Too many different answers about, "How many chickens to a coop?"

[new chick 203]

Quote:
I put a mirror in my brooder and they freaked out like it was the portal to Hell. I won't try that again.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
I put a mirror in my brooder and they freaked out like it was the portal to Hell. I won't try that again.

Imp

 

[babiracki5]

We live in Southern California, on almost 2 acres. We already built the coop. Its almost done so Im stuck with the 4x6 coop. The person I bought the plans from said it would house 10 hens comfortably. LOL. Thats why I bought 10. But something didnt feel right about this after we started building it. We do live in a rural area where there are alot of people with goats, chickens, horses, etc. I am going to give 4 of them away to some VERY good and trusting friends. Also, I will fence a really large area of our 2 acres just for them, so they can free range. Can chickens and goats hang out together? Thanks again for everyones input. You all have been very helpful.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If they will be freeranging or have access to the pen most of the time, the coop is fine for 10 birds. If you lived in the land of snow and ice (midwest or New England or the like) they would spend far more time inside due to weather, and 4x6 would certainly be too small.

 

[fiberart57]

You're correct in thinking that the 6' x 4' will be a bit tight. It isn't just that they'll jam together in the cold, but in southern California they'll need a place to sleep at night away from each other for the heat.

I have the same size chicken house and I have six standards in it. Last winter it was great because they kept each other warmish by cuddling together. Right now the nighttime temperatures are staying in the high 70s (Not too bad. I know you folks from humid areas wish it would cool to that at night.) and they roost with a lot of spacing between them to stay cool. But they pant a bit before sleeping.

The key thing with the house is ventilation. In your climate, more is better and you might consider an open coop rather than one solid wall. If you do it with hardware cloth it's well protected from predators.

Mary

 

[Zahboo]

Space depends on the birds. My bantams do just fine in their 2x4 breeder pens, but are let to free range everyday. My standards were in the pens until they were 5 weeks old, and they were tearing up the shavings, making a big old mess and all that while we were building their coop. What's your weather like?

If you could make a 8x6, you'd have space