koo2cat Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 How much space do 6 hens need to class them as free range? Does free range mean unlimited space or is it a space per bird thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I believe the rule of thumb is 1 square metre per hen as a minimum. I have a 5 X 3 metre walk-in run for my 7 hens and there is loads of space there for them. They do come out for limited foraging in the garden too, as long as I can be there to supervise them, but they are in their run for most of the time TBH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 (edited) According to the soil-association, the minimum is 4 sq m per bird outside and 12 birds per sq m inside the house, but birds kept to soil-association standards must have 10 sq m per bird outside and 6 birds per sq m inside. See: http://www.foodforlife.org.uk/resources/documents/Food%20Quality%20and%20Provenance/Welfare_standards_for_organic_and_free_range_chicken_and_eggs.pdf Edited February 18, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larkspurs Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi I found a similar thread that may be helpful http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=38535 Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted February 18, 2009 Author Share Posted February 18, 2009 Thankyou for your replies. We have 3 hens and are getting 3 more in March. Their run is pretty large I would have thought but even my three seem to get restless in there. We do let them out for supervised free ranging but not as often as I would like due to garden wrecking and Mr Fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 From the Defra site. Free rangeIn free-range systems, the birds are housed as described in the barn system above. In addition birds must have continuous daytime access to open runs which are mainly covered with vegetation and with a maximum stocking density of 2,500 birds per hectare. In all systems the birds must be inspected at least once a day. I'll leave you to do the maths! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
