What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[Sageandonion]

Is a run size 3ft wide by 9 ft long by 4.5 ft at it's highest sufficient for 3 hens possibly all large fowl ? This is the run size we've gone for though we could go for a run that's 12 ft long for not much more. The only reason we've haven't gone for the bigger one is that it looks so massive and we're concerned it will take over the garden - we live on a housing estate and our garden is not that deep. The hens would be confined to the run for 2 days a week and the rest of the time would have access to the garden.

[alet_chicken]

Hi, the rule of thumb is 1 square meter per hen (I guess that's around 9 square feet in old money). A 3 by 9 run is 27 square feet so they should be absolutely fine, even without the free range time.

[Olly]

That sounds fine to me, as Alet has said 1 sq metre per hen is the rule of thumb, I think 3' x 3' per hen would be fine, especially if they get some free time as well. The Omlet Eglu run is a similar size I think, I can't be sure without a metric conversion!

[Sageandonion]

Many thanks - will leave my order as it is

[Daphne]

Yes, just as further reassurance I have 5 LF orps in a run that size; although they FR a lot I have no qualms about leaving them shut in when I have to because they are docile and rather dozy and usually to be found standing close together! As others have said, even assuming your birds are more active than mine they will have enough space

[Sageandonion]

Great thank you - your orps sound adorable - can't wait to get one