Flock Size based on coop and run size

[aclee]

I am cross posting this in hopes for more answers (I think this is where I should have posted to start with!)

I have a large shed that is 8 feet wide and 20ish feet long. Dormered in the middle to 8 feet so nice and tall. We have 12 feet of it parted off as our chicken coop. Right now we have 37 meaties in there, but when they go I will have a laying flock. We plan to add a fenced area on the side with a covered run, that will be 11 X 13 but will also let them out to freerange most of the rest of the back yard daily, even in winter if they want to (not sure they will want to, but hopefully they will at least use the run since it will have less snow if it's covered).

How many chickens and turkey's would you house in there? The turkey's are midget whites so are only a bit larger than a standard chicken. I know I'm a little short on the outdoor run area, but I'm not sure if that matters if the birds will also be out in the yard daily or almost daily.

Also does anyone use sand in their run? How does that work? Does anyone add potted plants that they swap out to give the chickens greens to peck at? Might be better to have the plant in the house and cut pieces off for them?

Thanks

 

[Jkioneil]

The rule is 4sqft per bird. inside and 10sqft per bird in the run outside. i do not use sand but i hear it works pretty good. one thing that is important is that turkeys and chickens should not be raised together at all. Chickens carry blackhead disease that does not make them sick but kills turkeys and it is a really terrible death. after they die the turkeys head turns black hence the name. you will want to put them far away from your chickens. This way everyone will be healthy and happy

as far as plants it depends on the plants they will tear your garden up pretty fast. i usually take clippings to them and table scraps. They live in our orchard and have a lotof fruit but eat the heck out of the leaves that are near the ground. i think i would recommend taking them the clippings.

hope that helps a little
good luck!

 

[dragon86]

jkioneil is right about the space for the birds however i do have turkeys and ckeicken living togather as long as the soil and worms dont carry the blackhead dease the chickens shouldnt get it and that means the turkeys should be safe. however i would recomend not putting the turkeys in with the chickens untill that almost full grown adult turkeys are less likly to get blackhead or so i hear and thats what i did with mine and they did fine.