4 square feet per chicken?

[TheCrazyChick]

This thread is making me feel so much better. I read that super long thread from a couple of years ago...lots of arguing going on about how much space they need and some even said 5 sqft per bird and I was sort of freaking out. We got 8 chicks and have a big backyard but my hubby certainly wasn't anticipating building a ginormous structure. We live in southern Oregon and it's really not all that chilly here. Winter maybe a handful of nights down in the teens, days always somewhere between 35-45F. We get a few inches of snow that sticks around for a couple of hours at the most, so snow isn't a concern. The run will be close to the side of our house, so I'm thinking there won't be a whole lot of wind there. Do you think they will be ok with a 24 sqft. coop (so 3ft per bird) and an 8x20 run?

YES YES YES! Don't let the 4 sf in the coop and 10 sf in the run stuff freak you out. I have 9 hens in a 4x5.5 with a 4x5.5 underneathe run until winter ends and they are happyhappyhappyhappyhappy. Seriously happy.

 

[salt and pepper]

I agree that there is no set rule, my chickens have a little over 4 sq ft in their coop, and 50 sq ft in their run, but were just as happy when they had 3 in the coop, and twenty in the run. They are also NEVER in the coop unless laying eggs, or sleeping. I have chicks in the basement right now, so they will soon have 2 sq ft in the coop, and 20 sq ft in the run, plus free ranging a couple time a week.

 

[TheCrazyChick]

That's sort of my point I guess. If all they do is sleep in the coop, then why all the fuss about the square footage. We all want the best for our chickens, but everybody has the right to choose what exactly that is. Congrats on the chicks in the basement! My new ones are in the bathroom!

 

[salt and pepper]

Thank you! I think it really makes a difference on how much room they have in the run, I my chooks had less room in their run, I would give them more space in the coop. I think the space outside is more important than the space inside congrats on your chicks as well!

 

[Mac14]

Now following! Need to keep this info in mind. Also, how much for bantams for coop and run? I think I heard of doing half. Thank you.

 

[salt and pepper]

It depends on the size of the run, I would give bantams no less then 8 sq ft in the run, and around 2-1.5 square ft in the coop.

 

[Mac14]

It depends on the size of the run, I would give bantams no less then 8 sq ft in the run, and around 2-1.5 square ft in the coop.

What if you free range them everyday to every other day? Would it be the same as you said? Thanks.

 

[salt and pepper]

What if you free range them everyday to every other day? Would it be the same as you said? Thanks.

If you do it every day it would be the same, not if it was every other day.

 

[gator75]

I have a 4x3 coop and a 4x3 run underneath with an additional 6x3 run attached uncovered.

Thats 30 sf. of run. I have 2 Buff pullets and just purchased 2 Wyandotte pullets to finish my flock. I keep seeing 10 sft per bird for the run but only have about 7.5 sf each per run. I know the coop is fine, but is it a big deal if the run is a little small? I'd hate to have to do a renovation.

Thoughts?

Photo

 

[old1953]

Yes indeed. I had a huge problem with poison ivy in one side of my yard, that was all that was growing there. Period. I dug some of it out and about put myself in the hospital, there were vines the size of my fingers I was trying to handle. After penning chickens in that side of the yard for a few months, no more poison ivy. Or anything else. If you really want your chicks to have greens, you can either toss them in or do the easy thing of building TWO runs, with two doors into the coop. Pen the birds on one side, and throw down wheat or similar fast sprouting grass on the other. Water for a few days, wait a week or so, then let the birds switch runs, repeat the process. Chickens love wheat grass.