How many chickens?

[BLaBauve]

My run has 236 sq feet. How many LF can fit in that area, comfortably?

Thank you

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Do you also have a coop? If so, how big is it? The rule of thumb is 4'sq per bird for coop space plus 10'sq per bird for run space. If you have a large enough coop, you could put 23 birds in there comfortably. The fewer birds you put in there, the happier they will all be though.

 

[BLaBauve]

Wow, 23 would be way too many IMO. But good to know. My coop is 6x6, but they're not in it much here in GA. I have 10 hens and plan to add 5 more. I'm glad to know they'll have enough room.

 

[Gallo del Cielo]

Yeah, I agree. My run provides 27 sq' per bird and I'm glad they have the space. If you have 15 birds that's nearly 16 sq' per bird just in the run. That's pretty good.

 

[gryeyes]

A 6 x 6 coop is 36 sq ft, which is enough space for 9 chickens.

(I have four coops, but some of the chickens have decided they want to sleep on the roosts in one particular coop, so the night time occupant load is more than it should be - but they're the ones packing themselves in there!)