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

[charlies82]

As the title says really! i have a cube with standard run on order and netting which will give them the extra space of 9ft by 16ft! obviously can only let them out when im around which on average is 6-7hours a day. Sooo how many chickens can i have?!? this chicken keeping is so addictive

 

Thanks

Charlotte

[Olly]

The Cube will sleep up to 10 chickens, it's really the run size that determines the number. If they are going to free-range quite a lot of the day, and bear in mind the netting will not be predator-proof so they may need supervising, then I would say you could have four or five hens in the standard run - I'm assuming maybe only an hour or two spent in the run.

 

If, like mine, they are in the run most of the day with only an hour or two out of it then I would say three. I've had six in a Cube run with one extension, but that was one too many I felt. It's worth getting an extension, each one will give you another square metre of space.

 

It's still a heck of a lot more than intensively farmed chickens get ... but if you squish too many in, you're liable to get pecking and behaviour problems.

[charlies82]

Thank you! maybe i will stick to the 4 i have at present then and think about it the near future. I will see how i get on with the cube first, before extending it.

 

Charlotte

[Space Chick]

I'd say 4 is do-able but is a squeeze in a standard run

[TAJ]

4 would be fine - I would not go for Omlets max of 6 - I have 6 with an extension and wouldn't want many more than that in there & mine free range a lot.

 

Tracy

[charlies82]

Thank you everyone! i think i will stick to my 4 i have then, they will get plenty of free ranging aswell. It just so addictive!!!

[jess1merlin]

I have got 4 in my cube with a standard run and they seem fine, they do get let out every day for a few hours tho. They also get on well together which is good as there would not be much room for 1 to get away if it was being picked on.