How many chickens can be comfortable in a 6x12 stall

[GreenAcresFarm]

I have a former horse stall that I have divided in half. I put my chickens in 1 side and made a tack/feed room with the other. I have a total of 10 hens in the stall. They have access to the outside, however they choose to stay in, my husband is afraid they will be to cramped. I think that they are find. I would like to get 5 more by spring. Do you think a 6 x 12 stall is big enough to handle my flock or will I need to "add on"?

 

[One Acre Wonder Farm]

They should have a min of 4 sq/ft per bird... 18 should fit if they have access to the outside.

 

[Kittymomma]

The rule of thumb is 4 square feet per LF inside and 10 square feet outside. It can vary quite a bit though depending on your birds and whether they use the outside space or not. I have less then 4 square feet per bird in my coop, BUT they are able to go out and run around the barn and lean to areas even when the weather is too crummy for them to want to range in the field so it works for me. I see lots of posts with people having problems with feather picking etc. in the winter because the birds can't go out in the run and are too crowded in the coop so I'd advise going slow and watching carefully.

Why won't they go outside?

ETA:

 

[teach1rusl]

So they won't go out why??? Due to snow? Fifteen birds would do okay in a 72 sq. ft. space w/access to outdoors daily. I would have plenty of roost space available so that if they are cooped up a lot over winter time they will have more places to go to get out of one another's way...

 

[catdaddy66]

Estimates vary between 2-4 sf/bird, if they have outdoor access. If not (they are cooped up for prolongrd periods) then opt for the larger number. 18-20 would not be unreasonable, I think, but I am FAR from an expert! I am just trying to apply the knowledge I have acquired from the pages in BYC!!!

 

[GreenAcresFarm]

Not sure why they wouldn't go out, I think it was the snow. I went out this morning and laid hay in their outside pen, I also put a plastic enclosed dog crate out there. I put hay in the crate, and added a few different perches. 1/2 of them went out after that. They seem to be doing better now.