Solitary chicken - need advice

[AliA]

Hello,

 

I read differing opinions as to how many bantams one can have in a Cube.

 

I have a Cube which comes with a standard run and purchased TWO additional runs, which gives quite a lot of space.

 

We have a fox problem so chickens would not be able to free range until such times as I sort out electric fencing etc, so are confind to their runs.

 

I would hate to cause undue stress if there were too many chickens sharing. Please please can someone confirm how many Bantams would be happy in the above configuration (which I believe to be quite luxurious and very palatial!!).

 

Also, how many full size chickens should I go down that route rather than bantmas.

 

Could I mix the two?.

 

Thanks and have a wondeful day.

 

Alia

[Louisdog]

Depends what type of bantams / hens to some extent, I would go for laid back breeds. Also depends if you are planning to move the run around the garden, or what substrate you will use. I should think you could have six full size hens in there quite happily, maybe slightly more bantams. But the fewer you decide, the better as they will have lots more space I guess.

 

Seems like the run will be 1.2 x 4 metres = 4.8 metres squared.

 

I have a 5 x 3 metre run = 15 metres squared and keep 8 bantams and two hens in there quite happily but they do trash the grass very quickly.

 

What breeds are you looking at and how many eggs are you after, or do you want pets?

 

Edit: the cube house will hold more than ten bantams, maybe 15, but it is the run size that I'd be looking at more than the house.

 

Edit again: you can mix banties and full size hens if you do it with care, although some say it's best not to do so as you can have big problems.

 

Cheers

alex

[Helly Welly]

We have 10 chooks in a cube with a 12 foot square walk-in run. We wouldn't have any more than that in the run but they have a good amount of room now and we've put in plenty of perches. Our run is in a permanent place. I don't know about banties, sorry.

[chelsea]

I would give as much space as you can afford to be honest, dont over crowd as this will cause boredom, pecking and lots of stress for you.

 

I have 6 large fowl in a 15 foot x 6 foot run and for me I think that is enough, its personal choice but I would hate to think of my girls not having room to have their own little area to scratch around in and room to escape in from any peckers.

 

Have a look at your set up and judge how many you think is acceptable, the cube itself is large enough to hold lots of hens (roosting) but even with an extended run you dont want to cram them in. Space = happy hens

 

I wouldnt mix banties and LF in the same run - free ranging fine but not in the same house/run.

[Louisdog]

My LF and banties do mix fine in their run but I realise some folk are not so lucky.

 

I agree on keeping numbers relatively low, in fact you can always start low and add more in a year if you think the run can take it.

 

Cheers

Alex

[chelsea]

in fact you can always start low and add more in a year if you think the run can take it.

 

 

good idea , then you can judge yourself if you think you can squeeze any more in.

[westleigh]

i had 10 in my cube some banties and the rest bigger,they had a large run but i have to say that i was greedy and payed the price and had to rehome 2 so i personaly wouldnt have any more than 8 in a cube, hope this helps a little

[ChickenGeorge2]

We bought a second cube got another 6 girls making 13 in total, what happened is they all sleep in the same cube, you can't win they do whatever they want.

[Egluntyne]

I have 16 hybrids piling into the cube. Their choice. :roll. I did put an Eglu in the WIR too, but they ignored it.

 

They have loads of room in the WIR.

[BarbaraJ]

I have 16 hybrids piling into the cube. Their choice. :roll. I did put an Eglu in the WIR too, but they ignored it.

 

They have loads of room in the WIR.

 

wow imagine the poop lol

[MaggieMcHen]

I have 9 hens in a cube attached to a 24' x 12' (6m x 3m) walk in run with perches, climbing frame, not to mention the rafters where my new ones seem able to get to. They should have at least 1 sqm per bird to live in. The Cube easily houses 10+ birds but as louisedog says the run is the important consideration.

 

I may end up with a few more one day - if I get a broody I am going to let her incubate some eggs. I do however have an Eglu as well if they need the sleeping accommodation.