Urgent advice needed- is this coop to small for 6 free range hens? Needing it by tmrw

[dlamis]

Sorry for the urgency (for my 1st post of many), but we just sold our coop and were planning on getting this new coop tomorrow. BUT, now I am wondering if its too small, even though the website says "good for 6-8 hens". Our 6 hens are only 3 months old now and these are our first chickens so not sure what to expect.

http://www.precisionpet.com/detail.aspx?ID=236
OR what about this one?
http://www.precisionpet.com/detail.aspx?ID=202

Our hens will have access to most of the backyard until dark so is this coop too small for just sleeping? We have 2 Americaunas, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 2 Barred Rocks.

Thank you!!
Daniella

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

I wouldn't put more than 3 in either of those coops. You should offer at least 2.5 square feet per bird in the coop for birds who have access to a run. There is no WAY 6-8 chickens would fit in the red barn tractor.

Remember the feeder and waterer will take up space too, but you could build your own compact ones made out of PVC.

 

[gg706]

My chickens have a small coop. I also built a 10' X 8' range pen that is movable and attaches back to my tractor.They free range all day so they do not need much space other than for sleeping. I had 6 chickens in it and have more room on the roost for 3 or 4 more. It works fine as long as I am here.
When I go out of town and chickens are locked in for their safety, it is cramped. I feel bad for them when I go out of town and they are cramped, but it is something that they have to deal with. They deal with it with no feather picking or other issues. When I return they go back to their normal life of ranging all day. I would never want to lock them up full time in a coop too small and expect them to be happy.
Mine would not like being locked up no matter how big the coop and pen was....They love being out ranging all day. Once you start free range it will be very difficult to go back to not allowing them to range. Mine will pace the fence and cackle and crow all day in protest. So plan for times when you will not be there to let them out and lock them up at night. I wish I had built something bigger and plan to in the future, and use my tractor as a brooder.

 

[TXchickmum]

I would, too, only use these coops for about 3 chickens even in lieu of them being on the lawn most of the day. In case of inclement weather, confinement to the coop might become a necessity for a bit. Those coops are too small and could precipitate issues (feather picking, pecking, etc.) due to the cramped space.

 

[PeepsAreForMe]

I am not sure about the red barn coop, but I have had the cape cod - I would only put 3 max in it. I have 3 hens and a big roo and I did not think they had enough room inside. There were two roost bars, but they were only about 6" apart so they could really only use one. Plus, that poop drawer is about 1/2 " deep. If you put too much bedding in it you can't slide it out w/o everything getting pushed off it, including poop! Good luck with your choice, hope this was helpful!

 

[Branumdragon]

Our three full-sized hens and one silkie all fit together perfectly in a space about 2 feet by one foot... But that's just to sleep. We can hear them fussing if we fail to let them out, and they have a larger space below it. Did the thing mean 6-8 bantams?