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

[dippy bird]

Ok, so, after my OH had sunk a few glasses of port, he gave into me having some more girls I'm not sure if he will remember today though Anyhoo, our run is 15ft x 9ft x just under 6ft . How many girls would comfortably fit in? I have 5 big buxom beauties at the moment.

[Space Chick]

OK, you have 135 square feet. 10 square feet is roughly equal to 1 square metre. They recommend 1 square metre per hen if they have free ranging time, 2 if they don't.

 

So, if you have free ranging time, in theory your run is big enough for 13 hens in total. However, as you have said that you have big girls, I assume you have Cochin, Orpingtons etc, so big girls would need more space, probably 1.5 square metres each or 15 square feet.

 

So 75 square feet is taken so far, that would leave 60 square feet, so therefore I would say you could have another 4 more "big" girls or 6 more standard sized girls.

 

Phew, that was too much maths for a Monday morning

[dippy bird]

wow, that must have hurt!!

I think some of my girls are quite big, but I am no expert so not really sure what is classed as big? If I had any clue how to post piccys I could show you my ladies,but I have no idea how to do it.

Thanks for the info,I quite like the look of the silkies and the pekins - would they mix ok with hybrids?

[Space Chick]

I should have read your signature the first time rather than rush into my maths

 

You have hybrids there, so 6-8 more would be no problem (as long as your house/nesting box can deal with that).

 

Pekins are Bantams so are smaller, Silkies come in bantam versions but also standard versions which are also small girls but are classed as large fowl.

 

I know that some people have successfully integrated Bantams with bigger girls, but most people do not recommend it.

 

You should be OK with a Standard Silkie though (although I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong).

 

You will need to divide your run whilst doing introductions though.

 

If you are going to go for a number like 6, why not do a mixed approach and maybe rescue a few ex batts, and then get a silkie and a few other pure breeds.

 

I know I am biased, but my flock is a mix of hybrids, ex batts and pure breeds. They live together beautifully (following careful intros) and each "set" of girls brings with it their own rewards.

 

Happy chook shopping, I am not jealous at all

[dippy bird]

Thanks for this.We have talked about getting ex bats - when I see piccys on here it always makes me well up with tears. I wouldn't know where to get them from though?

[troyca]

The battery hen welfare trust is the place. Check out the website and save some lives!!

[Space Chick]

There are 3 main people to get ex batts from:

 

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust

 

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

 

Hen Rehomers (this is where I got my 3 lovely ladies from)

 

http://www.henrehomers.net/

 

They have a rescue on the 10th October, the closing date for applications is on Thursday, so you would need to get in quick.

 

Little Hen Rescue

 

http://littlehenrescue.co.uk/default.aspx

 

They have a free range hen and an ex battery hen rescue coming up but they are based in Norfolk

[beulah59]

We've had our ex-batts for four weeks now ... and they are already individual characters and unexpectedly easy to care for. I don't think all ex-batts are like that, but if you already know something about chicken keeping, it would be a lovely thing to do

[dippy bird]

Well folks, I have just filled in an application form for 4 ex bats. I couldn't NOT get some. My husband is more up for that,than getting some "Posh Birds", so now to get another coop!!