Sooo much pooping

[hinterglem]

Hi,

 

I'm a bit confused about the size of chicken runs. When looking around for a coop/run for our back garden (in garden centres and online), most of the runs looked very small - around 1m squared looked to be average. I thought that was too small, so I bought one with a double run - it is just over 2 square metres. I am reading that the recommended minimum outdoor space is 1 square metre per bird. Does that mean that these small runs I am seeing can only house 1 bird? Surely you can't just keep 1 chicken - I thought they had to be in a flock? For example, on this page it says 1 square metre per chicken, then shows a run which can't be more than a metre squared with 2 chickens in it!???

 

I am planning to allow some time free ranging in the garden (I have bought some net fencing for that, so I can move the fenced off area and allow the lawn to recover), but the garden is quite small so can only be split into 2 ranging areas and I'm not sure how much damage they will do so might have to limit free ranging to allow the grass to recover (I have a young daughter who needs the lawn space from time to time, so don't want to let it get trashed completely). How many hens should I get? I presume no more than 2? It might be possible to extend the run to add another square metre at a later date, so I guess I can add another hen later?

 

Any advice appreciated. Hopefully when I'm more experienced I'll be able to contribute a little back to the forum, but for now I'm just a newbie looking for help! Thanks.

[Snowy]

Hi and welcome!

There is no legal limit to the space you need to keep a chicken (unless you are battery farming and thinking of giving them an A4 space each!) but it is generally accepted that the minimum is 1m square per chicken, ideally more. The less space they have, the more problems you are likely to get such as pecking, feather eating etc.

Some run makers can be quite creative over the number of chickens that can be kept in their runs. If in doubt, go for the biggest you can get and don't overcrowd them. If you have to give them the minimum they will be OK, but will always thrive better with more, or with periods of freeranging whenever possible.

And more space can be created by adding perches or mezzanine levels!

[Redwing]

Many of these tiny runs are imported, stacked high and sold cheap to unsuspecting people who then have to buy a bigger one when they realise!

 

Its worth bearing in mind that usually any guideline on capacity is for the coop not the run

 

I would say that the minimum of 1sqm per hen is what you should be aiming for, you could get away with a slightly smaller run if the chickens are able to free range but should things not go to plan, you go on holiday or change working hours things often go wrong when the chooks are suddenly at close quarters for long periods

[beach chick]

they very often advertise on the basis of what the coop (house) can hold. what REALLY matters is the amount of outside space they have, and you are right - 1 sq.m per chicken is the minimum.

you can get away with more chickens in a smaller coop AS LONG AS you have the minimum and ideally more space in their run. for example, I have 12 chickens in a cube (which is supposed to be ok for 10 girls) - but we have a 12'x12' walk in run plus 12sq m of electric fenced area they are in from dawn to dusk every day.

[hinterglem]

Thanks for the replies - I just wonder why so many come with small runs that are only big enough for one chicken - they would appear to be completely useless!

 

And more space can be created by adding perches or mezzanine levels!

What a great idea! I went straight out and built a mezzanine after reading that! Let's see if I can get a photo to show up: