Is this run size acceptable?

[Opa]

I've read in poultry books that the rule of thumb for runs is 10 sq ft per bird. Using that formula I have enough room for for 160 more birds. The 25 in my flock have completely denuded the ground closest to the coop. Chickens don't graze like cattle they pluck plants, often root as well. Sooner or later where ever you have them will turn into a lunar landscape. It doesn't matter how large an area you have for them, so spots will wind up bare.

 

[smiley]

Ok......thanks everyone for your replies!

 

[ams3651]

I have read on here some people who temporairly made the inside of the coop smaller for the winter. Maybe with straw bales and a tarp? I have a wall half way up in the middle of my shed, in the winter I can close half up with a tarp but in this past winter the larger size was an advantage with the snow we had for weeks on end and they wouldnt go outside. I just have the lead wall insulated and use a heat lamp near the roost.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Right. You may find yourself rigging up a "coop within a coop" in this manner for really cold nights. But you will also be very glad they have so much space, for those stretches of days when they won't go out.

 

[Lach Cnoc Farm]

You could always just do patch work when they get it down to dirt. theres a lot of grass seed you can buy for cheap that grows in just a couple days.

just cover it with a hardware cloth box or something while its growing.

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
Nope -- large is still a good thing in cold winter areas. It is real easy to knock together a drop ceiling over the roost, or insulated hover, or partitioned-off smaller area within the coop, so you get the best of both worlds. Really, your chickens WILL benefit considerably from having plenty of elbow-room in bad weather!

Just as a side note, be aware that the two existing windows in your storage shed are not going to be good or sufficient ventilation for more than 4 chickens (although it may in fact be fine for just the 4). So if you ever upsize your flock, you will want to plan on also considerably upsizing your ventilation, preferably to include both a very large removeable area for summertime and also some long narrow overhang-protected vents that are high on one or more walls for wintertime use.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat