christyrose12 Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I have a cube and understand they can take up to 10 chickens. I have 8 now. 5 orpingtons, 1 buff sussex, 1 ex batt and 1 wyandotte. I have just been offered another orpington. i really do love them but am worried I might be overcrowding my cube. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I think 10 hens refers to the house area, I don't think the standard run would be big enough, I guess it depends on how much they freerange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 They all snuggle up together anyway. I've got 5 hens in a Go. They have a large run and a WIR. My exbats in a traditional coop take up such little space at night. There's 4 of them, I could easily fit another 4 in. I wouldn't though because the whole coop isn't being enough. Have you got a big run? Have you looked in the cube when they're asleep, to see how much room they take up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I want an Orpington Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christyrose12 Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 I love orpingtons. I have a red, a blue, a buff, a gold partridge and a splash. I've just been offered a white one. They free range and have 64 sq metres of garden (8m x 8m). I only picked the gold partridge and the splash up last week and before that the 6 I had all used to sleep in the egg box altogether. I used to check on them a night and think that the ones on the bottom would suffocate but you'd see a little head poke through. So cute!! Anyway, when they were doing that the bit of the cube with the bars was empty!! Yes, they do seem to all cuddle up together I was just wondering in the summer when it gets warmer (I hope!!) at night if they'll get too hot in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 With all that daytime space they will be fine at night in the cube. I love orpingtons too, I have a lovely bantam orp who is white with chocolate splashes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 (edited) I'm so excited for you! I always leave the pop hole open, unless it gets really cold. Go for it, and post some pictures too. . Mm now how can I fit on orpi in back to saving for a cube me thinks Edited February 3, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MillyJude Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Yay, another big bundle of fluff coming your way then. We are the same, 8 in a cube, although it has been 10, but they free range all day and when i look in at night half the floor space is empty. Do you have a safe enclosure/run so you can leave the cube door open at night in summer? Then they can come out when its light and wont overheat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 I currently have 10 hens in the cube and there is plenty of room. Previously I had 12 girls in there as they all wanted to sleep together rather than split up. I removed the nesting box divider so the girls can spread themselves out. My cube is against a secure run so for the warmer months the pop hole is left open Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 Ooo I feel a need for some Orpington pictures coming on, even if it will make me as As for room, manufacturer's recommendations are just that - only recommendations. Chooks really can vary so much in size (and you've got some big girls there) so I think you might need to think of 2 things a) when it is hot in the summer, would you be able to leave their door open to let more air in, without Mr Fox taking any of your chooks? b) how much room will each chicken have for scratching, investigating, and generally being a chicken? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted February 3, 2014 Share Posted February 3, 2014 My cube has 11 residents at the moment, with the nesting box divided in two. 2 are large Orpingtons and there is a humungus Marans, everyone else is quite dainty LF in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christyrose12 Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Well, i've said I'll have the white orpington . I just have the cube in the chicken garden but I thought if I got the small run to attach to the cube then I could leave the door open at night in the summer as some of you have said. That sounds like a good idea. Then at least they could get some fresh air on those hot nights (I hope!!) I have thought of taking the divide out aswell. Sometimes one of them likes to roost in the hole so the others cant get in or out. What are the pros and cons to not having the divide there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Plus point of no divide for me is that I can take out the roost bars to wash them through the pop hole so I don't need to drag the cube out just to slide the lid forward Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christyrose12 Posted February 7, 2014 Author Share Posted February 7, 2014 Looked at the runs and they are £200+ Better start saving. Dont know how i could sneak that one in without the OH noticing. Hmmmm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
