Help me decide a smaller breed for my pen space?

[ohiogoatgirl]

Sorry if this should go in another forum section. Thought here would be better as I want to pick a breed to better fit the space I will have.

I am setting up again. I have had lots of animals before but after moving and things I am settling in and will soon be setting up to start again.

The pen would be under my rabbit cages. And at the end of the 'block' I would give them a shelter and nests etc. The chickens would be mainly for eggs although if things go well I would like to use them for brooding if possible. The pen under the cages 'block' will be about 2.5ft by 15ft and about 3.5ft tall to the bottom of the rabbit cages. If things go as planned with the rabbits I will probably have added another 'block' of the same dimensions. The idea being to have underneath the cage sections for the chickens and for them to help break up the manure and bug management. The eggs really only need to be enough for me and I don't usually go through that many eggs so I think just having 2 or 3 hens would be plenty. Also with two pens I could move them every so often back and forth and give me good opportunity to open it up and rake/shovel out the manure and bedding.

I hope that makes sense because I cant really find a good pic of the idea in my head! hahaha..

I was thinking maybe some bantams or silkies? After I get things really settled in it would be nice to be able to have a broody hen set some eggs and expand the pens for them.

thanks!

 

[Free Feather]

They would need to be able to get on lush ground out from under the cages alot.
Will they be able to freerange?

Most bantams like to roam and are a bit flightier, especially the ones that brood, like nankins and game birds. With such a small space you could not have them without them losing their minds. The ones that go less crazy in confinement do not dig and forage as much, so they would not do as good a job of taking care of the mess under the cage. To keep it from getting gross, by the way, you will need to add lots of carbon. I do not think birds will be very happy under rabbit cages.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I don't think they'll be very happy under the rabbit cages either. Not to mention the possibility of the rabbits going to the bathroom on them. I've seen many coops that have elevated rabbit cages inside them, but the birds had the option to go under them, or not, they weren't permanently housed under them. If you get Silkies and put them under the rabbits, they'll be a mess.