can a coop be too BIG?
Hello from a newbie (just joined today). My house/property came with a coop surrounded by a pen. The coop was designed to handle 25-30 chickens and so is rather large. I only have two pullets, just acquired yesterday, and will probably get only 2-4 more. Is it possible the coop is too large? Do chickens like to feel cozy?
Here is a photo of the coop/pen taken before we moved into the house (which is in the background):
http://bp0.blogger.com/_3vx5-Y2CcuU/RhVdcJ2ReGI/AAAAAAAAAU0/yBGuF9bvwBI/s1600-h/img_1364.jpg
It has a human-sized door, so it is possible to stand up inside. On the tall side of the coop there are "boxes" (just shelves with walls and a perch on each one) along the wall in 3 rows, each with 3 boxes for laying eggs. On the opposite wall, there are some tree branches that act as a perch for roosting with wire underneath and a ramp for poop to slide down. At the bottom of the ramp are some doors that open upwards to allow for cleaning. I'll have to post a photo of the inside later.
Jennifer
From my understanding it is best to have a coop of approximately the right size for the number of birds you keep. If there are too few birds they can get too cold in winter and if too many then they can get too hot in summer. Both of these could pose health problems.
Additionally, the larger the interior space, the more energy it takes to heat and/or cool, which can add considerably to your electric bill.
Additionally, the larger the interior space, the more energy it takes to heat and/or cool, which can add considerably to your electric bill. You might consider ways to add walls to reduce the air space in your coop. Who knows -- you might end up using that entire space someday!