Will my chickens fit in this coop?

[Lenny loves chickens]

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.

Thanks. They will have a run to be outside will roof plus they have the whole yard and some trees shrubs and other things they usally are outside when its raining and probably outside enough during the winter I dont think it would be to big of a problems. The 6 I have now are pretty tight and always want to be on top of each other lol. So the other 6 will probably be alright. Plus I want it to be a little small for winter so theres less to heat since they only use there body heat. And I dont have a heat lamp.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Plus I want it to be a little small for winter so theres less to heat since they only use there body heat. And I dont have a heat lamp.

Ventilation being kept open makes the idea of having smaller housing for keeping in heat a moot point. The birds will huddle if they need it, otherwise their feathers should take care of most of their heating needs in winter.

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Ventilation being kept open makes the idea of having smaller housing for keeping in heat a moot point. The birds will huddle if they need it, otherwise their feathers should take care of most of their heating needs in winter.

Even in negitive 15 degree?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Even in negitive 15 degree?

You still need ventilation to let moisture and ammonia out. It is harder to manage in colder climates for sure, as you definitely don't want any cold drafts coming in!

 

[WILIFORD]

Even in negitive 15 degree?

Negative 15, you should be raising penguins not chickens

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

You still need ventilation to let moisture and ammonia out. It is harder to manage in colder climates for sure, as you definitely don't want any cold drafts coming in!

Yes for sure!

 

[Lenny loves chickens]

Negative 15, you should be raising penguins not chickens

Lol well iowa is rough it gets down to that then will be 40 degrees the 32 then 0 lol it sure is annoying

 

[aart]

The 6 I have now are pretty tight and always want to be on top of each other lol. So the other 6 will probably be alright.

You do realize that the old birds will hate the new birds and that integration works best with lots of 'extra' space.

 

[mowin]

One of my coops has 8 hens and a roo. It's 6x8. I've got a partially covered run. This winter was very cold and windy. Often -10 or colder. I had some pecking issues as they wouldn't leave the coop at all for almost 3 weeks.
My 2nd coop is the same size. 6 hens in that coop. Zero issues with pecking.

 

[jreardon1918]

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

A couple years ago we did an article called,
How many will fit?

An update we have not added to our space. We still have 3 hens. We are planning to add 5 soon. We will split an order with a friend. We have never squeezed in the girls and have had few problems, with behavior or weather and ventilation.