Ammonia smell in coop-first time owner

[veggiemad]

Hi everyone.

 

My WIR WAS going to be 15ft x 8 , this quickly reduced to 15 x7 and now the base is down and we have found some huge roots that will take the gardener man over a day (and a days pay) to remove i've decided on a 12 x6 ft run. - plus this means i can afford a 'tony' hopefully at this size!!

 

My question is- how many hens can i have in this?? I curretnly have 3 ex batts and will be getting some more in april time- but how many. I do plan to add levels if this helps.

 

Is my dream of 10 in total , going to leave them cramped???

 

any thoughts please

[DonnaS]

Hi Veggiemad - I asked the same question in the 'we're all planning WIRs part 2" thread. I've just ordered an 15 x 6 x 6ft 'Tony' - not being built by him, but delivered on Friday - and will have a cube (like you) and battery hens (like you). I was thinking initially 6 for that size - they'll be in there all the time probably (due to size of garden and concern re foxes and badgers). I don't think I'd get 10 in the 15ft length. I'm not sure I could tell them apart if they are all batt chooks and the same coloru either!

 

I think it's a personal matter - some would say they need more; some appreciate that they had a lot less in the past!

 

I think you should settle in the 3 you have now and see how you get on - and see how many others with 12ft x 6ft runs keep in their runs (I think ANH has a 12ft run maybe).

 

Cheers.

[BarbaraJ]

Mines a little odd shaped

dont really know the size and i have 7 now, i think thats enough, though they will get FR in their own fenced in area most days when its not too wet!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Mine's not quite that big, sadly, Donna . It's 2.5m x 2m (= 8.2 ft x 6.74 ft).

 

Five are in there very happily (but they do get freeranging time and there are loads of perches and levels for them to play on).

 

Edited to add some new photos of their high-rise hentertainment . (Everything's pink as I'd just sprinkled a load of Stalosan F around!)

 

[Redwing]

I'd say no to 10 in a 12 x 6 run

 

6 would be nearer the mark

[DonnaS]

ANH - I LOVE your high rise hen-tertainment. And I bet your chooks do too!

Inspiration for us all. Cheers.

[sandyhas3chucks]

I have 7 comfortably but 1 is severely disabled and therefore uses less than a metre square of that!, there is one Eglu om the ground the other "upstairs."

Don't forget your run will need to be divided for some weeks whilst introduction happens, and until your newbies have the strength to cope with your first 3. Perhaps you could have a trial run divider and see what you think about the 3 you have having half that space.?

[Cooks]

bear in mind that if you are still planning on having the cube on the outside, you gain more space inside than some people that have theirs in.. seems simple, but I easily forget

[veggiemad]

thanks everyone.

 

Yes i am having my cube on the outside- so that will save some space.

 

Also - i am intending to use my existing run panels as a divider ofr the newbies and have just got a bargain eglu classic to help with intros.

 

Perhaps 7-8 is better.

 

thanks for all your help