how many silkie chicken can you fit in an 8x3 chicken coop

[Abigail alice]

Hi iv got 5 silkie hens and was just wondering how many u could fit in an 8x3 chicken coop

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Generally speaking 4 sq. ft. per chicken plus 10 sq. ft per chicken in the run.

So 6 chickens. But they are bantams. You can fit more.

If you have cold winters they will live inside and don't crowd them. So if cold winters I would go with 4. If they will only sleep in there at night and you have mild weather I would go with 12. But they go broody so much that you need a LOT of nestboxes.

I mean a LOT of nestboxes. So I wouldn't really recommend 12 chickens in there! Chickens need generally 5 chickens per nestbox but when they are broody they live in the box and then other chickens can't use it.

I love silkies. They don't like ramps, BTW. But you can train them on the ramp. Keep food in coop and don't help them down ramp. They don't fly.

Oh wait just reread your post...you already have them so you know what they are like.

 

[chickenville1]

I would say if you let them out a lot and they have seen the beautiful world (your backyard), they'll always want to go out. They'll start crying (lots of sad noises) and all they would think about is the nice worm they had the other day when they were foraging

My 8x3 later turned into 20x15 fencing added. They make less noises but still want to go out. Sometimes I let them out for half a day and they are happier and content when they go back in.