So I've read and read that chickens should have a minimum of 4 square feet of coop space. My current chicken house (enclosed) is 64 square feet (which includes where the nest boxes sit and food/water). By the 4 square foot rule, I should house 16 chickens total in this house. The chicken house is attached to an enclosed yard that is 256 square feet. So total square footage of chicken house and yard is 320 square feet.
Do you use the yard space also in calculating the maximum number of chickens? Could I (in theory) have 80 chickens in this area (320 square feet/4 square feet per chicken=80)? Or do you only use the enclosed chicken house space for calculations?
I currently have 18 chickens in this space, and they seem to do just fine and have more than enough perch space. They are allowed free range in the enclosed yard every day as well. Could I reasonably increase this number to say, 30 chickens, without them being overcrowded?
Thanks!
Do you use the yard space also in calculating the maximum number of chickens? Could I (in theory) have 80 chickens in this area (320 square feet/4 square feet per chicken=80)? Or do you only use the enclosed chicken house space for calculations?
I currently have 18 chickens in this space, and they seem to do just fine and have more than enough perch space. They are allowed free range in the enclosed yard every day as well. Could I reasonably increase this number to say, 30 chickens, without them being overcrowded?
Thanks!