Ian47 Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Hi Guys, Just joined and first post.I have been reading this forum for about 6/7 weeks now after attending one of pengy's hen parties, and have ordered a purple cube with 3m run and 5 chooks. My question is about the size of the run, considering I work 12hr shifts and they won't be able to freerange hardly at all in the winter. I looked at the drawings on the omlet website and the interior dimensions of the standard run plus one extension appears to be 2.6 * 1.2 meters = 3.12sq m. This according to the 1sqm / hen guide that I've read about on here now seems too small. Any thoughts or advice greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance. regards Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 Whilst the size is important (remember to include the part under the house, and indeed the house itself is another area the chickens can access during the day) it is as much about ensuring that chickens have things to interest them in run to prevent boredom. Logs, dust bath, dandelion leaves hung from roof of run, an apple to kick about and then devour, etc). I would also advise the clear Ikea shower curtain (or similar) for some rainproofing. Many on forum have asked similar questions and there have been lots of reassuring replies that 3m run is fine for that amount of hens as long as it has been made interesting for them. Also, better to be safe in a foxproof run than freeranging if there is no one around to keep an eye on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 I'm assuming 3m is the standard run with one extension? I've had five chooks, now down to four, in this and they seemed fine. In the winter mine don't get out much at all during the week as I'm hardly ever home during daylight, but they are ok with it. If you think it's not enough you could add another extension easily later. The good thing with the Cube is the height - you can put some perches in a bit higher up so they can use all the space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian47 Posted September 2, 2008 Author Share Posted September 2, 2008 Thanks for the replys guys. Yes I did include the area under the house but never thought about the house itself,good point. We did intend to stick a log on the ground plus a branch through the mesh, and we have included a food ball in the order, but never thought about an apple or simillar, another good point. Now feel a bit better and can always include an extra meter of run when we get paid. Thanks again. ragrds Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted September 3, 2008 Share Posted September 3, 2008 I always tend to think that those of us who worry ourselves silly about whether the accommodation is fine for our flock are generally doing just fine by them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 4, 2008 Share Posted September 4, 2008 Hens are very accepting and conventional. They are happy with what they are used to. Hens that are used to free-ranging all the time would not be happy shut up in the Cube run (or in any run). But if free-ranging is a treat, they will be quite content there. I reckon the Cube + standard run + one extension is plenty for five large hens, so you could go up to six or seven hybrids. But I would not go up to the maximum number that Omlet mention: that is based on the house size, not on the run size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian47 Posted September 5, 2008 Author Share Posted September 5, 2008 Thanks Gallina, Always thought that 10 hybrids as stated on the website was a bit friendly but didn't realise that number was based on the cubes sleeping capacity.With the nights now drawing in they won't get to freerange regulary until next year just for a couple of hours on my rostered days off at the moment. By that time then they should have become well used to the idea that freeranging is a treat and be happy with their run, although I still may get an extra meter run for our peace of mind really. Regards Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laurmurf Posted September 5, 2008 Share Posted September 5, 2008 I think in the Omlet brochure it suggests 6 medium size/hybrids in the Cube with the standard run and 10 with the extension: so it mustn't be based on 'house' size. We know that since we got our six girls, after intially settling themselves round the perches, that they now all cram themselves quite cozily into the next box area of the cube. I could easily keep another 20 in the main cube itself by the looks of it! (not that i would dream of it!). I did find, through a google search, a calculation that gives space per hen recommendations for the run - it may have been based on the 'free range' definition - but the standard runs is absolutely appropriate for 6 according to that. I presume the 'Omlet 4' must have researched this fairly carefully to make sure the dimensions were right and the number of hens to keep in the Cube justifiable. Saying that, I am looking for a cube extension for my 6 for the winter when i may not be able to give them a daily free range as I just want them to have the extra space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted September 15, 2008 Share Posted September 15, 2008 I ordered my cube with standard run and an extension but when it got here I felt it was too small so I ordered an extra extension. If you are worried when it arrives, you always have the option of ordering an extra extension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
