About How Many Hens Do You Think Could Fit In This Barn?

[roostersandhens]

About how many adult White Leghorn hens could fit in this barn? (standard, not bantam) I won't be mad if you guess something off, I understand the difficulty of telling from a picture. Because I own a chicken rescue, and we are hoping to rescue 4,000 hens next Spring. We would be teaming with another rescue that agreed to take a couple thousand. I am not worried about them having lots of room in the barn, because for rescues it is all temporary. Eventually every hen will be re-homed to a place where they aren't as tightly packed. I just want to find a barn to buy soon. Plus, if we have a barn we could do larger rescues if necessary before next spring. Thanks, here is the pic of the barn I am interested in:

Thanks so much!

 

[countrygirl86]

Really depends on square footage. I advise minimum or 4-5 sq foot per chicken. The barn looks pretty large. So it just might work. What are the measurements?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do you have measurements?
It looks to be about 30X60 at least. If so, I'm guessing maybe 500. It will depend a lot on if they free range or stay locked up.
We used to keep 100 free range standard leghorns in a building about 15X30.

With that building you could get creative and possibly do two or more levels.

You'll also have to plan an easy method of waste removal. I'm thinking bobcat or front loader of some type.

 

[Irishhenman]

Just by looking at it, I am thinking 40 x 100 feet. If it is only for a short time (Max a week to 10 days) I would say 2'sq feet would be sufficient. So 2,000 birds. If it is for any longer 4 sq feet each would be better so 1,000. That is of course only going by my guess on the measurements. It would be much easier to tell if you could give us measurements.

 

[vehve]

Just out of interest, how does this rescue chicken business work? Is some place shutting down, and your taking the chickens, or why are 4000 chickens in need of rescue?

 

[roostersandhens]

Unfortunately the site I found this on doesn't tell you the measurements (or price). I will see if I can email them or something..

 

[Irishhenman]

Just out of interest, how does this rescue chicken business work? Is some place shutting down, and your taking the chickens, or why are 4000 chickens in need of rescue?

99% of these organisations rescue battery hens, hens that were used in commercial egg farms. They are taken when the farm is finished with them and they are gone out of their prime egg production.

 

[vehve]

99% of these organisations rescue battery hens, hens that were used in commercial egg farms. They are taken when the farm is finished with them and they are gone out of their prime egg production.

Doesn't this basically streamline their operation?

 

[Irishhenman]

Doesn't this basically streamline their operation?

Yup
Most ex battery hens are slaughtered. Rescue operations take the retired layers and regime them.

 

[vehve]

Yup
Most ex battery hens are slaughtered. Rescue operations take the retired layers and regime them.

But basically the chicken rescue is doing the egg farm a favor, they get to outsource disposing of their used up chickens, and save a buck in the process. How does this then help improve conditions for chickens?Wouldn't lobbying for a ban on battery hens be more fruitful? I'm just trying to understand the logic behind this, I'm sorry if I upset someone by asking awkward questions.