How many chickens

[Emma_Bruffy]

So I just got a jersy giant rooster to go with my jersy giant hens and I have plans for a 4x8 mobile chicken tractor. How many chickens can I have in there if I move it everyday and free ranging every 3 days(I have to rotate my different breeds free ranging so they don't mix together)

 

[nuthatched]

4, maybe 5.
A certain space is certain space, no mater the change of floor.

 

[Emma_Bruffy]

4, maybe 5.
A certain space is certain space, no mater the change of floor.

Ok I have 4 hens and a rooster so that should be fine

 

[saysfaa]

4x8=32 sq ft.
10 sq ft per bird is the minimum space recommended. Or 14 sqft per bird because usually the ten assumes 4 sq ft if coop space too. That is space not taken by food dishes or waterers or nests.
So 3 birds. At the most. The smaller the numbers and space, the more important it is to have at least the minimum..

It helps that they can have more space every third day but it does not average very well. The space is not just for exercise, dust bathing, scratching, foraging, and such.

It is also so a lower ranked hen can signal to a higher ranked hen that she accepts the ranking. The higher ranked hen will not take into account that the others are giving her as much space as they can; only whether they are respecting her position. Even if they are all docile enough and skilled enough to not demonstrate behaviors people often call "bullying", it is still stressful.

 

[saysfaa]

The rule of thumb does not take into account the size of the birds. Larger birds do not necessarily need more space than smaller birds because many of the smaller breeds are less docile than many of the larger breeds.

Still, Jersey Giants are going to need more space than most breeds would no matter how docile the individuals are.