Chook Me!

I made plans for a chicken coop, how many Rhode island reds could go into it with no problem?

Ok I made a chicken coop plans 6 Feet by 9 feet, The coop it's self is 6 feet by 5 feet. The fenced in area is 4 feet by 6 feet. How many chickens could i fit in it? Note ---- they will be free ranged chickens too... so will not be in the pen part much, they will be roaming my yard

Public Comments

1. Well my wee hen book tells me that you can fit 25 into a 8ft x 4ft coop, however just by experience you will need a much bigger pen. Best thing is to ask a supplier of coops, like ebay as some suppliers give you the sizes of coop and run you need depending on how many u want to keep. I know its not a great answer to your question but l hope it helps a little.
2. ~The maximum of Rhode Island Red's in your chicken coop would be 2. You coop is fairly small, but if you already made it I guess you will have to stick wit what you have. Since Rhode Island Red's are skinny hens, you can have about 2 at the max. ~But if you were to have a Buff Orpington, it would be different. Buff Orpington's are the most common chickens eaten because of their size...which is fairly big. If you plan on getting Buff's, you need to only get one. Buff Orpington: http://www.rupert-fish.co.uk/includes/images/photos/fillongley/buff_orpington_B.I.S..jpg ~But if you plan on getting Araucana's/Americana's, they are fairly small, only weighing about 1 pound. They are excellent laying chickens, and have green and blue eggs. In the coop you have, you could fit 3 or 4 of the Araucana's/Americana's. They are also the sweetest chickens around. Araucana/Americana: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-N1ba-fVuto/R8im5O2tY-I/AAAAAAAAAF8/9RJxmHSbgBU/s200/Ameraucana+hen.JPG ~Barred Rocks are the same as Buff Orpington's, they are very big chickens but lay very good, big eggs. Barred Rock: http://www.oklahomafood.coop/shop/members/getimage.php?image_id=2823 Good luck! ~Aspen~
3. One question how high? doesn't matter really, they just like to "roost"at night. I think you could have more than 2 but not much more than that. It is a small coop. I don't think the fenced in area is enough either. I dont have mine in a fence. I just let them roam and close them up at night. My coop is 10X12x12 and I only have 2, but I'm getting 6 more.
4. Multiply length (6 feet) by width (5feet) gives you 30 square feet. Divide 30 by 2,5 (large breed, 2 for smaller breed, 1,5 for bantams) The max. number would be 12 but that is pushing it to the limit. I would personally stay at about 8 or 9 ,
5. 2 square feet of coop per laying hen and 8 square feet of yard per hen is a minimum. 12 hens in your 30 square feet will be comfortable with 10 to 12 feet of roost. Your fence is a minimum for three hens.