EGLU HEAT PROBLEMS

[serekunda80]

I am thinking of having my chickens in a caged area of 4ft x 8ft, and then maybe letting them roam rest of garden supervised. Question is this enough space and what would be my maximum?

[Mercedes55]

I think it would depend on how many hens you had

[Jools]

Two. Three at a pinch, but only if they get lots of free ranging.

[grageomat]

This is pretty much the same size as the eglu run, now they say it can have 3 chickens! i had 4 chickens in a run slightly larger than that 10ft x 4 ft and it wasnt nearly enough space at all so upped it to a very large walk in run that seems to take over the garden

So if that is your max space then id prob advise 2 hens as you want them to have enough room, though you are then in the dilema of - is 2 enough? as they do always say 3 is the magic number, incase one dies the others wont be alone!

Good luck whatever you decide.

[tom123]

3-4 Bantams or 2 Large Fowl Hens

[serekunda80]

thanks for reply, I can make the run longer if need be.

[figarogir1]

I would make the run as long as you can because you are always going to end up wanting more hens

[Mercedes55]

I would make the run as long as you can because you are always going to end up wanting more hens

 

Couldn't agree more. We were going to just have 2 hens when we first decided to get some ex batts, but that soon increased to 3 because we were worried that by just having 2 that if something happened to 1 of them the other hen would be lonely. But my OH came home with 4 and the run really is too small for them. We are now waiting to have a 24ft by 6ft run built and some days I wonder if that is big enough

[Roobaloo]

Slight thread hijacking...

 

I have a walk-in run that is roughly 7ft x 6ft (it's just over 7ft by just under 6ft). I only have two hens but with hopes to introduce more...I appreciate that the space I have is suited to three...but I would obviously prefer not to introduce one hen by herself.

 

Would making extra levels in the run be an acceptable way to make more space? So, in effect, making an additional area of about 3ft x 6ft...then ramps and perches. I currently have an Eglu classic inside the run (on a platform) but plan to buy a Cube that will be external (but securely fixed in so it's part of the run!)

 

They also free-range for a minimum of 5 hours per day in summer (usually it is much longer...weekends it can be all day and mid-week it's usually 3hrs in the morning as well as 6hrs in the afternoon/evening)

 

With this set up, would it be possible to introduce 2-3 hens?

[batcatz]

Hi, I worked out:

9x6ft=5 chooks

9x4 = 3.5

12x4=4.5

9.5x3.5 =4

 

However, I have 4 hens in a 6x4 run and they are absolutely fine, but this is temporary. They have a stool to jump up on and logs. I am building a 9.5 x 4 ft run for them. They will have part of a table, perches to jump on etc. They also get the run of the garden for as long as possible most days of the week.

[Plum]

If they have access to under the cube that will give them a bit more space

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My run is 2m x 2.5m (so about 8ft x 6.5 ft) and has 5 chickens in it. They freerange all day when I'm around (I only work Mon-Wed during term time) but seem very happy in the run even when the door is open.

 

I've built loads of upper levels and have probably doubled the space. I wouldn't ever have more than 5 though (although it would be nice as I'm getting zero eggs at the moment ).