Cube Mark One Run

[AmberSky]

I have some 4 new chicks and reserved 3 xbats which are to be picked up next month, i still have 9 other girls in the coop but i cant remember exactly how many hens it was reccomended to house, its not a eglu but a wooden coop the centre main bit is 90cmx65cm but has 2 nesting boxes 35cmx65cm. The coop is just for laying and for the girls to sleep in as i have a large section of the garden for them to free range during the day.

 

Do you think the house will be big enough to sleep all 16 girls?

[leedg]

sorry, but I think you're going to be a little short of space. As I understand it your coop is roughly 6.3 square feet (not including nestboxes), and it is usually recommended that a coop needs 1foot square per average size bird (regardless of run size) so the maximum that a coop of that size can really handle is 6 average size birds. sorry

[AmberSky]

Mmm not too sure that's right the one I have now is at least suitable for 12 hens, but I'm not sure it would fit 16.they mostly sleep all in the centre and there is still space there and 2 empty nesting boxes.

[Chortle Chook]

I think that what determines the number of chooks to a coop is not just the size of the chickens bodies sitting in the coop and so how many can physically squeeze in, but the amount of air space they need to be healthy. In the winter they are in there rather a long time and in the summer there is the issue of their breath creating condensation - I think.

[leedg]

could you of perhaps got your measurements for the coop mistaken? because 90cmx65cm= 5850 square cm, which is the same as 6.3 square feet. Most books on poultry recommend a minimum of 1sq foot per bird in the coop, therefore a coop of those dimensions could fit 6 average hens..

[jaspersmum]

It sounds like a bit of a squeeze to me too - sorry! I've definitely read about the 1sq ft per bird rule.

 

You also need to bear in mind the hens per egg box ratio. I think 2-3 hens per egg laying facility is about the maximum you can comfortably expect them to cope with - your egg boxes sound quite big (perhaps 2 chicken 'stations' per box at anyone time?) but are probably only intended to cope with 8-12 hens max.

 

Mind you our Nellie won't share a nest box with anyone regardless of how big it is - she obviously hasn't read the text book.

[AmberSky]

Thanks for the replies ive been out with the measure and camera to check in inchs and here is the coop.

it is 64"wide x 64" high with a depth of 29" including nest boxs.

[Redwing]

If the 12 bird recommendation came from the supplier its hopelessly optimistic

 

I'd say that the coop is at maximum capacity with the 9 present residents - personally I'd put maybe 8 in there

 

Sorry

[AmberSky]

"Ooops, word censored!"

 

So any one got any suggestions for a reasonably priced coop for 15-20 hens?

[jaspersmum]

Maybe try adding a second smaller coop in the same run to save buying a whole new one? They might be organised and spread themselves out nicely between the two. We have done that in the past when we've added chooks; though they do invariably all end up piling into the smallest one together at some point

[chick wiggle]

Id go for the 2nd coop option too, probably easier than trying to find another huge one when the one you have is perfectly ok. Maybe section a bit of your run off with the new coop in when the new ones arrive too, that also solves the problem of introductions

Your coop and run look awfully nice by the way

[AmberSky]

Thanks though the run does not look as pristine now as the photo is an old one as the one i took today cut off part of the coop, now the mud has risen on the pebbles somewhat and does not look so clean.

 

i built a makeshift tempory coop at one stage but they all ended up squeezing to the previous coop, i dont really want to section off the run as id like to keep them all together.

 

ive seen a couple of new ones around £300, but its a lot to pay for a couple of extra hens

 

the other option is i do have a shed ajoining the run, if i could convert it someway maybe i could use that, but how do i convert a shed for chickens???

[Redwing]

Converting a shed is a good option, a couple of long removeable perches and some boxes (with tops) below would be ideal as nest boxes

 

Some ventilation would be needed too

 

Google 'converting shed for chickens' I expect you'd find some pics of other people's creations

 

Of course you could add a new shed for the chickens, a well maintained 6 x 4 shed would do the job

[Chortle Chook]

AmberSky your current set up looks very pretty, but as everyone has said does seem quite a bit too small for your new girls. I think the idea of converting a shed might be a good way to go as then you could have all your chooks together and would not get the issue of some all squashing into one house, leaving the other semi empty. I have a neighbour who converted a shed using pictures from Essex Chickens to model her chicken shack on. The end result was very nice indeed and I believe cost her only c £100.

[AmberSky]

I did a reply earlier but i must have not submit it as its vanished, thanks for all the helpful replies but i have decided to postpone getting the 3 xbats till i can afford a bigger coop or i have more space. in the mean time im going to save some pennies with a view to getting a bigger coop. i reserved the xbats to replace the 3 hens i lost earlier in the year but i did not plan on adopting 4 chicks, its not ideal but i have plenty of space at the moment for the girls i have (chicks are still in my lounge ) but as i have said im going to save for a bigger one, in the meantime here is a photo of Sapphire,Blueberry,Rosie and Blossom.

Edited May 1, 2012 by Guest

[Chortle Chook]

Looks like you have a good plan, AmberSky

Like the pix of your funny little 'Tweenies'. They make me laugh at that age. The feathers on the browny ones are very pretty. Will they stay like that?

[AmberSky]

Yes infact they get even prettier they are cream legbars and lay blue eggs

[Chortle Chook]

eggs - that makes me They always look so pretty in an egg tray. A friend of mine gives me some from time to time but I can never quite get round to eating them as they look so lovely