ok. so i just got my chicks. was going to keep 7, but i want to keep all 10. don't think my coop is big enough for all of them. what is the smallest anyone has done: sq ft per bird? AND they are happy???!! i have a chicken tractor so they will have fresh grass most of the time and a dust bath outsdie (sandbox) and free range in our back yard. any suggestions???!!!
I believe 2sq ft per chicken is the basic minimum rule for coops. I wouldn't go smaller than that, even if they're out during the day. Less chance of someone getting bullied/picked on, if they've got a little wing room. Good luck!
Being in Indiana, you have to consider winter conditions for the chickens too. And not all chickens will go out in snow (let alone if it is real cold or really windy). I would not be trying to scrimp on space. If you need to get rid of more chickens to get them down to where they will COMFORTABLY fit into whatever size coop you can provide, that'd be best. It is awfully hard to stop a picking/cannibalism problem once it starts, you don't want to have to make stew out of all of them Good luck, Pat
