how many chickens for my run?

[RedKell]

Hi,
My husband is in the process of building a flash new run for my girls (so exciting!!) My concern is that it is only 3mx1.5m (9.8x4.9 in feet). At the moment I only have 2 Isa Browns, but would like to get more. I want between 3-5 girls in the end. Will this be enough space for them?? The coop will be inside the run, but raised so they have access under it. They will be living in it mostly full time (depending on how the dog goes with them)

 

[Irishhenman]

Yes it will be fine, as long as you don't get more than 5 or 6 hens

 

[Kelsie2290]

The usual recommendation is about 10 sqf per bird so you would be close to the # for 5 birds .. more space is usually better, but you can also do things to make the run more interesting, perches, toys, hay to scratch in etc to help with boredom... if you have bad winters the coop size is probably going to be more important since they will be locked in there for periods of time.

 

[RedKell]

OK, cool. I was hoping it would be big enough.
We don't really have winter where I live (Pilbara, Western Australia). In summer it is SUPER hot, then we have wet season. (Despite the name there is not much rain!) The weather is beautiful during wet, but we do get cyclones...and then we flood I am working on drainage solutions now for next wet. I am building the coop from an old cubby. Will be adding insulation, and heaps of ventilation.

 

[henless]

My coop/run combo is 10x20, so 200 sq ft. It should hold 20 chickens. I had 21, and it was not big enough. I had a lot of tail feather plucking going on. I recently sold 6 of my chickens and things are much, much better.

Just pay attention and see how it goes. Five chickens may do just fine, you'll never know until you try it.