Breeding Pens

[protodon]

I need to build a couple breeding pens for some new chickens that I would like to breed as purebreds, as opposed to my free-range mixed flock. I was thinking of an 8' x 8' pen divided in 2 so I could keep one breed on each side. But a small portion of each of those would have to be for 'indoor' shelter since I have to space to make a chicken house for these pens. Is a 4' x 8' space enough for say 4 chickens? Would I need to use bedding in there? Or is bare floor fine and on a related note, if I let them out to free range would they return to their respective pens at night the way my mixed flock returns to their coop?

 

[Judy]

It should all work fine. I assume you mean letting them free range but not with other chickens.

 

[averytds]

If you let them all out to free range together, you won't be able to control which roo breeds which hens.

 

[protodon]

Yes I was thinking of letting them out with my mixed flock but on the condition that I wouldn't be hatching their eggs during he time they would free range, say a month at a time. Then I would also have to have a 'cleansing period' for he hens before I could hatch their eggs. I was just wondering of they would remember where their home os each night or decide they want to sleep with my mixed flock but if the size of their pen is considered big enough then I guess I wouldn't have to free range.

 

[purelypoultry]

I'd suggest no less than 3 to 5 square feet per bird. 10 square feet per bird would be better.
If you do 3 square feet at the minimum, that should be fine. I would also not recommend letting them free range together either, not only will it cause breeding problems, but they most likely will go into the same pens as the others.

 

[protodon]

great, thanks for the input.