all, just offering a covered roost and some nestboxes.​

​

But when something happens ...​

​

When a determined predator moves in and breaks through the fencing so that you have to confine the flock to the coop itself so that you can fix the run,​

​

When an extreme weather event prevents your chickens from leaving shelter for days,​

​

When an emergency calls you out of town and you can't find someone willing to be there at the crack of dawn to open the pop door,​

​

Then you could have a mess on your hands.​

​

Which brings us back to the issue of flexibility and options. Any time you push a system hard against it's limits you have to count on everything remaining stable -- exactly as it is without any changes. How well that's likely to work depends on your specific circumstances. You may never encounter an unfortunate circumstance -- some people DO hit the lottery, after all.​

 

[Hilltop Flock]

No.

Roosters are larger and more aggressive than hens. They need more room, not less.

18 square feet is enough for 4. Maybe. If they get along well. BUT, at only 2.5 feet wide there isn't enough room for a subordinate bird to pass a dominant bird at a respectful distance to show submission and non-aggression.

Here's a quote from an article I'm writing, not all of which applies, but which might help you think about the problem:

But I free range/have a huge run and my chickens only use the coop to sleep and lay eggs! Why do I need all that space inside?​

​

You might not. As I've said, these are guidelines, not hard-and-fast rules.​

​

If you never close the pop door so that your coop and run function together as a fully integrated system that is the equivalent of a huge, open-air coop, then your flock might be just fine for years, even decades.​

​

If you are always out there to open the pop door at the crack of dawn or you have an ultra-reliable automatic door so that your chickens never lack access to their free range territory during the daylight hours, then your flock might be just fine for years, even decades.​

​

If you live in a mild climate where chickens can always go out into their run/range and are never kept in by snow or storms, then your flock might be just fine for decades. People who keep chickens in places with tropical and subtropical climates do successfully go without a coop at all, just offering a covered roost and some nestboxes.​

​

But when something happens ...​

​

When a determined predator moves in and breaks through the fencing so that you have to confine the flock to the coop itself so that you can fix the run,​

​

When an extreme weather event prevents your chickens from leaving shelter for days,​

​

When an emergency calls you out of town and you can't find someone willing to be there at the crack of dawn to open the pop door,​

​

Then you could have a mess on your hands.​

​

Which brings us back to the issue of flexibility and options. Any time you push a system hard against it's limits you have to count on everything remaining stable -- exactly as it is without any changes. How well that's likely to work depends on your specific circumstances. You may never encounter an unfortunate circumstance -- some people DO hit the lottery, after all.​

Thanks for the advice. I have another coop that is a little less than 60 sq ft, which will probably end up being their home.

I was thinking about putting more hens in that shed, instead, but I just save the space for the boys!

Btw— about how many sq ft do you recommend per rooster?

 

[3KillerBs]

Thanks for the advice. I have another coop that is a little less than 60 sq ft, which will probably end up being their home.

I was thinking about putting more hens in that shed, instead, but I just save the space for the boys!

Btw— about how many sq ft do you recommend per rooster?

I don't have any bachelor pad experience personally, but I remembered reading posts by people who do that they need extra elbow room.

If you search the forums there are some active threads about bachelor pads and rooster flocks.

 

[Alaskan]

How things work out depends greatly on the personality of those involved.

I have a bantam flock that had 4 females and 3 males living happily with each other in smallish quarters. They have 4 square feet per chicken of coop.

But, they are very mellow birds.

Back when I had other breeds that were a bit more rambunctious, all young males would be put in my overgrown (at end of season) vegetable garden. Here they had about 30 square feet per bird. But, they would NOT roost in the small coop that was there. They tended to spread themselves out through the weeds and the bush in the garden. As long as I had MANY feeding and watering spots, they did fine.

So.....

I am saying I fully agree with @3KillerBs it is possible for it to work, if they are super mellow, and grew up together.

But. . It is highly unlikely. The biggest hurdle, as already stated is that your coop is so narrow.

May bantam coop works with the tighter spacing because it is designed to be difficult to pin anyone in any spot, and the birds are very mellow.

The other breeds I have had would not accept such tight spacing with so many males.

With a bunch of males it is very important for them to be able to avoid each other completely if needed, and lots of feed and water spots so that no one is bullied.

 

[Hilltop Flock]

How things work out depends greatly on the personality of those involved.

I have a bantam flock that had 4 females and 3 males living happily with each other in smallish quarters. They have 4 square feet per chicken of coop.

But, they are very mellow birds.

Back when I had other breeds that were a bit more rambunctious, all young males would be put in my overgrown (at end of season) vegetable garden. Here they had about 30 square feet per bird. But, they would NOT roost in the small coop that was there. They tended to spread themselves out through the weeds and the bush in the garden. As long as I had MANY feeding and watering spots, they did fine.

So.....

I am saying I fully agree with @3KillerBs it is possible for it to work, if they are super mellow, and grew up together.

But. . It is highly unlikely. The biggest hurdle, as already stated is that your coop is so narrow.

May bantam coop works with the tighter spacing because it is designed to be difficult to pin anyone in any spot, and the birds are very mellow.

The other breeds I have had would not accept such tight spacing with so many males.

With a bunch of males it is very important for them to be able to avoid each other completely if needed, and lots of feed and water spots so that no one is bullied.

It’s a young rooster and the cockerels are his offspring. They have been together with the girls until recently. Now they are all living in a coop that is about 60 sq ft(plus a 50 sq ft covered run & 200 sq ft yard w/ room to expand) with multiple waterers and feeders.

There are a total of 10 male birds in that space, but soon to be 6. They are getting on well, so far...

I will be keeping them in this area.

Just means I have a to frankenstein a new coop for some pullets!