Coop size / how many birds ?

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ziggy

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I have a coop that's 8 feet x 4 feet plus an extension one of 7x 3 feet
Which by my maths is about 53 sq feet plus raised perches & nesting areas How many birds could I comfortably house ?
Regards Simon
 
It would largely depend on the size of run you could provide to go with the coops, bearing in mind that the minimum run space is usually given as 2 square metres per large fowl. You could get quite a lot of birds in the coop size you give, though this would also depend on there being enough nestboxes (1 per 3-4 hens) and suitable perches (about 1 ft per bird) inside the coops. How big is your run area?
 
The run is 8 x 4 I have four nest boxes although they all seem to use the same one !
Perches are the upstairs of the coop of 4 x 5 feet space there all going to get l/ foul
 
So you have 53 square feet of run in total and 20 square feet of coop above part of it? Depends in part on the nature and age of the hens you will put in. Some are more tolerant of confined conditions than others. I would say 4 maximum. The restriction is the run size as always, as at that they have only got just over 1 square metre and they should have 2 square metres minimum. If you free ranged them half of the day they would be OK, as our part-confined hens have only 1 square metre each. If they don't get let out they get stressed and ill quite quickly, as we found out with a recent 7 day Flubenvet confinement.
 
If the run is 8ft by 4 ft, this is tiny and in my opinion wouldn't house more than a couple of hens, bearing in mind the need for space for drinker and feeder. Hens don't need very much coop space compared with run space, which is essential. Also, very small runs get filthy very fast, especially when the hens are confined all day, as often happens for various reasons.
 
I was intending to ask a similar question - are there any problems in having too few hens in a house? Eg if it will take 10 and I only have 4 or 5 are they likely to be cold? Will they object strongly when I add more hens in due course (given that I've introduced them properly of course?

What are other peoples experience of plastic hen houses?

Any advice gratefully received.
 
Thanks Ziggy. Are they warm enough though? We're very exposed to wind here, it funnels up the valley and there's nowhere I can put a house against a bulding for shelter. I'd looked at the Solway site as well, anyone used these?
 
ziggy said:
So how come those egloos house 6 birds and are even smaller than 8x4 and mines basically double that as I have a side on it ?
Click to expand...

My friend has an Eglu Cube, plus the run extension, which is supposed to hold up to 10 birds. He has 6, and has had endless problems with feather-pecking and bullying, with one or more hens hiding away in the coop, afraid to come out to feed or drink for fear of the other bullies. He lets them out in the garden quite a lot, but they are in there much of the time. There are many coops on the market which have adequate space for a given number of hens but totally inadequate run space to support that number. The smaller the run size, the more room you need to allow for each individual bird, because even if you allow the recommended 2 sq. metres, in a run of only 4-6 sq. metres ther isn't enough room for a bullied hen to get away and it's easy for her to be prevented from feeding and drinking.

There isn't a problem about hens having too much room in a larger coop, in fact they may benefit from the extra space and ventilation, compared with a closely-packed coop where the ventialation is inadequate. Hens don't need to be kept warm, they are hardy outdoor birds with feather duvets made-to-measure, anbd if they are dry at night, have plenty of air, and there are no draughts, they can stand temperatures well below zero.

I have a Green Frog plastic coop and it's excellent - a doddle to keep clean, takes to bits in the unlikely event of a redmite infestation, never needs creosoting, won't deteriorate so keeps its value, no condensation (because I give them plenty of ventilation) and is comfortable and well-designed for the birds.
 
Hens do well in space, even in the coop in Winter. They just don't like wet and draughts. Cold isn't normally an issue, depending on how cold and the breed. We have 8, in a coop that could take 16 -20, and that would be our normal density -3 square feet per bird. 2 square metres minimum permanent run space.
 
Thank you Marigold and Chris. I have the option to refurbish a shed which is about 8' by 10' ( not quite sure - it's at the far end of the track). It's shiplap so we would line it with flooring grade T & G chipboard, and I really like the idea of the plastic nest boxes reviewed by Tim (they're made not far from here). Whether the shed will stand the move or fall to bits I'm not sure, also it had swallows nesting in it last year and hasn't been cleaned - did I see something somewhere about steam cleaning? I might raise it off the ground to provide them shelter underneath and I'll certainly wire the underside of the floor to keep rats out. I haven't seen any rats but we have lots of wood mice and bank voles. Apparently the rats move in if the mice move out if they've lost their habitat - so we've been careful to preserve it.

it may be that it's better to bite the bullet and buy a new coop, in whihc case I may well go for plastic. The run isn't a problem; my friend who's hen sitting for me has an area enclosed by electric fence which I will copy - keeps the chickens safe if she's out late and keeps mr Fox away. Otherewise they range freely. I can do the same although initially the enclosed run would be big enough. We have 36 acres but it's let for grazing so at the moment I can't pinch a chunk of a field - I might do that next year when the agreement starts again.
 
I too have a Green Frog house and although it is meant for 6-8 hens, there is only two living in it. It's easy to keep clean and is watertight and draft proof, but with adequate ventilation. I also have a wooden house meant for 6-8 birds and only have 4 living in it. They are easier to keep clean with fewer hens in them. I haven't experienced red mite yet thankfully, but if I did I would hope it was in the Green Frog as it will be so much easier to get rid of than in the wooden house with all its nooks and crannies! Also the Green Frog is completely maintenance free with regard to not having to apply yearly wood treatments. I may be wrong, but I assume the houses with small runs attached should be for birds that will be free ranging most of the time and only confined to the enclosed runs for short periods.
 
I think you are quite right with you last statement Sue. Problem seems to be that there is never any hint of that need for free ranging in the sales literature.

It has been a huge job getting red mite under control in our wooden coops and we rely entirely on yearly applications of creosote. Necessary for that application is at least one spare coop. So the true cost of a wooden coop is much higher than first appears, as you need two.
 
Have you still got some creosote Chris or are you having to use the substitute?

Marigold what size is your coop and how many hens live in it. I've been looking at Green Frog and getting more confused! :?
 
I've bought a 20 litre drum of Bartoline original Creosote Margaid. I mix it 50 :50 with paraffin to apply it. That way it soaks well into all the cracks and doesn't leave a sticky surface -still kills the mite just as well. Dries in about 3 days with the coop disassembled, 2 weeks otherwise. I don't use it in the nest boxes as it gives off fumes when it gets hot in the sun.
 
I've got a Medium Chicken Lodge Margaid. ATM I have 4 birds in it but it's intended for up to 6 and this would be fine unless they were a large breed eg Orps. Usually 3 of mine roost on the front perch and they play Musical Perches for who goes on the back perch.
 
Thanks Marigold, now I know what to look for. ATM I have four Welsummer hens and once I've settled them here I want to get a cockerel - then hopefully I'll be needing more coops!
 
I'm glad I asked you Chris - it was almost tongue in cheek. We were under the impression, as are many of the farmers round here, that Coal Tar Creosote was banned. Just Googled it and as a farm business, with registered holding number etc etc we should be able to buy it - might stop the cows chewing the wooden fence round the caravan!! Thanks very much.
 
Yes Margaid, we have a CHP number from having sheep. But the local merchants didn't ask for it, just happy we made the 'trade' noises and were not going to be silly with it. I'll be taking another barrel to France as you can't get it over there. They have banned most domestic chemicals and there is no treatment for red mite apart from limewash and fire ash! just hope we don't get stopped at customs.
 
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