cluckingmad Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 (edited) Hi guys and girls! Need some help - I'm planning (against my fiances better judgement ) to increase my chooks from 4 omlet hens to include ex-batts and a few others in the new year, but first a new a sparkly run needs to be built.... Now then. We currently have a green cube which will sit inside the new run but I've got no idea how big the run will need to be for say 10-12 birds (would also like bantams, but not sure if the big girls would be nice to them or not...)... any suggestions?! I can feel my chicken addiciton growing by the minute - my four girls have only been with us since August and they now come when called and respond to their names Carolyn Chicken towers , happy home to esme, peppercorn, Jemima and Maggie, rest of garden home to Oscar and Trouble, the resident mogs Edited October 22, 2008 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I think it might come down to the fact of whether your girls are going to be free ranging all day because if they are then you might not need such a big space. I think the usual recommendation is for 1 square metre for each hen so this would mean that if you had a run like the one I have which is 3m x 3m then you could theoretically have 9 hens in there. Also, what is worth thinking about too, is if you would be able to move it at any stage so you can let the land recover a bit. I have a picture of my run on my Omlet Gallery - link below - it is still being finished off as we are taking delivery of a cube next week and will sight this outside the run for easy access and to give them more space. Plus, we are also going to build a mezzanine platform once the Cube is fitted. Ooh, one other thing I read - sadly after we had built ours that its better to not have one that is square as they are happier in a non-square space. However, they seem pretty happy to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 22, 2008 Author Share Posted October 22, 2008 thanks Helen, thats great We're planning on leaving the girls in the run most of the time, they come out at week-ends and if we get home early enoug h(i.e. and it's still light), but with winter drawing on they're not going to be able to free range much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 My girls are in their run most of the time too and seem quite happy. I always make sure that the area is kept as spick and span as possible and that they have greens everyday to make up for the lack of free ranging. I also have some raised perches in the run for them as they like to roost off the ground during the day. Also, I use Stalosan on the ground which I dig in occasionally with some garden lime plus I hose the soil too as my run is covered so doesn't get any rain. This makes sure the soil is as fresh as possible. Here is a bit about what Stalosan does Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I have a 9' x 18' run with a cube and 14 hens in it at the mo. (The babies are still in an Eglu). There is plenty of room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 The best size run is the biggest you have space for! Then you can increase your flock again next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
