Chicken Ark size

[protodon]

I was contemplating building a chicken ark to house meat birds for a couple months at a time. I don't want it to be too big and I'd like to be able to move it alone. I was thinking something 3 to 4 feet wide and 5 to feet long, maybe up to 8 feet long. So that would be anywhere from 15 to 32 sq ft for birds. Now I've read that cooped chickens and ducks need anywhere from 3 to 5 square feet each but in practice how many birds could I keep in that size ark for only 2 months at a time? Or maybe someone could tell me what a good size ark would be for 12 to 15 birds without cramming them in there. I mean I'd like to be as humane as possible raising my own meat birds so having them in commercial conditions would kind of defeat the purpose.

 

[bobbo]

Seems like too many birds for that size, could be wrong. About half that seems right.

 

[patman75]

My A-FRAME has a 4X8 foot print so that is 32sq ft. The plans I got for it said it can hold 4 large birds or 8 small birds.

 

[protodon]

Thanks forthe input. I think I do like 4 x 8 as dimensions for an ark. I may just build one that large then let them free range when they looked cramped and get big enough. Then the ark could be their night coop. I have yard space for birds to free range since I already have free range birds but I was thinking of using an ark so they might fatten up more and have protection from hawks while still young.

 

[cobrien]

For meat birds I'm guessing you'd have large breeds? I had 4 BA's in my 4x10 tractor, the outside part was 4x6 and they were going batty by the time they were full grown. I would not call it inhumane but don't think they were enjoying life in that cramped space. I didn't move mine every day and think that makes a big difference. I would say for the first go round to get fewer birds and see how they do - it is pretty easy to tell if they are fairly content or not. Also there are certains breeds that do better with confinement than others, you might want to research that, I can say in my experience, Cochins tolerate confinement the best.

 

[mightieskeeper]

If you want to do meat birds. Maybe you should look at a hoop house. You could move it with your tractor or truck? Good size 8' x 12'.