Space question

[colinlyra]

We have this funky 2 room detached garage. This little room is 6X8X8. We're in the middle of turning it into a coop. Someone had either kept a dog or chickens in there before us because there is already a small rectangle cut out that was just covered with a little plywood. It's hard to explain. But anyway...we're planning on getting 2 Australorps, 1 Sussex, and 2 Silkies. Is that a good amount of indoor space? How much outdoor space would they need? They can free range ~4-6 hours a day, more in the summer, less in the winter. Our yard has chain link fence but we have way too many feral cats in our neighborhood for me to be comfortable with FR 24/7. So they will need a run. I've read that they need a minimum of 10ft/bird, but what is the preferred amount?

Also, will I need to give them a heat source in the winter? We're in central Ohio.

 

[Olive Hill]

The preferred amount is... as much as possible.

They won't need heat in the winter, just good bedding and shelter from the elements should they choose to use it -- the coop will be sufficient.

 

[4CiTyCHicHENs]

per raising chickens for dummies (one of the 2 authors of that runs this web site) they say 2-3 SQ FT indoor & 3-4 SQ FT out door.... Now, depening on who reads your post you could be chewed out & told thats wrong & you MUST Have a MINIMUM of 4 SQ FT indoor & 10 SQFT outdoor... so if you have a 6x8 coop thats 48 indoor SQ FT--thats enough for 12--24 birds! Thats TOTALLY enough for your 2 Australorps, 1 Sussex, and 2 Silkies. The question I'd be asking is do you need to keep your Sikies seperate from the rest. I say that because from reading on here thats what people do. Often I read they are building a seperate coop just for thier silkies. hope that helps!!

 

[Olive Hill]

I think a lot of the people that are building separate coops on here are doing so for breeding purposes and/or for the novelty of a silkie habitat all it's own. Silkies can integrate into a normal flock without any issue at all. Of course if you want them separate, go for it.

 

[teach1rusl]

My coop for my five girls is a 6 x 8. I LOVE having the space for them, and for me. It's roomy enough to easily keep clean (use a dropping board), and I actually keep a little fold-up chair out there so that I can sit with them at times. Come winter time especially, the space will be triply appreciated, because they'll spend a LOT of time indoors. I'm in southern Indiana, and my coop is insulated. I still provide a heat lamp for my girls when it's really cold. My girls are my pets, so I view their comfort as such. Many don't unless it drops below zero though.

As far as how big your run will be....as others have said "as big as you can"...lol. If they'll be out in your yard daily, I wouldn't worry about going super big. But they will enjoy and use all of the space you give them.

 

[Chickensman97]

For your heat in the winter just make sure that they have lots of clean water. That's what i did with my 4 hens and once they start laying in winter you should give them a light a 40watt is what i used and i got an egg a day from each bird.