How many chickens can be in this space ?

[HardisonsHens]

I have a 7x11 dog pen that I am using to house my two silkies and two leghorns in there i also have their coop that is raised high enough that they can freely walk around under and eat as this is where their feeder/waterer hang.My question is could I add another two chickens in this space ? I'd like to have a barred rock.Their coop is as wide as the pen so I'm sure thered be enough room in there just wondering your opinion on the ground space.Thank you.

 

[HardisonsHens]

Correction coop is more like 5 ft long,sorry.

 

[ChirpyChicks1]

Most recommend giving 4sq ft per bird in the coop and 10sq ft per bird in the run.

My chicken run is also a dog pen (7'x12') and I have 6 chickens. Sometimes I think it's too small but don't have the money to give them anything bigger right now. Since overcrowding can cause serious issues I've created a "jungle gym" in the run, basically just an outside roost area (different levels), but it gives them somewhere to hang out, they jump up and down all the time. Next week when my brother is bored over spring break he is going to make me chicken swings Do they have a dust bath? It'll help keep them healthy but it's also just fun for them

 

[SlipsWife]

I think it varies by breeds and experiences. I agree with Chirpy Chicks1 and the rule of thumb is 4/10 coop/run.

That being said, it sounds like you have a large coop, and since its raised it doesn't take away from the run. You might be able to take the coop square footage into account. You also have to consider the temperaments of your chicks. If you have one trouble maker, are you ok with getting rid of the trouble maker to keep the peace?

Do you ever allow them to free range? Our girls seem happier when able to free range. You also might want to offer ways for them to get away from each other to help keep the peace. Activities, dust bath area...you might have to put a little extra work into 'keeping the peace'.

 

[HardisonsHens]

I have placed several areas for them to roost on and they have loved it !!! The floor of the run is dirt so they are constantly scratching and dirt bathing. As far as free ranging I can not allow that bc of my neighbors stupid dog that loves to herd everything Now I wanted to add just one more chick a barred rock but should I get two so the one dont get lonely. They will be housed indoors till ready to be introduced to the flock bc when I get the one or two they will only be a couple days old. And if I get two that would make a total of 6 in that run what do yall think ?

 

[SlipsWife]

I personally think you will be fine adding more, and I would agree with going with at least 2. First, since silkies are bantams they tend to not need as much space. You are on the right track with leaving the new guys separate until they are big enough to defend themselves. The best way to introduce them would be to have the new guys out with the original group where they can see them but not get to them. Maybe section of part of the coop/run for them for a week or so. They will get use to seeing them there. Once they seem disinterested, you can add the new guys at night. From everything I've read, they do best when introduced at night and wake up with each other.

We have chicks in a grow out pen connected to the coop/run of the big girls. After a couple of days they don't even care about the other guys. A couple of curious chicks pushed under the wire and got in with the older girls, they are a year old, and for the most part they ignore them. There was a little blood on the chicks from scratching themselves going under the wire and even that didn't cause a frenzy. We do have a head hen that is pretty much a bully, when we introduce the new guys for a permanent stay, we will remove her for a couple of days so the other girls don't pick up on her bullying. Ours will be able to free range together a few times before we introduce them in confinement. We've added our 2 bantams in with the group of chicks and they could have cared less, until they realized they weren't able to free range with the other girls and then they wanted out.

Everyone has different experiences.

 

[fatcatx]

It is not recommended to add just one bird to a flock. She would have to bear all five hens constantly trying to put her in her place the first week which would be especially stressful in such a enclosed space. (I was considering it at one point but was talked out of it by people who had lost the pullet in such situations because the group pecking was so bad.)

 

[HardisonsHens]

Thank you guys I will be getting two next week. Just wondering I was told the chicks would be two days old is there a way to tell which ones are female I will be getting barred rocks.