Can I Keep More Chickens?

[birdwrangler057]

Greetings, birdwrangler, and  !  Pleased you joined us!  I'll defer to Ol Grey Mare's expertise on this and just wish you well and thanks for joining BYC!!  

Redsoxs! I've been here since September 2016, I even follow you. lol. I agree, ol grey mares advice is the wisest. But I really just want to know if I can keep 1-2 more hens

 

[junebuggena]

Redsoxs! I've been here since September 2016, I even follow you. lol. I agree, ol grey mares advice is the wisest. But I really just want to know if I can keep 1-2 more hens

Without adding a run, no. Do not add any more birds until you have a run. You are currently over capacity with only 45 sq of total living space, even with free ranging. During the day, they should have no less than 10 sq ft per bird. Otherwise, you are risking overcrowding issues.

 

[birdwrangler057]

Without adding a run, no. Do not add any more birds until you have a run. You are currently over capacity with only 45 sq of total living space, even with free ranging. During the day, they should have no less than 10 sq ft per bird. Otherwise, you are risking overcrowding issues.

Ok

 

[birdwrangler057]

How big of a run should I build?

 

[junebuggena]

10 feet per bird, minimum. The bigger you can make it, the better. For your existing flock, you should have a run that is about 8x10. For integrating a few new birds in the future, I recommend 10x15. That gives you enough room for a small growout or broody coop, and you can partition off portions for a smoother transition.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Build as large as you can -- especially as you want to expand your current flock. Rather than looking at it as how many birds can fit into a given space, look at it as giving each of your birds the most space you can.

 

[birdwrangler057]

But what's the point of a huge run if I free range them on three acres almost every other day?

 

[Molpet]

But what's the point of a huge run if I free range them on three acres almost every other day?

it's like being locked in a closet and let out in the rest of the house every other day.... plenty of room when your'e out and cramped when you aren't

 

[junebuggena]

it's like being locked in a closet and let out in the rest of the house every other day.... plenty of room when your'e out and cramped when you aren't

And having to share that closet with 3 other people...

 

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