How many chickens?

[JennaLynn122]

Question: How many chickens would safely fit in a 5ftx9ft coop (probably 9-10 ft ceiling) with 2 roosting areas (both 9ft long) and/or in a run 12ftx24ft (6-7ft tall)?

I am breeding/buying chickens and I don't want to get too many.


I'd also like to mention that Im am just starting to ease in to free ranging by letting them out at about 4-5pm so they learn to stay close (the ones i have now are 2 yrs old and never been free ranged). I am also getting ready to fence a big area around the barn that will connect to thier current run ( about the size of a small/medium house yard).

 

[HardizzlesFlock]

Just measure 2-4 square inches per bird

 

[JennaLynn122]

Just measure 2-4 square inches per bird

Inches or feet? Inches seems small, just double checking.

 

[dheltzel]

Picturing someone piling them into the coop like that.

 

[JennaLynn122]

Picturing someone piling them into the coop like that.

first thing that popped in my mind was quial all lined up on my roosting poles

 

[JadedPhoenix]

Inches or feet? Inches seems small, just double checking.

FEET not inches. And I'd say the general rule is four, not two. Two square inches is more along the lines of commercial breeding. NOT ENOUGH SPACE.

 

[HardizzlesFlock]

lol sorry FEET!!! I have 6 FEET per bird but some say that 4 is fine. Poultry books say 2 but I think that would be a poor quality of life for them.

 

[JennaLynn122]

lol sorry FEET!!! I have 6 FEET per bird but some say that 4 is fine. Poultry books say 2 but I think that would be a poor quality of life for them.

My main wonder is if the hieght would hae anything to do with it since it gives me double the roosting space witch is all they go in there for other than laying in the mornings. from about 7am -730pm they are out in the run. They are very punctual birdies.

 

[JadedPhoenix]

My main wonder is if the hieght would hae anything to do with it since it gives me double the roosting space witch is all they go in there for other than laying in the mornings. from about 7am -730pm they are out in the run. They are very punctual birdies.

Not really. The square footage is measured for the amount of space available for walking in. The roosting space will help some but they still need the footage on the floor.

 

[JennaLynn122]

Not really. The square footage is measured for the amount of space available for walking in. The roosting space will help some but they still need the footage on the floor.

Gotcha! Thanks