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My friend from the feed store told me my coop was way too crowded

I've had 12 hens in a 10x6 coop for two years and thought it was fine. He came over, looked inside, and said, 'You're asking for trouble with that many birds in this space, they need room to be chickens.' It hit different because he pointed out the dust and how they were all bunched up. Now I'm thinking maybe I should build an extension or rehome a few. What's the real minimum space you all give your flock?

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1 Comment

wyattc761h ago

Saw my neighbor go through something similar last year. He had about the same number in a 10x8 and swore it was fine until a bunch of them started pecking each other real bad. The vet told him it was straight up stress from being packed in, even with a big run. He ended up building a whole second coop to split them up and the difference was crazy, they chilled out almost overnight. Your feed store friend isn't wrong about the dust and crowding being a warning sign. I'd shoot for at least 4 square feet per bird inside, more if they can't free range much.