size of coop vs number of nesting boxes vs number of chickens

[Stegs]

ok guys and gals, question for all you veterans

Looking for input on a few things


1. How big of coop do you need for the number of chickens

2. how many nesting boxes do you need with "x" amount of chickens


I ask because i have 12 chickens now. 8 of which are in the coop now. The coop is fairly big. I say its about 6-7 feet wide. 8-10 feet deep and 7' ceilings. Its about the same size as those nice garden sheds people have to keep the lawn mower in etc.


Now i have 8 chickens in there now and going to move my last 4 down there probably next week as the weather says low temps will be in the high 50s, low 60s....plenty warm for 8 week old birds.


Now is my coop big enough for 12 birds that free range all day? the only time they go in the coop is to get a snack/water or to roost at night. The entire day from 6:30am to about 9pm at night they are wandering my yard.

Is my coop big enough for 12? room for more?


Part 2 is how many nesting boxes do i need for 12 chickens? To be clear i know i have 1 rooster now....and 2 of the older 22 week buffs are still making me wonder...

I will have 11 laying, but 2 of these 11 are making me wonder if they are roosters or hens.

So i could have 9 laying birds. I have 7 nesting "boxes" and 2 buckets with the lids cut....making 9 total spots for them to lay.....Im assuming this is plenty?


Let me know what you guys think!

Also, one last thing. My 4 buff orpingtons are right around 22 weeks old. They make lots of noise, but no crowing yet. I have 2 that i know are hens, but 2 could go either way. There combs arent that tall, there waddles arent that long, but they are dark red and the feathers are slightly darker than the other 2. At 22 -23 weeks old i would assume i hear some crowing by now right?

 

[Pork Pie]

General rule of thumb for coop size is 4sqft per bird but this is a minimum. The bigger the better.

Nest box rule of thumb is 1 box per 4 layers, but they all seem to want to lay in the same box, so personally i would not get too hooked up on that one, BUT since you have a roo, i am assuming that you want to hatch chicks, so bear in mind that brooding will take one box out of the equation for a while.

CT

 

[Stegs]

General rule of thumb for coop size is 4sqft per bird but this is a minimum. The bigger the better.

Nest box rule of thumb is 1 box per 4 layers, but they all seem to want to lay in the same box, so personally i would not get too hooked up on that one, BUT since you have a roo, i am assuming that you want to hatch chicks, so bear in mind that brooding will take one box out of the equation for a while.

CT

no the rooster was a accident. Its a ISA brown rooster, we werent suppose to get him but ....SURPRISE!!! I dont plan on hatching any eggs. Just eating!!

does the 4 square feet rule of thumb for birds in a coop all day, because mine are outside all day on 2 acres! they just sleep in the coop!

 

[Pork Pie]

I think it all depends on your climate to be honest. Like you, my flock free ranges all day, every day and so if your climate is never too inclement (I live in Nairobi, where its never cold or crazy hot - kinda perfect, for a human, at least) the 4sqft guideline may not apply. Guess its just useful to have the space if the weather is so crappy that they don't want to venture out for too long on any given day (plus chicken maths gets us all in the end

).

CT