Sarah 2 Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I have a dilemma. I want my chickens to be able to free range as much as possible. But my kids are fed up of me shouting watch the poo. So I think I need to make a run. It does depend on how well the roosting bar making goes. I've looked on the internet for the reccomended space for chickens but I've only found stuff about battery hens. Which is totally shocking. I want the chickens to happy as well as my children. Please help. Any suggestions gratefully received. p.s My gardens only small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgley Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 Why do you need roosting bars in the run? Sorry - maybe I've misunderstood your Q. But in a hen house, it's recomended that large hens have 18inches each to perch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I think Sarah is making some roosting bars and depending on how well she makes them, will depend on whether or not she makes a run. I think! Sarah, just make a run as large as you can without taking up the whole garden. I'm sure they will appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xChicken04x Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 i think you should have about a meter per chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I've got 4 inside the omlet netting, which is 25m in length I think - just over 5sq m each? they do still escape from time to time, and stick their necks thru for whatever looks more delicious outside the run... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 well the cube run space that is recommended for 10 chickens is 4.8msq so 0.48sqm per chicken runwise. So I would go for at least that as I have to say I wouldnt put 10 chickens in that space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 what we did was fence off the parts we don't want the chickens in - it seems to work better than fencing in the chickens. We needed to returf the lower lawn (tries to look posh) and as it was our first two girls, Ginger and Gertrude, who wrecked it we used chicken wire to fence off the lawn and surrounding flower beds and keep them out. We have a lovely lawn and flowers Now OH is digging over the upper lawn to returf so the hens will be further restricted in how far they can roam. They'll have the patio, the (small) herb garden and one long bed containing trees and shrubs to root around in. I don't know what size your garden is but it's worth thinking about something like that - or perhaps doing what a friend's neighbour did? He made a chicken wire tunnel round the outskirts of his garden. Having said all this, I don't think chicken poo is that dodgy, just a bit messy... what do others think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 probably not dodgy, but would still rather not step in it/walk it around the garden, into the house, etc! still less have the kids do the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I find that a weekly mow disperses the chicken poo nicely before it gets out of hand. Having said that I do have a ride on mower and love to mow! Although this week its looking so waterlogged that I don't think a mow will happen. I also have garden shoes for me and wellies for DS that get taken off as we come in therefore no problem with walking poo in. Oh and all wood floors so if any does get in its easy clean. Hey my house is chicken friendly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah 2 Posted June 29, 2007 Author Share Posted June 29, 2007 Thanks for the replies. The hens love to free range. So I think maybe the welly idea is a good one. It was really the baby playing in the garden that I suddenly thought of. He's just about to start to crawl. Maybe it will be a no free range summer for the chickens. Just this once until the baby can walk. My garden is tiny. 8m by 8m not really good for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutechicky Posted June 29, 2007 Share Posted June 29, 2007 I was told that the minimum space requirments per chicken is 4' by 4' . If you want you chickens to have more space, then you can extend from there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
