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

[Bondinho]

Hi all,

 

We have currently got our house on the market and are looking at getting a bigger house with a much, much bigger garden for more chooks!

 

But I want to get a walk in run from aviaries4u or flytesofancy, I was thinking of getting the 15ft by 6ft. I would keep the Cube too, and have that based outside of the run so it's easier to clean and gives that little bit more space.

 

I currently have 5 chickens, which are all approx bantam sized, but I'd like to get more as we all do! How many bantams do you think are ok in a run that size? The new additions would be these type of breeds - pekins/sebrights/barbu d'uccles and perhaps araucana/poland bantam so they are all quite small birds.

 

What number do you all recommend? I'd also free range them in a netted area when I'm at home on weekends and evenings in the summer but would want the run to be plenty big enough for them if they have to be left in there.

 

Thanks in advance peeps.

[Egluntyne]

I have the Flyte so fancy run 18' x 9'. I have a cube inside it and 14 hens at the mo. They all pile happily into the cube, so I removed the Eglu that I had in there too.

 

There is plenty of room for them to move about.

 

They can even break into a reasonable run.

[The Dogmother]

I read somewhere (probably Omlet) that the guide is 1 square metre per hen, but then that obviously depends on the size of yer hens.

 

People are always saying the size is so important but the run also needs to be interesting if they are spending any length of time in it. So hanging up mirrors, moving logs around in the run and putting up some branches, or using leavy branches to make shelters in the corners are all good ideas.

 

A friend of mine has a lovely walk in run whcih she made herself, it houses her cube, plus a broody ark, and she has made various shelters and hidey holes for them too, with a covered dustbath. All the materials have been salvaged, so cost very little..

[Bondinho]

Thanks. I would obviously fill it with lots of branches, mirror, dust bath etc as there would be plenty of space to do that. We have found a house that has a lush 120ft by 28ft garden which if we were lucky enough to get then I would probably go for a bigger 15/18ft by 9ft run, and in which case probably get 12 or so bantams in there as I think that would be ok by the sounds of it, with free ranging whenever I'm at home.

 

Just got to hope we get an offer on ours sharpish so we don't miss out on the house we've seen Buying houses just for chickens eh? What's the matter with me!!

[Cate in NZ]

 

Just got to hope we get an offer on ours sharpish so we don't miss out on the house we've seen Buying houses just for chickens eh? What's the matter with me!!

 

Sounds perfectly reasonable to me . Good luck with it.

From what you've said it sounds like you're planning lots of space for your chickens, they should be very comfortable in there