Coup and tractor size

[ReformedPastor]

How does one determine coup and tractor size for 15-20 chickens. Planning on ranging them in a tractor or even an electric chicken fence.

What is the square footage for coup per bird?

 

[springvalley123]

the minimums: 4 sq ft coop per bird, 10 sq ft run per bird, but many people double that, and it depends on the birds--hiding spaces for weaker/more passive birds etc.

 

[bruceha2000]

If you are planning on them living in the tractor full time, @springvalley123's 4 sq ft per bird is a minimum. For 20 birds that would be an pretty big tractor. How do you plan to move it?

Are these layers or meat birds?

Where do you live? Location is pretty important for a lot of questions. For example where I live the birds can forage from April through October/November. After that there is nothing to eat and they really don't like snow (they have a choice to not go out in it since they have the barn alley as an indoor run).

 

[3KillerBs]

Welcome to BYC. Where, in general, are you located? Climate matters a lot, especially when it comes to housing.

Here is some basic info,

The Usual Guidelines

For each adult, standard-sized hen you need:

• 4 square feet in the coop (.37 square meters)
• 10 square feet in the run (.93 square meters),
• 1 linear foot of roost (.3 meters),
• 1/4 of a nest box,
• And 1 square foot (.09) of permanent, 24/7/365 ventilation, preferably located over the birds' heads when they're sitting on the roost.

15 hens

• 60 square feet in the coop. 8'x8' is easier to build than 6'x10'
• 15 feet of roost
• 150 square feet in the run. 10'x15', 12'x12' or 8'x20'
• 15 square feet of ventilation.
• 4 nest boxes.

20 hens

• 80 square feet in the coop. 8'x10' is the most practical because 7'x12' or 6'x14' require a lot of weird cuts.
• 20 feet of roost
• 200 square feet in the run. 10'x20', 12'x16' or 8'x25' as suits the land available.
• 20 square feet of ventilation.
• 5 nest boxes.

And here is an excellent article explaining why these are *guidelines* rather than hard and fast rules: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/how-much-room-do-chickens-need.66180/

I have the 48" Poultrynet Plus electric netting from Premier 1 and I love it -- though it does come with the vulnerability to aerial predators, it offers more space for the money than any other fencing option. I accept the tradeoff -- some people wouldn't want to.

 

[ReformedPastor]

I have the 48" Poultrynet Plus electric netting from Premier 1 and I love it -- though it does come with the vulnerability to aerial predators, it offers more space for the money than any other fencing option. I accept the tradeoff -- some people wouldn't want to.

Have you tried to use scarecrows? Also how often do they get out of the paddock?

 

[3KillerBs]

Have you tried to use scarecrows? Also how often do they get out of the paddock?

I've never had any luck with scarecrows in my garden so, no.

I find the they *mostly* stay in -- though POL pullets are likely to wander. I suppose their hormones are telling them to go find a good place to nest?

I have one bird, a California White, who flies like a helicopter but I don't worry about her because she can get back in. Others get their wings clipped because they go out and can't figure out how to get back in -- just pacing around frantically outside the fence.