How big should my pen be for 45 chickens?

[DianaMallory]

Before I built my coop and run I read on here that you needed 2-3square feet per bird in the coop and 4-5 square feet in the run. I will not free range my birds ever again do to past bad experiences! So my run had to be built to hold 20 birds. Now I come here and read 10 Square feet per bird? I am thinking back when my grandma had chickens they stayed in the same run and were not moved around, nothing fancy and they had less room than mine do know. And her chickens seemed healthy and happy enough. If my grandma was to see my coop she would tell me it was to fancy for some ole chickens! RIP grandma I still miss you and your fried chicken! So I am going to stick with the 4-5 Square feet per bird. Grandma raised her chickens for eggs and meat. I am just raising them for eggs mostly. 4-5 square feet in a totally enclosed pen,with hardware cloth is working fine for me and my 11 golden comets that are laying right now and I have 5 in the brooder that will be joining them soon. Oh and I have sand in my coop and in my run easy clean up!

 

[aoxa]

Before I built my coop and run I read on here that you needed 2-3square feet per bird in the coop and 4-5 square feet in the run. I will not free range my birds ever again do to past bad experiences! So my run had to be built to hold 20 birds. Now I come here and read 10 Square feet per bird? I am thinking back when my grandma had chickens they stayed in the same run and were not moved around, nothing fancy and they had less room than mine do know. And her chickens seemed healthy and happy enough. If my grandma was to  see my coop  she would tell me it was to fancy for some ole chickens! RIP grandma I still miss you and your fried chicken! So I am going to stick with the 4-5 Square feet per bird. Grandma raised her chickens for eggs and meat. I am just raising them for eggs mostly. 4-5 square feet in a totally enclosed pen,with hardware cloth is working fine for me and my 11 golden comets that are laying right now and I have 5 in the brooder that will be joining them soon. Oh and I have sand in my coop and in my run easy clean up! 

I use 4-5 square feet in the coop (at least) and you really can't have too much outdoor space. 4-5 square feet is much too small in the run for standard chickens. Bantams you may get away with it..

I have enough space in one part of my barn to hold 122.5 chickens. I may keep a total of 50 in that area.

Just because your grandmother did it that way, doesn't mean that it was the right way. No offence to your grandmother.

4sq feet inside and 10sq feet outside is the general guideline, but often it is best to start out with at least 2x that space as preventing picking and boredom is easier than curing it. If the run has trees, bushes, and bugs, they will be less bored than if it was a square of just plain dirt (which is what any grass will turn into very quickly even at 10 sq feet per bird).

 

[teach1rusl]

Just because your grandmother did it that way, doesn't mean that it was the right way. No offence to your grandmother.

I agree. If I did things the way my grandma did, my dogs would live up under the porch, be crawling with fleas and ticks, and wouldn't be spayed/neutered. Many animal practices from the past should STAY in the past.

A chicken's life centers around pecking and scratching about for grass and bugs, so ideally they'd have enough space to basically free range. However, that's just not practical for many people who keep chickens, due to predator populations, space restrictions in suburbs/towns, ect. But the maximum amount of space possible should always be given. It's hard for me to imagine a chicken living out it's life with barely more than 2ft. x 2ft. of outdoor space per bird...

OP - if you're talking outdoor pen space, then I would allow at least 10 sq. ft per bird...the more space you give them, the easier they'll be on the land...

 

[aoxa]

I agree.  If I did things the way my grandma did, my dogs would live up under the porch, be crawling with fleas and ticks, and wouldn't be spayed/neutered.  Many animal practices from the past should STAY in the past. 

A chicken's life centers around pecking and scratching about for grass and bugs, so ideally they'd have enough space to basically free range.  However, that's just not practical for many people who keep chickens, due to predator populations, space restrictions in suburbs/towns, ect.  But the maximum amount of space possible should always be given.  It's hard for me to imagine a chicken living out it's life with barely more than 2ft. x 2ft. of outdoor space per bird...

OP - if you're talking outdoor pen space, then I would allow at least 10 sq. ft per bird...the more space you give them, the easier they'll be on the land...

I just think if you don't have enough room to meat the minimum amount recommended - you should lessen the number of hens you have. It's as easy as that

Even the OT's recommend that much space per bird (IE: Fred has already said so).

 

[five is my dog]

if you free range about every day it doesn't have to be to big but if they are always in there you should have about 2 sq ft per bird