Adding More Chickens

[CHlCKEN]

I have 220 square foot chicken run, which currently houses 7 hens. Do the math, and I could potentially add 11 more (assuming I build a larger coop outside of the run and clear the space inside) hens giving them about 12 square feet each. I just want opinions on the idea, I’m curious as to wether or not it would work.

Here is my run (currently with a coop and a few things inside taking up space)

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I think the chicken run looks plenty full as is. They have plenty of room to move around and get away from each other. Could you "fit" more. Probably. But they would look lke they were packed in there like sardines.

 

[BleuSaphir]

I would think the current run is fantastic for the current amount of chickens.

I say if you want to expand the number of flock, I’d say let make a bigger run and coop!

 

[aart]

Well, don't get any more birds until after you have a larger coop.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I honestly wouldnt add any more birds. I have a 525sqft run. I technically could have 52 birds in the run. I'm at 15 now and feel that is the max I want. They all have room, integration worked great since they had so much room, and sometimes my girls bicker so they have plenty of room to get away from eachother. Your run looks perfect right now with the amount of birds in there. I also have tree limbs, tire dust baths, and food and water in mine. I wouldnt remove things to add more birds because that's kind of defeating the purpose. You want more things in the run to prevent picking while integrating.

 

[FeatheredRaptor]

I always heard 8-10sqft per bird in the run if not free ranging, 3-4sqft per bird in the coop, 10-12” of roosting space per bird and 1 nesting box per 3 hens (but let’s be honest no matter how many nesting boxes they all lay in the same box).

 

[CHlCKEN]

The minimal square footage for a duck is 4 square feet.

I was thinking more like 10-15 per duck.

 

[black_cat]

I think you could add four more chickens to that, provided you increase the size of your coop, especially if the coop was off the ground and they could go under.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Thanks.

The absolute maximum number would be 22 but I find mine are much happier with more room. Maybe stick to 15-16 birds in that run.

You already know you will need a new bigger coop so build/buy that a bit bigger too. It will give you more options.

I see since I was called away there have been measurement clarification.


It may be better to stick with 14-15 MAXIMUM in that run.

I agree, it’s best to keep it at a low number rather than max it out

 

[CHlCKEN]

Side note: I’m getting a 250 square foot run that will house only 4 ducks. How many more would I be able to add? What is the square-footage-per-duck?