Trying to figure out best way to fit more birds

[Themagicone]

Currently I have 19 chickens and 8 ducks in a 12x8 shed/coop. They have plenty of roosting space as it's also 8ft tall inside. I want to add 6-10 more hens, with a few being small bantams and few giant Brahams. Do you think that 35-40 in 96sqft is going to be too tight? I'd make a duck house and move them out but most likely they would just continue to follow the chickens into the big coop.

Split to coop and make two levels? Or add on to the side/back somehow? Not sure what the best idea would be. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

Currently I have 19 chickens and 8 ducks in a 12x8 shed/coop. They have plenty of roosting space as it's also 8ft tall inside. I want to add 6-10 more hens, with a few being small bantams and few giant Brahams. Do you think that 35-40 in 96sqft is going to be too tight? I'd make a duck house and move them out but most likely they would just continue to follow the chickens into the big coop.

Split to coop and make two levels? Or add on to the side/back somehow? Not sure what the best idea would be. Any suggestions? Thanks

Yes, 35 to 40 birds in that size coop is going to be way too tight.
Can you post a "to scale" sketch of your current layout? It sounds like you need to expand the building.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Try a separate duck coop and adding more roost space.

 

[Themagicone]

Yes, 35 to 40 birds in that size coop is going to be way too tight.
Can you post a "to scale" sketch of your current layout? It sounds like you need to expand the building.

Right now it's just a standard 12x8 shed, 12 across the front and 8 on the sides. I have 2x 8ft roosting bars on one side then 4 nesting boxes on the other. Ducks cuddle together on the floor in the straw and chickens get up on the bar.

Outside they have plenty of space.

Adding a 2nd coop I'm not sure how I'd keep them seperate. The ducks follow the chickens everywhere. Could do a 5x8 section on the side of the coop and connect them together. My guess would be they would all bunch of though still.

 

[Themagicone]

Really rough drawing. Coop has two big windows on both 8ft sides then plenty of roof vents so ventilation is good. When the chickens roost at night there is plenty of space open on the bars.

 

[aart]

Do you think that 35-40 in 96sqft is going to be too tight?

Absolutely....especially in winter.

I have 96sqft coop space, with added roost boards(~28sqft), and found that even 20 got tight on 'Cabin Fever' days.

Outside they have plenty of space.

Free range or secure and weather sheltered run?

 

[Themagicone]

Absolutely....especially in winter.

I have 96sqft coop space, with added roost boards(~28sqft), and found that even 20 got tight on 'Cabin Fever' days.

Free range or secure and weather sheltered run?

Sort of free range currently, it's a 20x20 fenced in area. Had a bird net last year but snow took it out. But if I do go up to say 40 chicken, I could fence in .25 acre, just not sure what would happen if they got over. I have 5 acres but it's all wooded, so many things to eat them past the fence.