Yikes! inside height question

[socks]

Hi, I got a large rabbit hutch that I intend to convert for chickens, large chickens is the plan (buff orpingtons and wyandottes)
I put up a question about a week ago along with pictures of the hutch and people kindly answered saying that it looked like it would do.

Trouble is the measurement I gave them for the height must've been the outside

(didn't have the coop yet) and now that I get to cleaning it out and measuring I see that the inside maximum height (slanted roof) is 32"(81.28 centimeters) and the lowest is 23" (58.42 cent.) (One part of the hutch has the slanted roof while the front section is flat roofed at 23" so the birds in this section would have a max of about 21" assuming a roosting bar laid across the bottom)
So now I am wondering if this is too short for Orpingtons and the like... The total inside square footage (not taking height into account) is 37.94 ft. and I was intending on 6 large birds (I will get them as chicks). Should I actually be getting banties??? I can't afford to get another coop at this point and will have to spend the rest of the money on a run.

As I am supposed to get them next week I want to make sure this will be o.k. I am planning on giving them a nice big and somewhat covered run and I hope to free range them about a 1/2 hour every few days or so (supervised). But now I am just wondering if this is too darn short for standing room (not wanting to raise hunchbacked chickens....although hmmm....if I end up having some roosters this might keep them from full throttle crowing..

)

So please have some mercy on this newbie and help me out with your advice once again. I couldn't find information in any of the books I have about height.

 

[Kirtusjon]

How wide is the hutch? If you put the roosts in the back ( the highest point 32"), leave 20" from roost to ceiling( even though only 12 inches from the floor) they should still be able to get on the roost without hitting ceiling and room to walk under roosts. Square footage wise, I think its fine if you let them out some.

 

[Imp]

socks,
I think that's fine. When I was first given my first 3 hens they came in a homemade rabbit hutch. Couldn't have been any taller than 24 inches and didn't seem cramped from a height perpective. And that had been their coop for 2 years. Sounds like you have plenty of floor space. Along with the large run I think your chickens will be very happy.Good luck.

Imp

 

[CityChook]

Floor space sounds fine to me too. As far as the roost space, they don't need a lot of head space as they sort of hunker down when they roost/sleep. Luckily, you're on the west coast and won't need a heat lamp over your roost, so it sounds like you're golden. If you end up closing up the front of the hutch, maybe try to put the ventilation at the 32 inch height part of the coop on opposite sides (for air flow) so that the chookies don't have air blowing on them while they sleep.

Your hutch sounds cute. Save your pennies for that all important hardware cloth.

ETA: I just went over to your other post and looked at your photos. You're going to be fine. However, I'd replace that welded wire and chicken wire at the front with 1/4 or 1/2 inch hardware cloth just to be safe. And make sure you put a good latch and lock on that flip up lid. It's a great find. Good luck!

 

[socks]

Thanks for these replies and lightning speed!!!!

I am realizing that if the eglu can be considered so great and cozy and its "roosts" are just slats sitting on the floor maybe I'll be fine. While there is a place inside for nests I might have to add outside ones if it is important to keep them lower than the roost, but I suppose I could find this out later....getting a little ahead of myself on that since I don't even have the chicks yet
Thanks Citychook, with the note about the hardware cloth. There is 1/2" cloth on the floor and where this was before there was a resident (I mean living in the tree above it!!) Raccoon that apparently couldn't get in still I do intend on trying to make it impenetrable to coons and the like and am also researching latches/locks

(just managed to get thumbnails up on my page.....got a lot of learning to do here!! but so many kind and helpful people are a real treasure

.

 

[CityChook]

I have lots of raccoons here and use luggage locks on my doors. Key is hung right next to the latch. They were like $3 for 4 locks and keys (all keys identical which is great in case one gets lost) and it helps me sleep at night.

 

[patandchickens]

You'll be fine. And remember the roost doesn't have to be much above the bedding... although IMO you want it either just a few inches above the bedding, or about 16" above so they can walk under it without too much trouble.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat