how many chickens can i fit in......

[newchik715]

a roughly 8'x8' run? i have not built the coop yet and have no chickens yet either. i have a space in my yard that is already looking just like a run. it needs something for a 'roof' and it needs a coop attached but i was wondering if it was big enough in the first place. i don't want to build the coop and then find the chickens cant even move in their run! i have an old playhouse on the other side of the yard that i could use as a coop but then i would have no run....do you think i should use the run and build a coop or should i use the coop and build a run?

 

[DarkWolf]

6.4 chickens in the run (yes, I like partial chickens...) which means your coop will need to be 25.6 square feet of floor space to match the run.

10 square foot per chicken in the run.
4 square foot per chicken in the coop.

That is, unless you're talking Bantams.

Would have to see the playhouse to say if it was worth using.. For that matter, hire a few strong kids to move it and attach it to the stated run.

 

[The Chicken People]

Why not move the playhouse and attach to the run?

 

[newchik715]

Hubby says we can't move either for one for some reason....i said why not put them together and he said no I have to pick one or the other.

So six chickens? i was hoping a little more....what if i free range them too? Does it make any difference?

 

[patandchickens]

8x8 is a pretty small run, unless you can expand it. I wouldn't put more than 6 chickens in there (that gives them about 10 sq ft each) and honestly I wouldn't put that many in there myself, unless perhaps they had an unusually oversized coop.

"How many chickens can I fit in" always strikes me as a dangerously counterproductive question, although I certainly see why one would ask it for very reasonable reasons. The better question, IMHO, is more along the lines of "how few chickens will satisfy my needs/wants, and how much room can I give them, and then is that a reasonable number or not".

You certainly don't want to go BELOW 2-4 sq ft per chicken indoors and 8-10 sq ft per chicken in the run... but those are kind of bare minimums and chickens really do better, and management really is easier and more pleasant, if you give them a lot more space than that.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[newchik715]

ok so then let me tell you what i want to do....i want chickens as pets and to lay eggs. i would like to replace all my egg needs with from the store with eggs from my backyard chickens. I have enough of an income to do this if i can avoid high start up costs. the existing run could be expanded but i am a math failure and can not figure how to convert feet to square feet. i have read posts where people explain how but in all honesty i just have no head for anything math. so 6 chickens at best in what i have now and i want 8-10. 8 if i stick to strictly egg layers and 10 if i give in to my desires to own two matched silkies. anyway, can someone help with the math. do i need to double my run size? or do i just need to add a few feet to either end?

Also, considering i want to replace the 36 store bought eggs i go through in a normal month will 8 layers be enough? too much? i am talking ideal conditions here which i know i may not get...lol....but lets look at the glass as half full!

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Do you have pics? I did the same thing you're doing... Got on here to figure out how much room I needed, etc. Some feedback I got suggested that the hen house we built out of an old dog house might not be enough room for 6 chickens but it turned out to be perfect. The key was perfect utilization of the small space with regard to nest boxes and roosts. And then for the run attached to it for overnight confinement it's 8' x 3' and 5' high (trying to work simple math for ya). But like I said that for only night time lock up. There is also a rather large chain link kennel around the run+house AND they free-range all day. You mentioned free-range.... What are your ideas there on how often and how much space is there? I think you can for sure work with a small area when you offer plenty of free range time.... See my page for small house + run idea if you'd like. It took alot of engineering but I'm really happy with it and I do believe that if chickens could talk they'd agree.....

 

[Cindy in PA]

If you get a good egglaying breed each will lay on average 6 eggs per week so 6 * 8 chickens will give you 4 dozen a week!! I have always had between 9 & 12 layers & I've always been over run with eggs. I probably don't use a dozen a week unless it's baking time. I am seriously thinking of going to bantams (Plymouth Rocks) so that I can have the number I want and have more than enough run space. Have to see how I like the bantams I got this year. I don't personally care if an egg is only 1/2 or 3/4 of a large egg, at least I will be getting less, eating more (because they are small) & enjoying my chickens. Good luck with your decision.

 

[newchik715]

i have a decent sized yard to free range....i think...i am so new to this......i have two dogs and two raised bed gardens, i have a special place for my large rose bush, a swing set, several trees, space for the coop and run and most of the yard is still open space.....is that enough for free ranging? the yard is all fenced in so i am not sure how 'free' it really is but......

 

[Vince]

The flock will be the judge of that. They will get into everthing, for they are nosy by nature. Free ranging dosen't mean lots of space to roam. It just means not being kept up in a run or coop 24/7.