Size of coop for only at night

[Marlinchaser]

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OK what is a bushveld????

Go with the Boschveld, at least you can remember that name its close to where you live.

 

[Marlinchaser]

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Sounds like trouble on the Horizen.

 

[Wildsky]

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Sounds like trouble on the Horizen.

 

[Cyara]

digitS' :

Cyara, this wildlife is what - - cheetahs! leopards!! lions!!! ???

Occasionally wrestle a leopard down before breakfast. The cheetahs and lions have learned to stay away....

Okay, I'm assuming that you know that chickens don't do much of anything when it is dark, other than sleep. Unless you can allow them to come out promptly every morning, they will need floor space thru the day. With an 8 foot by 8 foot coop, chiknmama has 64 square feet. For her 9 chickens, that is 7 square feet for each bird.

I don't want to fall out of bed at the crack of dawn each day to let them out so I guess I will have to accomodate them spaciously even though will be out most of the day. I would best like to let them out once egg-laying was complete. I have no idea when that is likely to be as I have only raised some magnificent cockerels to date.....

. If I convert over to normal measurement....

ouch!... then I think about 1 square meter per bird would be reasonable.

Some of us get by with considerably less than that. I have an insulated part of the coop and what some folks call a sunporch. It has a roof and floor but is open to the air. The building might be considered as 52 square feet or as 26 square feet depending on whether the sunporch is counted as a "pen" or as part of the coop. (The birds free range quite a lot but do not have a pen on the ground.) Four hens seem quite comfortable in this arrangement.

Sounds really nice for them.

For the roost only, I think you could get by with that "1 foot squared per bird." Food and water could be outdoors.

And so would I be it seems.... outdoors.... far too early. I best give them food and water inside. Was hoping not to.... more messy.

Some people that keep chickens have the feed and water under a little building that is used for roosting. That ground floor area can also provide shelter from the sun and rain thru the day. This building, the area under it and an attached pen could all be parts of a tractor. (Check out the elevated tractors on this page. )

What lovely designs!

Any small building would need to provide adequate ventilation even if the chickens are only using it for roosting.

Agreed. Thanks for your comments Steve.

"I have Australorps! Nice to know that they are in South Africa."

They are popular here. Real pretty.​

 

[Cyara]

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Hey! Hi....

 

[Cetawin]

Hello Cyara and welcome!

Ummm here is my 2 cents worth...

What would be the best size?.... comfy but snug As you are looking at dual purpose and somewhat heavy breeds, I would not go less that 4 sq ft per bird. By the way...you will love the Australorps! Of my 31 hens, 8 are BAs. They are great girls.

How high must the roosting pole be off the floor? You can stagger them like steps but I would start at 18" - 24" above the bedding level.

Can the roof above the roosting pole be low... I heard it stops them crowing because cannot stretch up high so can't crow. Is this true? No sadly it is not. You can put them under crates and in doggie kennels and they will still crow. I would want a couple of feet between the roost level and the roof...hot air rises, so you want to give room for ventilating without letting them get a draft.

How thick should this roosting pole be? The best roost is a 2 x 4 with the 4" side up. Gives them chickens plenty of room to settle and sit on their feet. they do not grip poles and such like other birds, they sit flat footed predominately.

Should they be housed individually or will they be happier together in a group? What number is best? Group them. they are social and flock animals. The number depends on your personal preferences. I have 31 hens and 1 roo in a 12' x 12' coop. They are in the run or tractors during the day and good weather.

Must food be available at night or only water? It is best to keep both available 24/7. they can eat before you ever get in the morning. I noticed in one of your posts that you did not want to go out at the crack of dawn, so leave it available to them and they can start without you in the mornings.

What is the best way to give water at night? A poultry waterer would be preferred. Make sure it is large enough for the number of birds you have. be prepared to fill it in the morning and again at night.

Other insight for you...using apple cider vinegar not distilled and not white nor apple cider, helps with digestion and internal parasites to a degree. Mix 1 tsp per gallon of water. I would not use it in the water if you have a galvanized waterer.

With your predators, make sure you have hardwire cloth or chicken wire that come down the sides of the tractors and out away from it so that diggers cannot get inside and larger predators will not be able to flip it over as easily (if your tractors will be small portable type).

Good luck with your future chickens.

 

[Cyara]

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Hi Robin,
Thanks so much.... me too! Lots to learn yet but this site is fantastic.

As a rule of thumb, I give each bird 8 inches of roost pole and then 3 square feet of floor space per bird in a sleeping coop. That allows them to move around on the floor when they wake up or are going in to get situated to roost at night.
You will find that your birds will be much happier if you allow them to stay together at night instead of housing them seperate. It makes them feel safer.
Good Luck with your chooks!

OK... will put them all together at night. 8 inches... about 20cm... nice and snug for them. If 2 meters across then that fits 10 birds. And some floor space for those who like to sleep on the floor. My design is shaping....

 

[Cyara]

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Hi Cheryl! Bushveld is like savanah with a few trees. Thanks for the welcome

 

[Cyara]

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Hi Cetawin. Thanks for the welcome.

Ummm here is my 2 cents worth...

What would be the best size?.... comfy but snug As you are looking at dual purpose and somewhat heavy breeds, I would not go less that 4 sq ft per bird. By the way...you will love the Australorps! Of my 31 hens, 8 are BAs. They are great girls.

What is a BA?

How high must the roosting pole be off the floor? You can stagger them like steps but I would start at 18" - 24" above the bedding level.

Oh! Neat! I like that idea.

Can the roof above the roosting pole be low... I heard it stops them crowing because cannot stretch up high so can't crow. Is this true? No sadly it is not. You can put them under crates and in doggie kennels and they will still crow. I would want a couple of feet between the roost level and the roof...hot air rises, so you want to give room for ventilating without letting them get a draft.

Didn't think of that. Of course. Not healthy.

How thick should this roosting pole be? The best roost is a 2 x 4 with the 4" side up. Gives them chickens plenty of room to settle and sit on their feet. they do not grip poles and such like other birds, they sit flat footed predominately.

I didn't know that either! So a plank is better. Interesting. Thanks.

Should they be housed individually or will they be happier together in a group? What number is best? Group them. they are social and flock animals. The number depends on your personal preferences. I have 31 hens and 1 roo in a 12' x 12' coop. They are in the run or tractors during the day and good weather.

About 3.5m by 3.5m.

Must food be available at night or only water? It is best to keep both available 24/7. they can eat before you ever get in the morning. I noticed in one of your posts that you did not want to go out at the crack of dawn, so leave it available to them and they can start without you in the mornings.

Yes. That will be best.

What is the best way to give water at night? A poultry waterer would be preferred. Make sure it is large enough for the number of birds you have. be prepared to fill it in the morning and again at night.

I remember that part very well!

Other insight for you...using apple cider vinegar not distilled and not white nor apple cider, helps with digestion and internal parasites to a degree. Mix 1 tsp per gallon of water. I would not use it in the water if you have a galvanized waterer.

I will do this.

With your predators, make sure you have hardwire cloth or chicken wire that come down the sides of the tractors and out away from it so that diggers cannot get inside and larger predators will not be able to flip it over as easily (if your tractors will be small portable type).

Yes. I know. I will be keeping them locked up at night in my AP (aquaponics) system. I am going to be going to great lengths to protect my plants from monkeys so thought to put my chooks and even my rabbits.... also still to come... in there too.

Good luck with your future chickens.

Thanks! Really looking forward to it. I loved my birds I had before.​

 

[digitS']

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Go for 2 birds per square meter to conserve space. (I'd suggest 2.25 birds but you can see how that could be problematic

.)

What is a BA?

BYC people are given to using abbreviations

. I think in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's

) there's a list.

BA = Black Australorp

Steve​