To heat the coop or not to heat the coop? That is the question.

[chixmix]

I build my own coops and allow 2 square feet per bird and 1 linear foot per bird of roost. I have in my 4x7 4 feet high roof coop, 11 orpingtons. I clean it daily and have zero issues. It is well ventilated though, that is important.

 

[Sparkleyhead]

They are always let out first thing in the morning and have a 45 x 45 foot run to play in until dark when they let themselves back in. I will grab someone tomorrow and try to get pictures if they will hold still long enough. I'm glad I asked these questions because these are the first chickens I have had and I REALLY just want what's best for them. If only I knew as much about chickens as I do horses lol. I will remove the lamp (it's only the second night it's been in there). I would leave the door open, but I honestly don't trust the predators around here. The run is only 10 yards or so from the woods and my step dad has seen on multiple occasions a fox trotting around looking for a snack. I have never had a problem with anything getting IN to the run, but I'd rather not tempt fate if you know what I mean.

bobbi-j, I have a lovely feed shed in the run that I am severely tempted with turning into a coop. It would be perfect. Has a crank window with a screen and everything. But sadly it would leave me with no rodent safe, dry place to keep the feed can, straw and shavings. Any sage advice on how to house the other items so I can let my birds live in the nice shed?

 

[Sparkleyhead]

I bought the coop I did because a friend who already has chickens have the same one and recommended it. It was also affordable which is key since I'm a poor college student. Ideally I just wanted 3 or 4 laying hens for eggs, but instead I ended up rescuing 5 out of the 6 birds I have now because they had nowhere else to go. So please forgive the tight living quarters, it was by default not choice. I am doing what I can to make sure everyone is healthy and happy, whether it be dragging my mom outside into the cold to hold chickens while I smear Vaseline on combs and wattles, or taking a rooster to the vet because he had run in with a fox.

 

[pwand]

They are always let out first thing in the morning and have a 45 x 45 foot run to play in until dark when they let themselves back in. I will grab someone tomorrow and try to get pictures if they will hold still long enough. I'm glad I asked these questions because these are the first chickens I have had and I REALLY just want what's best for them. If only I knew as much about chickens as I do horses lol. I will remove the lamp (it's only the second night it's been in there). I would leave the door open, but I honestly don't trust the predators around here. The run is only 10 yards or so from the woods and my step dad has seen on multiple occasions a fox trotting around looking for a snack. I have never had a problem with anything getting IN to the run, but I'd rather not tempt fate if you know what I mean.

bobbi-j, I have a lovely feed shed in the run that I am severely tempted with turning into a coop. It would be perfect. Has a crank window with a screen and everything. But sadly it would leave me with no rodent safe, dry place to keep the feed can, straw and shavings. Any sage advice on how to house the other items so I can let my birds live in the nice shed?

Having chickens, there is always something new to learn. I started off with a small coop realizing it wasn't going to work to building a bigger coop, one I could stand in, more room for my birds. I am always revamping my coop, tearing walls off, extending it, to revamping nest boxes, new roosts, the list goes on. Its fun.

Just add a storage area about two to three feet from the side of the shed and down the length of the shed to store your feed in.

Use your nest boxes off the small coop and attach them to the other side of the shed. They look like nice nest boxes.

If you can get free pallets, you could use the wood from them.

Your birds are pretty.

 

[chixmix]

Don't worry about tight living quarters, they only sleep and use the hen box in the coop. They should be outside all day and getting sunlight and such. When it gets cold at night, they huddle together anyway, wasting space that you think they may need!! As long as you have ventilation, I am a firm believer of just enough coop, not too much coop.

I have had 14 hens and 1 roo in this coop, no problems.

 

[JackE]

Hello, fellow Marylander. I agree with others that have posted about your coop being a bit on the tight side, for 6 birds. Have you noticed any frost inside the coop in the morning when you go to let them out? That would be a sure sign of insufficient ventilation/fresh air flow. Also, if your chickens are like mine, when it snows, unless you clear a space for them, they will chose to stay in the coop. And if it's tight in there, they can get kinda crabby. That is why it's MUCH better to have 4 sq.ft. of floor space per bird, if they have to stay in for a while.
It sounds like that shed you have, would make a good future home for your birds. As far as storing feed goes, I use galvanized trash cans I got from TractorSupply. One can holds 100lbs of feed. I have one in the coop, and another in a storage shed. I also have a stack of pine shavings stacked out in the shed and mice are not really a problem with them.

PS: WATCH that fox. Get rid of him if you can. I lost a lot of birds to the fox.

 

[bobbi-j]

They are always let out first thing in the morning and have a 45 x 45 foot run to play in until dark when they let themselves back in. I will grab someone tomorrow and try to get pictures if they will hold still long enough. I'm glad I asked these questions because these are the first chickens I have had and I REALLY just want what's best for them. If only I knew as much about chickens as I do horses lol. I will remove the lamp (it's only the second night it's been in there). I would leave the door open, but I honestly don't trust the predators around here. The run is only 10 yards or so from the woods and my step dad has seen on multiple occasions a fox trotting around looking for a snack. I have never had a problem with anything getting IN to the run, but I'd rather not tempt fate if you know what I mean. bobbi-j, I have a lovely feed shed in the run that I am severely tempted with turning into a coop. It would be perfect. Has a crank window with a screen and everything. But sadly it would leave me with no rodent safe, dry place to keep the feed can, straw and shavings. Any sage advice on how to house the other items so I can let my birds live in the nice shed?

How big is that shed? Could you wall off part of it? Or put up some chicken wire as a divider? The coop with the red door has a little (8x4) storage area as you walk in, then an 8x8 coop area. The storage area nicely holds 4 straw bales on one side, and a large metal garbage can for feed storage on the other. My coop is not rodent-proof, hence the need for the garbage can. If mice get in the straw, oh well. The chickens can catch and eat them when I spread the straw.

Don't worry about tight living quarters, they only sleep and use the hen box in the coop. They should be outside all day and getting sunlight and such. When it gets cold at night, they huddle together anyway, wasting space that you think they may need!! As long as you have ventilation, I am a firm believer of just enough coop, not too much coop I have had 14 hens and 1 roo in this coop, no problems.

That is good and well when you live where you can let the chickens out every day. Mine rarely leave the coop in the winter. They don't like the snow, and I don't even open their pop door when it's in the teens and 20's below zero. Different coops work for different climates.

 

[chixmix]

Large coops serve one purpose, block wind. Correctly sized coops for your flock have built in heaters, the chickens.

 

[Michael Apple]

Large coops serve one purpose, block wind. Correctly sized coops for your flock have built in heaters, the chickens.

Large enough coops provide better air quality, more roost space, in addition to protection from the weather. Stressed birds are more likely to become sick birds.

 

[chixmix]

Large enough coops provide better air quality, more roost space, in addition to protection from the weather. Stressed birds are more likely to become sick birds.

I agree, "large enough coops".