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How bad will the addiction hit? (How big should I plan?)

Discussion in 'Coop & Run - Design, Construction, & Maintenance' started by pixie74943, Dec 6, 2009.

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  1. Dec 6, 2009 #1
    pixie74943

    pixie74943 Songster

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    A current hobby of mine is calculating how much space I would need for x chickens and then planning a coop...

    So I'm curious.. How many did you start planning for, how many did you end up with?

    Currently planning a 12 chicken coop and expecting to put 6 in it, seems like a smart idea to plan for double the amount you EXPECT to get.. because fluffy butts are addicting
     

  4. Dec 6, 2009 #2
    Sir Birdaholic

    Sir Birdaholic Night Knight

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    Plan on how many you wan't......... then multiply by 50! They are SOOOOO addicting![​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  6. Dec 6, 2009 #3
    ThePamperedPullet

    ThePamperedPullet Songster

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    We started off with 2 chickens in a small 5 X 16 coop. We now have 8 breeding pens that are 5 X 16, 4 broody pens, a hen house, a roosting house, 2 large covered areas and a large fenced in free range area. We currently have 108 birds with 47 eggs in the bator.
    It gets addictive but we love our chooks.
     
  8. Dec 6, 2009 #4
    Preservation Acres

    Preservation Acres Songster

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    Don't fight the urge. Run to it!

    AND EXPAND!!!!!!!

    :)
     
  10. Dec 6, 2009 #5
    Benelli

    Benelli Songster

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    I started out thinking a free, ready made dollhouse for my six and a 5x12 run would be plenty. Added a roost and three nexting boxes. Two weeks after seeing how cool and fun they were I was already planning how many I would be getting this spring. Now I'm planning to build at least a 12x12 with a double run, one inside the other, so they have more room to roam when I'm not at home. When I'm home they free range. Way to many predators around here. I am not planning on having more than a dozen hens though.
    With that being said, I'll probably want more than a dozen after the project is complete. I DON"T LIKE BIRDS. That's what's so bizarre about all this. They work their way into your heart, quickly.
     
  12. Dec 6, 2009 #6
    pixie74943

    pixie74943 Songster

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    Adelaide, Australia
    Quote:I agree, budgies, finches, lovebirds, cockatiels... cage birds just bored me to tears.. now I have 3 chickens, and watching them in just soothing, and I love my babies to bits. and scold them like naughty children and cuddle them, and croon when I hold them... yeah.. Addictive I know
     
  14. Dec 6, 2009 #7
    Kansaseq

    Kansaseq Prairie Wolf Farm Asylum

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    I started out with 3, and currently have 20, plus the 3 ducks. I would so like room for another 10 or so. Count on at LEAST double what you actually want. This hobby has a tendency to snowball pretty bad.
     

  17. Dec 6, 2009 #8
    sonew123

    sonew123 Poultry Snuggie

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    you have asked the wrong group of enablers that important question!!! LOL... these people are as evil as silkies-I started with 4 and have 45 in 3 seperate coops! Just plan as big as you possibly can and as much as your budget will provide then double that within a month!
     
  19. Dec 6, 2009 #9
    fowlmood

    fowlmood Songster

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    Just accept the fact that you will NEVER have enough space for all the birds you will end up wanting! [​IMG] I started out just thinking I wanted a couple laying hens for fresh eggs. Now, chickens, ducks, geese and peacocks later........I'm still working on coops each spring. I typically rotate my flock by adding to it in the spring and butchering in the fall. But yes, plan for more than you buy at first. You'll get more, trust us!
     
  21. Dec 6, 2009 #10
    Benelli

    Benelli Songster

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    Maybe we're just in denial and hoping we can help someone else with their soon to be addition under control? Is there a chicken A.A. group yet?
     
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