4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Michelle1610]

Hi,

Currently we have three girls in an eglu with the run extension. They come out twice a week and get moved around the garden once a week.

 

But, like so many we have been bitten by the bug and want to increase our flock. This means a new bigger home and a fixed run.

 

I would appreciate any advice you may have on the following...

 

1. How much run space should each hen have so that they can move around freely without being on top of each other.

 

2. Wooden hen houses - pros and cons ?

 

3. Can anyone recommend a book on Build your own hen houses?

 

Aplogies if these topics have been covered before - if they have, can someone point me in the right direction?

 

We're looking at increasing to 8 girls and supplying all friends and chicken friendly neighbours with their eggy needs!

 

Thanks in advance

Michelle

[Olly]

I think the recommended area is 1msq per hen - which is roughly what your three girls will have at the moment in an Eglu and convertor.

 

You could probably squeeze this slightly if they had a lot of free-ranging time, and of course under intensive farming conditions they are legally allowed to put 17 hens in 1msq, I believe!

 

I think that is a good rule of thumb though, for hens which are in the run a lot of the time like yours. Sorry I have no advice on D-I-Y henhouses, but have a look on the 'Eglus and Cubes' forum. Somebody built their own hen-house a few weeks ago, and it was beautiful.

[Mutrix Farmers]

I think the recommended area is 1msq per hen - which is roughly what your three girls will have at the moment in an Eglu and convertor.

 

I agree with Olly.

 

OH would love more chooks - one day but at the moment 3 is enough

[superjules]

1m sq each for hybrids, 80cm sq for bantams.

 

I've got a wooden hen house and an eglu. Obviously I prefer the eglu as it's easier to clean thoroughly, but I've been using diatom and (touch wood, haha!) have seen no sign of any nasties associated with wooden houses. They need maintaining properly though and make sure they are made of proper materials, such as shiplap timber and marine ply - exterior grade ply is just not up to the job and will warp over time.