How many chickens can i have?

[Jesusfreak101]

We have to build a bigger coop or sla second of course but we have a fence in yard for them that is 100feet by 130 or possible more (i think its two hundred my husband says different) how many birds can we have in that area for free ranging without over killing that area. We already have 18 hens over there. What do you think?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

100x130 = 13000 sq ft --> 10 sq ft per chicken means 1300 chickens max, assuming you can build a coop that is 5200 sq ft (4 sq ft per chicken in the coop). Of course, to keep from "killing that area" you would want to keep less, but I don't think you are wanting anything close to 1300 chickens anyway, right? lol

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Lol no thats an insane amount!! I just wanted to make sure i wasnt going to be getting to many on not lol. I plan on gettig a few more layers and some solely meat birds.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

How many can i have if want the mostly free ranging?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If they are mostly free ranging then you are limited primarily by your coop size. Calculate at 4 square ft floor space per bird. Your 18 hens should have72 sq ft of coop space even if they are free ranging (example would be an 8x9 coop). More birds = bigger coop, following the 4 sq ft / bird formula. Its not set in stone, but its a good starting point.

With that size of a run, the coop size will be your main limiting factor as well.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

We already making it bigger and going to possible build another if needed

 

[SunHwaKwon]

What size is your coop?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

My husband says it has 130 sq feet he making it taller so they can roost (mostly because i cant walk in it) the hens love it still and sleep in it on cool nights

 

[123RedBeard]

Just for reference ... We had 24 black sex-links and a Banty rooster in a 8'X16' coop, with a adjoining 25'X50' run ... By the end of summer it was bare ground ...

I'd recommend at a MINUMUM of 100 square feet per bird for a run area ...

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Thats interesting we had 18 hens there for to months and the grass and plants they eat have actually increased. But we have 722 sq feet per bird right now.