Is a 3 X 4 coop big enough?

[HappyThieves]

We are trying to decide on the right coop for our chickens and I could use a little advise! The coop that would best suit *ours* needs is a 3X4 feet with an A-frame; the overall height is 54 inches. The four sides have a chicken door and a small window for light, an access door, vent, and nest boxes. It's well-contructed, predator-proof, looks good, but my big concern is--will it house five heavy chickens.

I *think* the floor space is adequate, I'm a little concerned about the roost, which runs along the inside peek of the roof. That would make it about 3-feet long (head room seems to be okay...). There are also three nesting boxes that seem small (12X12), but I'm really new to keeping chickens so have NO clue! The builder says it will house 3-5 chicken, but I'd like to hear what you have to say.

The chicken will have outdoor space everyday, but I'm a little unclear what happens on really rainy or snowy days. (We are in eastern PA.) Do the chickens opt to say in the coop or do they hang in their yard rain or shine? There is a short space under the coop as well--maybe 10" or so, more if we put wheels on it.

Here is a stock photo:

Thanks for all your help!

 

[sheila3935]

Thats about 2 square foot per chicken. You really need 4. If you have winters like we do there are days on end that your chickens will have to be in and that isnt enough space. I have a 8X16 coop that has 12 in it and in the winter on very cold or snowy days couldnt go out it seemed crowded and that was about 10 square foot per chicken. Maybe the builder was refering to bantams.

 

[patandchickens]

Missing a key piece of information: where do you live (climate and weather -wise). You speak of snowy days so I am going to guess probably not Miami, but, how much winter do you get and what kind?

The thing is, those teensy coops are extremely difficult to manage adequately during cold winters. Particularly when some genius designed 'em with the roost running all along the upper ridge, as is not uncommon. Chickens produce A LOT of humidity and ammonia, neither of which is good for them (humidity promotes frostbite at not-even-that-cold temperatures), and you need to have some reasonable amount of fresh air exchange ALL YEAR ROUND, yet without having harsh winter wind blowing onto sleeping chickens. With a teensy coop, it is just not really possible TO physically-separate your ventilation from your chickens, meaning you are forced into some serious and undesirable compromises. You can certainly get chickens to survive a Northern winter in a coop like that (esp. if you choose your breeds intelligently) but it is a lot more work and stress for you, and not very nice conditions for the chickens.

Chickens (especially if they're in very cramped little coops) *will* go out for part of the day most days, at least -- particularly if they have a run that is protected from the wind, maybe even roofed. 12" of space under your coop is not comfy or fully-adequate for them but it would definitely be useful on rainy days when they won't mind hunkering down under there. As to how much chickens tend to go out in freezy wind or in the snow, it really depends a huge amount on the particular chickens, you will just have to see what yours are like.

Three nestboxes is insanely too many for that size coop, one would be perfectly adequate (usually you figure one box per 3-5 chickens)... if you *were* to buy that coop, you might consider removing one divider and letting them use the other 2/3 of the nestbox area as floorspace, which they are otherwise super cramped on.

So, that coop would be "minimally-adequate" to keep 3-4 chickens alive and probably-noncannibalistic if you are somewhere with mild weather and mild winters. But if you are somewhere with longer stretches of nasty weather, or with pretty cold winters, it would really improve your chicken-owning experience (not to mention the chickens' life experiences) if you could swing a larger coop, like 3x6 or 4x8. Not just for the increased floorspace but so you can adequately ventilate it without the winter wind blowing right AT the chickens all night.

JMHO, good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[new chick 203]

that is very similar to ours and we have 3 big girls and one banty in it. let me tell you I wouldn't put another one in. The difference between enough room and not is often measured in shorter tempered chickens and bald behinds. With 5, in Summer it would be too hot and in winter when they spend more time inside... not good. We have a small shed roof off to one side, but boy, in bad weather I wish I had more room. We are already planning a new coop that gives them more covered outdoor room.

 

[elmo]

Five heavy breed chickens in there? I wouldn't try it, myself. It would be very tight quarters for 5 chickens to try to squeeze onto a roost that's only 3 feet wide. I like to give at least 12 inches of roost width per chicken, as a minimum.

 

[ECBW]

Everyone is pretty much of the same opinion. My experience tells me the builder is a carpenter not a chicken farmer. Three nests are too many, 3-foot roost is too short. With 3x4 floor space, if you can add another roost, you can keep up to 4 birds. Make sure the roosts are higher than the nests.

Yes, rain, snow and cold winter wind will keep them inside in NJ where I live, even with a covered run.