Quote:
Chickens are by nature ground birds that generally roost only at night. They won't "use" vertical space in a run the way some other birds (doves, for example) would.
Not many of us "use" all of the space in our apartments or homes, but how crowded and uncomfortable we would feel if that space was taken away! Certainly, chickens can make do with less than 4 square feet of coop space; battery hens are crammed into much smaller quarters. However, when chickens are overcrowded, not only do you risk pecking problems, but your job to keep the space clean enough for good health is just that much harder. More chickens per square foot just means more work, and I'm interested in less work and happier chickens.
Chickens are by nature ground birds that generally roost only at night. They won't "use" vertical space in a run the way some other birds (doves, for example) would.
Not many of us "use" all of the space in our apartments or homes, but how crowded and uncomfortable we would feel if that space was taken away! Certainly, chickens can make do with less than 4 square feet of coop space; battery hens are crammed into much smaller quarters. However, when chickens are overcrowded, not only do you risk pecking problems, but your job to keep the space clean enough for good health is just that much harder. More chickens per square foot just means more work, and I'm interested in less work and happier chickens.
