Chicken bald back

[PixieDust]

Long time no speak.

 

I have 3 hybrids in a run 10.5ft X 7ft and 6ft high. The coop will accommodate 6 large fowl. I started off with 4 but lost one.

 

My friend has become ill and after losing some animals after bonfire nigh, 2 quails and 2 guinea pigs, she feels she has let them down and wants me to take her 2 hybrids.

 

I have no segregation space in the run.

 

I have been told my run is too small for 5. They will get daily free ranging and have lots to do. We also will be moving in around 18 months and can build a bigger run. She wants me to have them because I care for mine as pets, as she does.

 

The run is 75 square feet which means over 10 square feet of space per bird. Or 6.57 metres squared which gives just over a metre squared per bird. I know it's not ideal but I am being told off on a fb group as it must be at least 2 metres squared per bird. We will utilise the height too as her birds particularly love perching high.

 

Am I wrong? Is it too small?

 

Appreciate all advice you can offer.

[AndyRoo]

I'm new to chicken keeping myself, but everything I have read has suggested that 1 square meter per hen is fine, and anything you can offer above that is a bonus.

[PixieDust]

I also forgot the house which is raised and is 3ft X 2ft so another 6 square feet.

[PixieDust]

I'm new to chicken keeping myself, but everything I have read has suggested that 1 square meter per hen is fine, and anything you can offer above that is a bonus.

 

Yes that is what I thought. I don't think there is a legal requirement for garden hens as far as I know.

[Luvachicken]

I'm new to chicken keeping myself, but everything I have read has suggested that 1 square meter per hen is fine, and anything you can offer above that is a bonus.

 

Yes that is what I thought. I don't think there is a legal requirement for garden hens as far as I know.

 

 

Good to see you back PixieDust

 

That's the measurements I thought they were to have too.

And with lots of free ranging they should be fine.

[mullethunter]

I think that's plenty big enough PixieDust especially if they get some FR time - are you sure you couldn't cobble together a temporary house and separate area within your run for a week or so to make integrations easier?

 

Good to hear from you again - hope you and all your 'associates' are well

[AndyRoo]

I'm new to chicken keeping myself, but everything I have read has suggested that 1 square meter per hen is fine, and anything you can offer above that is a bonus.

 

Yes that is what I thought. I don't think there is a legal requirement for garden hens as far as I know.

 

I don't think there are legal requirements (in terms of run size / grazing area) for hens, with the possible exceptions below:

 

If you're selling the eggs as free range then you must meet legal minimum requirements in terms of grazing area and the conditions in which they are kept (plant coverage etc.).

 

Obviously there may well be local bye-laws that exist too, but usually those are stating "you must keep your hens X distance away from both your own property and you neighbours property" etc.

[PixieDust]

Thank you for the welcome back.

 

Associates? Lol what do you mean? Lol.

 

OH is fine. He is being head hunted for a job in the East Midlands. The position doesn't start til April 2018 but after having to buy eggs because my girls are freeloading...I mean moulting, he has said we will be building a much bigger run so we can keep a rotation of girls for eggs and let the non layers live a comfortable retirement.

 

Anyone who remembers the trouble I had with him over these girl will be as shocked as I am by that.

 

Brother still being an "Ooops, word censored!".

 

As you may recall Mum passed away in January.

 

Doggie still doing good. He can play in his garden without constantly running round the WIR screaming and barking at the girls. So a huge improvement.

 

Since losing mum my health has been all over the place. Slowly getting back on track.

 

And the Pobs are still Pobeing. I did have to fit a bumpa bit to Lily as she was stripping Winnie and Pixie bare. Don't like them but she is coping.

[Luvachicken]

Oh I had forgotten you called yours the Pobs

 

It's good to hear that your health and other things are getting back to normal.

 

It's funny what husbands will do for us in the end

[mullethunter]

Really glad to hear life seems to be generally on the up turn.

 

My OH likes the chooks a lot more than he'd let on and a surprising amount seeing as he didn't really want them in the first place. In fact me and the girls call him The Treat Man!

 

Looking forward to seeing your newbies if you get them

[Chickabee]

I think it will be fine for you to have your friends girls.

 

My Pobble is doing really well btw she doesn't lay much, but she's very healthy and good looking

[PixieDust]

I will post pics when they arrive. One is another Bluebell hybrid called Kerry and the other is a Speckledy hybrid called Trixie though to stop the confusion with Pixie I way call her Trixibell. They are due next week sometime.

[PixieDust]

I think it will be fine for you to have your friends girls.

 

My Pobble is doing really well btw she doesn't lay much, but she's very healthy and good looking

 

Hello again. Glad Pobble is doing well. I was really touched you named her in honour of Pob. I think we are hitting the limits of a hybrids laying time. They slow down now don't they?

[Chickabee]

Yes after their first year

[PixieDust]

Though to be fair Pixie laid almost every day for 2 years. That's why I wonder if she may not start laying again.