How many chickens in this coop ( chicken math on steroids)

[matheny00]

That looks way too small.

What looks way too small?

 

[matheny00]

How deep is the shelf? Is it possible to remove and have two roosting bars in that space? But staggered so they wouldn't be pooing on the ones below? Or are you able to maybe create a sideways roost? But stop it before it gets to the door?

Shelf is 42" deep 48" wide will have 3 roosts going across per the blue tape in the Pic. Just not sure how far off the back wall to start to keep it semi-clean.

 

[ChookaPete]

What looks way too small?

Your coop looks way too small. It is like one of those study desks with three sides you see in some libraries.


Always give chickens more room than the amount of space they can physically fit in. They need room to spread out when the weather is hot, and in case some fight each other on the perch etc.

 

[matheny00]

Your coop looks way too small. It is like one of those study desks with three sides you see in some libraries.


Always give chickens more room than the amount of space they can physically fit in. They need room to spread out when the weather is hot, and in case some fight each other on the perch etc.

It's 32 sq feet. Plus 102 for the coop.

 

[C Siena]

I'm going to jump in on this thread as I have one smaller coop and a larger coop. The pictures are the smaller (first) coop 8'T x 8'L x 4.5'W. In the total sq ft' I did not even think about the nest boxes taking up living space. I figured we could have 8 chickens. Well we had 7, obtained 2 more so 9. No one is fighting, probably because they free range morning to dusk. They were locked in coop/run for 3 bitter cold days and no fighting.
We removed the slant board on top of the nest boxes and they get up there. As there is no troubles, leave it as it is or do you think I could/should remove the bottom next boxes. Those are the only ones they use but I could leave one on the bottom. Thinking of at least removing the 2 boxes upper & lower, closest to the pop door. Thoughts?
It is not this clean 2 years later. We purchased it and I scrubbed/sanded/sanitized it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

As there is no troubles, leave it as it is or do you think I could/should remove the bottom next boxes.

You might read my thoughts in post #7 back on page 1 of this thread.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you remove the dividers they have one larger space to hide in. If you leave those dividers, they have three different but smaller spaces to hide in. I don't see any advantage to taking those dividers out. The square footage is the same and with the divider the quality for hiding is probably higher. Doesn't sound like they are using it anyway except to lay eggs. They might lay eggs down there anyway, without the dividers.

If they are scratching poopy bedding into the lower nests, raise the lip so they don't scratch poopy bedding in there.

The 4 sq ft is a guideline. Some people use 3 sq ft as a guideline and it often works. I've seen posts on here where someone recommended 15 sq ft per chicken for the coop, not considering the run. People can recommend anything. That doesn't mean it is a requirement.

The 4 sq ft guideline is for general guidance. It is not a law of nature, though some people act like it is. If you follow it then it will be enough for most people, even overkill, even if some of their other conditions are less than ideal. In some circumstances it may not be enough.

Your 9 have shown they can get by in that 32 square feet the way you manage them. If you really feel you have to change it you can but I would not.

 

[C Siena]

You might read my thoughts in post #7 back on page 1 of this thread.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you remove the dividers they have one larger space to hide in. If you leave those dividers, they have three different but smaller spaces to hide in. I don't see any advantage to taking those dividers out. The square footage is the same and with the divider the quality for hiding is probably higher. Doesn't sound like they are using it anyway except to lay eggs. They might lay eggs down there anyway, without the dividers.

If they are scratching poopy bedding into the lower nests, raise the lip so they don't scratch poopy bedding in there.

The 4 sq ft is a guideline. Some people use 3 sq ft as a guideline and it often works. I've seen posts on here where someone recommended 15 sq ft per chicken for the coop, not considering the run. People can recommend anything. That doesn't mean it is a requirement.

The 4 sq ft guideline is for general guidance. It is not a law of nature, though some people act like it is. If you follow it then it will be enough for most people, even overkill, even if some of their other conditions are less than ideal. In some circumstances it may not be enough.

Your 9 have shown they can get by in that 32 square feet the way you manage them. If you really feel you have to change it you can but I would not.

Thanks, It's been like this since the beginning so I won't change anything. This is only our third year with chickens and I will be learning for years.
We have another larger coop that should have 10 (getting ready to add chicks) but One continues to go to the smaller coop, which makes 10! This wasn't in my plans. She either goes up to the ledge, where 3-4 are now roosting (used to only be 2 up to 4 weeks ago) or she hides behind the rooster on the poop board. Amazing he doesn't poop on her. I take her out and she runs back in (at dusk). Though I Know this is too many, I have left she after I became tired of the nightly picking her up to remove her from the coop. Still no fights, I only made her remain in the larger coop during the three days of lockup due to cold weather (-8 to 10), as the run is not that large. Ahh chickens.

 

[matheny00]

Can't live with them, and now we can't live without them. Lol

 

[C Siena]

I can't ask for another coop as my husband built on for us/me last year, that will hold 22. 9 in there now, Six 3 week old chicks (today) and prayerfully several to hatch Saturday. ok, my timing on the hatch was off. Yes, next spring, I think we'll need another coop for 20-25.

 

[Suzi q]

Ok, so the coop is 32 sq feet so technically 8 standard chickens. By adding the poop shelf I gain a second layer of about 16 sq. feet. So here is the math. If I close the area under the shelf off for storage I only have 16 sq feet of floor space but the coop is 32 sq feet, or if I leave it open is it now equivalent to 48 square feet. Or is it still just a 32 sq ft coop with only 16 or 32 sq ft of flor space?

It sounds like you have coop space for 8 chickens, if you want more chickens get another coop