Underestimated the chicken addiction!!!

[U_Stormcrow]

Based on the new info, I'm revising my recommend to join @21hens-incharge . Cover the existing run, call it all coop. Put a new run off of the tall side.

That will provide the most space, use the least materials, and be the fastest fix for lack of space. I'd repurpose the existing chicken wire as roof for the new run, and only minimally structure the run - possibly as simple as 4x4 posts set in the ground, then trimmed to the desired height - probably the existing "high" wall height at the top of the current ridge, so you end up with a cube shaped run (no ducking for you) with a sloped house for snow concerns - and it will shed snow away from the run, also a positive. Finally, will provide some natural shade at least part of the day, from those trees - unless you are already as close to your property line as you can intrude with a structure?

 

[Hep44]

Based on the new info, I'm revising my recommend to join @21hens-incharge . Cover the existing run, call it all coop. Put a new run off of the tall side.

That will provide the most space, use the least materials, and be the fastest fix for lack of space. I'd repurpose the existing chicken wire as roof for the new run, and only minimally structure the run - possibly as simple as 4x4 posts set in the ground, then trimmed to the desired height - probably the existing "high" wall height at the top of the current ridge, so you end up with a cube shaped run (no ducking for you) with a sloped house for snow concerns - and it will shed snow away from the run, also a positive. Finally, will provide some natural shade at least part of the day, from those trees - unless you are already as close to your property line as you can intrude with a structure?

There's a ditch behind the high side. It wouldn't be difficult to move the coop though, the posts are not buried

 

[21hens-incharge]

When we get deep snow here my birds refuse to leave the coop....at all...for days.....even weeks depending on how long it sticks around.

Build bigger than the minimal 4square feet per bird in the coop....much less fighting that way.

 

[Hep44]

Thanks for all the recommendations.....we are very new to this and are learning as we go!

How many nesting boxes do you think we should have for 19 hens? I've read about 1 for every 3 birds??

 

[21hens-incharge]

Thanks for all the recommendations.....we are very new to this and are learning as we go!

How many nesting boxes do you think we should have for 19 hens? I've read about 1 for every 3 birds??

I had 21-24 birds in my big house for years. We had 6 nests and often found only 3-4 being used.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

1 box: 4 hens or 1:5 hens are the printed recommends from most sources.

I have no direct experience, as only three birds of arguably laying age (Comets, 16 weeks) and no eggs as of yet.

I have 7 boxes at present, because it conveniently broke up the available space, and to allow for future expansion, but its well more than my current needs, or even my needs in the next year. Unless "chicken math"

 

[aart]

You know it would be pretty easy to sell any extra pullets about now.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Also, I should add that 9 of our birds are only a couple weeks old and are still in the garage. The rest are not quite full grown yet. So we aren't currently trying to cram 21 birds in this coop lol

They grow super fast though, and it does you no favors to keep them locked up long term. So I also agree about turning the entire structure into a coop, since the framing is there already... since I don't know your climate, what types of weather in summer and winter do you have? If it's fairly moderate in winter there's no reason to board up the whole structure. You'll need to reinforce/replace the chicken wire but you could leave it partially open air to save money as well as provide a ton of ventilation. nevermind I just saw it's MI.

 

[Flockincrazy]

We planned on having about 6-8 chickens.....but we're up to 21 we need to expand on our coop! Does anyone have experience with just having 2 separate coops? Will they separate themselves out if one coop get too crowded? Or will they all try to cram into one?

Or, does anyone have thoughts on how we can add on to our current one? (We free range them, they do not stay in the run all day)

Can you move your current run away from the coop if so make the floor and stilts for expansion move run down and then put the floor and legs connect to current coop and finish building expansion and then reconnect run i dont know if i explained clearly or not but that is what i would do

 

[Hep44]

(Please excuse my very crude sketch) This is the plan we decided to go with. We have it (mostly) framed in, I'll post a picture of the finished product when its done!