Baby Chicks at Atwoods

[foxtrotters19]

Yesterday when I went to Atwoods and they have baby chicks!!! They have the Buff Orpintons and they have Silver Laced Wyandottes... and Cuckoo Marans...

So I am thinking about getting 2 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes.... they are very tiny. How big of a coop do I need for 4 hens? There is a chicken coop that is 6 x 10 it has 4 nesting boxes and place for them to roost at night. I was thinking I could expand the run to allow them more room.

I am kinda nervous, never raised chicks before.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Take the plunge!!!! You won't regret it!!!!

That 6 x 10 coop is plenty big enough. Plenty of room for when chicken math kicks in!!!

The general rule of thumb is 4 sq. ft per chicken. If you go by that rule, that coop can house 15 chickens comfortably, with a larger run!!!

Best of luck and have FUN!!!!!!!

 

[foxtrotters19]

That's encouraging to know that a 6 X 10 coop is large enough for 4 chickens. It looks really small but i guess chicken don't need that much room. I am thinking of making a portable run made out of PVC pipe so they will have different area in the yard to explore...

 

[sourland]

Why not start with 6 in case one/some turn out to be cockerels ?

 

[foxtrotters19]

Why not start with 6 in case one/some turn out to be cockerels ?

That's a good point - I wanted to start out small... since I am very very new to raising chicks.

 

[dpenning]

Yesterday when I went to Atwoods and they have baby chicks!!! They have the Buff Orpintons and they have Silver Laced Wyandottes... and Cuckoo Marans...

So I am thinking about getting 2 Buff Orpingtons and 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes.... they are very tiny. How big of a coop do I need for 4 hens? There is a chicken coop that is 6 x 10 it has 4 nesting boxes and place for them to roost at night. I was thinking I could expand the run to allow them more room.

I am kinda nervous, never raised chicks before.

Take the plunge and don't look back! One thing to be careful about is when they list sizes of the pre-fab coops is that it includes the run space, not just coop space. So in inclement weather they birds are going to be in just the coop portion. I would look at how much room is available inside the coop and get an appropriate number of chicks.

 

[foxtrotters19]

Take the plunge and don't look back! One thing to be careful about is when they list sizes of the pre-fab coops is that it includes the run space, not just coop space. So in inclement weather they birds are going to be in just the coop portion. I would look at how much room is available inside the coop and get an appropriate number of chicks.

This coop I don't think is a pre-fab one -- we found it at those places that display storage buildings etc... its called a mini coop... 4 nesting boxes, a roosting bar, 2 vents up at the top of the peak and a large vent covered with chicken wire at the top going out to the outside. What is the difference between chicken coop and a mini coop, the size?

 

[dpenning]

I would guess so. Lol. I was thinking of those little things they sell in boxes at some farm stores like tractor supply they say up to 10 hens when in reality it shouldn’t be more than four. I got mine from a shed store too but it wasn’t set up as a coop. In an ideal world you want 4 square feet of floor space inside the coop per bird. Lots of variables though so you need to consider your environment and do what works for you. Have fun with it!

This coop I don't think is a pre-fab one -- we found it at those places that display storage buildings etc... its called a mini coop... 4 nesting boxes, a roosting bar, 2 vents up at the top of the peak and a large vent covered with chicken wire at the top going out to the outside. What is the difference between chicken coop and a mini coop, the size?

 

[Melky]

If you keep 4 sq ft per bird in coop and 10 sq ft per bird in run at minimum. You should be fine. Make sure you check out your local laws and ordinances before you purchase to see if you are allowed to own chickens, what laws and ordinances apply, and if you have to apply to own fowl or get a permit. Have fun and good luck! Welcome!

 

[Melky]

Don’t forget you need the brooder first for babies unless feathered already and over 4-8 weeks. But have coop ready because they grow up fast. How fun!