Will my chickens fit in this coop?

[Lenny loves chickens]

I know i mad a feed awhile ago but i dont rember and cant find it. How many chickens can i fit in a 6x8 coop with 12sqaureft of ventilation? 4 nesting boxes. I live in iowa so winters are cold summers are hot. Also its about 6ft tall maybe a little bigger

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Breed of chickens are speckled sussex, brahma, Rhode island red,cinnamon queen, easter egger,buff ophingtin, 2 maran mixes, welsummer, australorp,salmon favorelle, barred rock.....if that matters

 

[LaurelC]

Is this just night time housing or permanent? I kept 8 hens in a 12x12 run with a lifted 4x4 roosting area and had an old doghouse as a community nest box. They rarely had access to the yard so they were essentially full time in the 12x12 area. It was the most chickens I would consider in that area, and I had lots of enrichment stuff for them to do, tons of various perches, hanging snacks, etc.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Is this just night time housing or permanent? I kept 8 hens in a 12x12 run with a lifted 4x4 roosting area and had an old doghouse as a community nest box. They rarely had access to the yard so they were essentially full time in the 12x12 area. It was the most chickens I would consider in that area, and I had lots of enrichment stuff for them to do, tons of various perches, hanging snacks, etc.

Mostly for night time

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Mostly for night time

Maybe spend time in there but not everyday maybe in winter when I goes below freezing but they will have the chance to be outside

 

[aart]

Breed of chickens are speckled sussex, brahma, Rhode island red,cinnamon queen, easter egger,buff ophingtin, 2 maran mixes, welsummer, australorp,salmon favorelle, barred rock.....if that matters

So 12 birds total?

Maybe spend time in there but not everyday maybe in winter when I goes below freezing but they will have the chance to be outside

Unless you have a good sized weather proofed run, 6x8 might be rather tight space for 12 birds on nasty winter days.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

So 12 birds total?


Unless you have a good sized weather proofed run, 6x8 might be rather tight space for 12 birds on nasty winter days.

Yes in the winter it has a roof and is wind proof with shower curtains. Would that be ok

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Yes 12 birds

 

[rosemarythyme]

The general answer is 12 birds but depending on how you manage winters, something like 6-8 might be a better fit. If they have a climate protected area year round they can use, then 12. If they don't, then anticipate they'll be spending quite a few days not wanting to come out at all, or only for short periods, and that's where you might see conflict over space.

 

[WILIFORD]

I have a 6X6 hen house, it is only for night time use and nest boxes for laying. It has four 6' long rooster bars. I currently have 18 chickens using it. I have had as many as 24, with room for more. My flock will head for my evergreen trees and other shrubs when it starts raining, or gets windy during the day. The most important thing, that is often underestimated is adequate ventilation. You're going to get a lot of different opinions on this topic, but keep in mind if it is just for night time roosting, your chickens don't need a lot of room to roost, and I think that is the primary target number, making sure you have adequate roosting space for the number of birds you have. Of course, this all changes if it is to be utilized for other than night time shelter. Additionally my winters are fairly mild, we may get below freezing a few days but mostly upper 30's to low 40's