Solitary chicken - need advice

[DominicJ]

I'll be getting a cube over summer, not quite counting down the days, but almost, and am wondering if 10 chickens will actualy fit inside a cube.

I will be getting the 3metre run, and over summer and at weekends they'll be free to range the garden so I'm not worried about outside space, but I cant really picture 10 chickens sat in a cube.

[Ygerna]

I am going to be having 8, but it isn't here yet I know that when I check my girls in their eglu's because of how they sleep all in one corner it seems there is space for at least two more, and there is three in each already. I wouldn't put 5 in there obviously but if the dimensions of the cube are on a par with the eglu, I imagine 10 would fit in perfectly well.

[moochoo]

I've got 11 in my cube and there's still room for more. Mine are all hybrids and apart from 2 hefty girls are all a medium size.

[Cooks]

I'm going to have 4 and no more.. (ooh I rhymed!)

[DominicJ]

I was going to rescue some ex bats, they normaly appear smaller, so, sounds like 10 is an ok number

thanks for the help

[chelsea]

I have 4 at the moment, but soon to be 6 with a walk in run.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Depends on size of the chooks, I have 4 Orpies in a cube, and will (provided they all get on!!) have 7 hybrids in the other, there would I imagine be lots of space for more little ones, but only maybe one more of the big girls. They will all be attached to a big walk-in run. DH hasn't built it yet, so I can't say how big it will be!

 

Of course one day I could go out there & discover them all in one cube, but that will be their choice not mine!! To start with I intend to have an eglu in the walkin run too, so they have plenty of room to snuggle down - wonder how many will bundle in there....

 

It's not just the sleeping arrangements you have to consider, it's how much run space they have to be in when not free ranging.

 

Sha x

[bronze]

I have 10 and theres plenty of room. For me its the lack of run space that prevents me adding more

[Omletina Kyckling]

At the moment I have 6 in there, but plan to move the other 3 in with them soon. At the moment 5 sleep in the nesting box and one in the entrance to the nesting box, so 10 would be easy in there - like others have said, the main limitation for most people is the run size.

[Gallina]

I have five chickens (one's a cockerel) in each of my cubes, and that is enough for large breeds.

 

The Cube run with one extra extension is reasonable (but not lavish) for five large fowl too.

 

When Omlet say twelve, they are thinking of twelve hybrids, which are less than a third of the size of old-fashioned hens. The Cube would be plenty big enough for them as sleeping quarters, but I don't think that the standard run would not be enough for twelve hens, however small they were.

[kitchens]

I think 10 is plenty. In winter having a high number in the cube is not so bad as they can keep each other warm, but come summer it becomes more stuffy, you have the potential threat of mites and lice to deal with. Remember that any animal if densely stocked will be more prone to getting ill.

 

I think eglu do say somewhere on here that you also need to take into consideration your run size v headcount. If you have your own built in run that can provide more entertainment for them while you are unable to let them out then thats a bit different.

 

Just bear in mind what its like for humans when we can't go and get a little peace away from the crowd sometimes

[mccroft]

I have 6 in a cube and iuf allowed they would all sleep in the nest box. But they are not allowed and so cuddle up in a corner of the main sleeping area.

 

You could easily fit 10/12 in there but bare in mind that when they are standing waiting to be lety out then the room becaomes much smaller.

 

I (like others have said would only be concerned with the run size.

[DominicJ]

Is the cube run with the extention not enough for 10 chooks then?

Considering what an ex batt is used to I'd have thought they'd think it a palace.

[chelsea]

Is the cube run with the extention not enough for 10 chooks then?

Considering what an ex batt is used to I'd have thought they'd think it a palace.

 

They probably will think its a palace. But it is entirely up to you, the more space you can afford to give the chickens the better (IMO) - too many chickens in an enclosed area can encourage pecking/fighting & boredom if there is not enough room to move around.

 

Why not visit a local cube owner just to get an idea of size and then you can see for yourself before buying.

[Janty]

I'll be getting a cube over summer, not quite counting down the days, but almost, and am wondering if 10 chickens will actualy fit inside a cube.

I will be getting the 3metre run, and over summer and at weekends they'll be free to range the garden so I'm not worried about outside space, but I cant really picture 10 chickens sat in a cube.

 

I have got 15 in the cube tonight fast asleep. However, they have chosen to sleep together and they will not be confined to the run tomorrow. I have a standard run plus two extentions making 4 mtrs in total. In that space, I don't have more than six (although some of mine are LF) when they are confined and I feel guilty about that.

[Romany]

(although some of mine are LF) .

 

What does LF mean?

Sure I'm being really think but saw it somewhere else tonight and couldn't figure it out!

[Janty]

Large fowl.

 

My brahmas and cochins are huge.

 

[Romany]

Ah! Of course - makes sense!

 

Thank you Janty!

[Mollystar]

I have five girls & a boy in my evil pen , they wont let me introduce any more without killing them as much as I try, they have a run plus extention & get moved to fresh grass each day(we have a fields worth)

 

My other girls are in a

[Phoebe]

I have four and a 3m run , i.e cube plus 2 extensions. Mine don't get to free range much at all and a cube plus one extension seemed a bit cramped, so I bought another metre and they seem more spaced out now (in a good way !!)