Help!! Can I fit more hens in my coop/run???

[Kmath]

The point was to demonstrate that you are planning to put chickens not only into an area which is considered too small by members of this community, but also by law in a country which, while being relatively progressive about animal welfare, is relatively backwards about chicken welfare. It is kinda irresponsible to aim for the bare minimum that the animals need to survive when there are many people telling you here (I think a fair few from personal experience) that it is not good enough.

Chicken behaviour more often than not changes drastically when hens are overcrowded. If you do not believe us, then read some of the posts on the forums… there have been a couple just in the last few days where people have left their chickens locked up in a run which was too small and came home to find them with bald patches.

I understood your question to be about whether you can add 6 more hens to your setup for 2 months with a plan to move them to larger run with an additional 18 chickens. If this is not what you were asking, then I think we may all be somewhat confused!

I was asking TEMPORARILY. Go judge someone else

 

[KittyKat3756]

I was asking TEMPORARILY. Go judge someone else

Ah, so is it for a few days rather than the 2 months you mentioned earlier and the bigger run that you are planning to build is temporary as well then?

Sorry, I think you may have misread what we've been saying: we haven't made any judgements, just sharing our collective knowledge to help answer your question. That's kinda what the forums are for!

 

[mrballance]

I was asking TEMPORARILY. Go judge someone else

Kmath, Very short term probably ok. Long term no. You should Quarantine, Very important to not spread diseases from flock to flock

 

[Kmath]

Ah, so is it for a few days rather than the 2 months you mentioned earlier and the bigger run that you are planning to build is temporary as well then?

Sorry, I think you may have misread what we've been saying: we haven't made any judgements, just sharing our collective knowledge to help answer your question. That's kinda what the forums are for!

Not "we", you. Please stop commenting, you aren't a help.

 

[Kmath]

Kmath, Very short term probably ok. Long term no. You should Quarantine, Very important to not spread diseases from flock to flock

Ya we talked about the quarantine and our pen run isn't big enough for that so we are waiting till we get the big coop built then we will quarantine then. I might do the short term in the run with 12 chickens. I care deeply about all my animals and will provide what is best for them. But I was gonna put 12 in there while it's being built. I should have my whole thing built in under 2 months. We decided to do a 12x10 coop and a 10x 22 run. That will give them 4 square feet inside and 9 outside.

 

[21hens-incharge]

In the future quarantining you will be doing something to keep in mind is that a lot of diseases are airborn. Please do not just divide your run and put them right next to each other. It defeats the purpose.

Wishing you the best whatever you decide to do.

Babs

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Why ask for people's advice if you are flat out unwilling to take it? Everyone here has tried to point out why it is not a good idea. Two months is a long time to cramp them up in such tight quarters. If you truly want to do what is best for the chickens, there have been ample advice all that state that this idea is not a good one to run with. If you insist on doing what is best for you rather than the chickens, don't bother asking. Everyone here was only trying to help. There is no reason to get hostile in return.

 

[Kmath]

Why ask for people's advice if you are flat out unwilling to take it?  Everyone here has tried to point out why it is not a good idea.  Two months is a long time to cramp them up in such tight quarters.  If you truly want to do what is best for the chickens, there have been ample advice all that state that this idea is not a good one to run with.  If you insist on doing what is best for you rather than the chickens, don't bother asking.  Everyone here was only trying to help.  There is no reason to get hostile in return.

Not being hostile. I don't appreciate being judged for asking a question. And it had to do with one person. I appreciate everyone's input. Some say it's ok some don't. It's all opinions. I did not ask to be judged and interrogated. Never was flat out unwilling to take it. I actually never once said NO your opinion is wrong. This isn't meant to be an argument so please save yourself the drama. I am looking for opinions not an argument.

 

[KittyKat3756]

Quote:I'm afraid that I'm not sure at all where you think that I made any judgements against you, I definitely have not and I'm sorry if that is how it came across. I only tried to provide some background reference to why a number of people have come back to you with a "no" so that you can make a better informed decision when you do make one.

 

[Catfishfedd]

As a general rule you need a foot of roost space per bird, the run space is unimportant, if they fit it's good there.