Am I really breaking the 4 sq ft per chicken rule?

[cmom]

My birds go into their coops for food because I keep the feed in hanging feeders in the coops so it doesn't get wet when it rains. All of my pens/runs are 60 ft. by approximately 20 ft. They spend the majority of their time in their pens. Some of my coops may be a bit crowed but there is enough roost space for all plus a little. It depends on the breeds, bantams take up less space than large fowl. There are no set rules and each person has to decide for themselves if their room is adequate. Also where you live and the climate is a big factor. I'm in North Central Florida. We do get some cold weather but it usually lasts a few days and then warms up some. I have had 18ºF in the winter where my bird baths have frozen solid, but that is unusual. I do have shade/rain tables in each pen for the birds to get under. They would rather spend their time in the heat and rain under the tables than in the coops (which is in a previous post). (https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...sq-ft-per-chicken-rule.1282922/#post-20711480) It might be an option for those in snow country for their birds to have a place where they can get out of the snow.

 

[Shadrach]

When birds free range the only thing I consider for a coop is roosting bar space. I guess this also depends on their range if they have sheltered type areas (trees, shrubs, under decks, etc etc).. for birds that free range from sun up to sun down the coop is just secure lock box at night and they can pack themselves in as tight as they want. When it gets too crowded they will roost in trees... or that has been my experience.

That has been my experience as well. The point I make about related chickens living together is what the chickens chose. I don't in general let them roost in trees anymore and built coops as necessary. The coops are super simple though and meant for sleeping in and egg laying.

 

[Grits&Eggs]

I only had room for a 4x4 floor plan for the coop, but they are fine at night, and sleep on one of three roosts. But...first thing in the morning, if I awake after sunrise, they are all at the door waiting to get out...so, I usually wake up before sunrise to ensure they don't all pile up! (looking into buying auto-door). Love my ladies, my 9 are laying 6-8 eggs a day (except for the broody one in the nest boxes 24x7, sigh), got 7 already this morning....

 

[cmom]

Great cover from birds of prey too

All of my pens are covered with heavy duty netting because of an owl killing some birds in one of my open coops. Haven't had a problem since and I have since put tarps up on the sides that are open.

 

[Compost King]

For the first time I saw a hawk swoop down and take off on my property about an hour ago. Chickens were all in the Holly hedge rows hiding. I see them all the time in the skies here, sometimes I see 5 or 6 at a time. This was the first time i saw one touch down or almost touch down then take off. Now I have a good idea as to where to put obstacles to prevent them from landing and taking off here. From time to time I lose a young free range bird without a trace and I assume it's the hawks. Its not very often though.

 

[jthornton]

When birds free range the only thing I consider for a coop is roosting bar space. I guess this also depends on their range if they have sheltered type areas (trees, shrubs, under decks, etc etc).. for birds that free range from sun up to sun down the coop is just secure lock box at night and they can pack themselves in as tight as they want. When it gets too crowded they will roost in trees... or that has been my experience.

Yea my "coop" is really just a roosting box so with 11' of roost that is less than a foot off the floor and nothing else is in there. I could see 15 hens in my 4' x 5' roost box ( I had 10 at one time). I see as many as 7 full grown RIR hens on one 4' roost lol and usually have 5-6 on one 4' roost and sometimes they just scatter out on the roosts. I do think it's important to have enough roost space so one/some can get away from others and I have one that roosts behind a curtain and one that roosts in the corner by herself usually.

JT

 

[Grits&Eggs]

@cmom - love your setup, gonna think about building some benches, for human sitting, bird hiding and shade!!

 

[cmom]

@cmom - love your setup, gonna think about building some benches, for human sitting, bird hiding and shade!!

Where in Florida do you live?

 

[Grits&Eggs]

Tampa Bay - Clearwater area, beautiful beaches 5 min in three directions, And, where is Hilltop Farm? I see a link to plant city on your page - that is only 1 hour away... do you sell your chicks at:
3669 Paul Buchman Hwy
Plant City, FL 33565?

 

[cmom]

No, I'm up by Ocala.