Is this seriously not enough space??????

[Sonoran Silkies]

The recommended amount of space varies depending on the size of the bird and whether or not they are cooped/penned all the time or only at night/bad weather (and the amount of time that entails, would of course be important.) According to The Chicken Health Handbook, the amount of space needed for adults is:

Open housing (free ranging available each day) is
4 sq ft per heavy breed bird,
3 sq ft per light breed bird and
2 sq ft per bantam.

Confined housing (no free-ranging) is
10 sq ft per heavy breed bird
7.5 sq ft per light breed bird
5 sq ft per bantam

For larger bantams such as silkies, cochins, brahmas, the light weight measure is more appropriate.

For 18 confined birds you need 135 sq ft (calculated as light breed space) total. You have 240 sq ft. If you have large breeds, you would need 180 sq ft.

 

[captainmoose]

I think you have plenty of room, in fact I think you need more chickens.

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
+1

You really can't go by what mathematics say you need as far as SF for your run; you need to be diligent and perceptive in watching them to make sure they're all getting along & not bored. You can run into serious problems when they get bored. And, chickens are all different, just like people.

It sounds like you have enough room to me; just keep your eye on them, and if you want to make doubly sure you're okay, provide them with lots of things to do so they can focus on those things instead of picking t each other.

 

[wjallen05]

Everyone gets along just fine and dandy. No one picks on the Silkies, and I even put 4 (4 month old) Production Red pullets in there with the big girls, and haven't had any problems at all.

 

[greathorse]

There are so many factors that go into the size equation. Size of the coop and pen that is.

Do they free roam ever?
How much problem do you have with moisture or wet runs?
How big/little are your birds?
Do they get along?
Do they seem content?
Plenty of roost space? That is important

I firmly beleive that if you can see that your birds are uncomfortable you make it bigger or lose some birds, if they seem like they are thriving get more chickens. LOL

You will know when they are crowded. I wish I could fence my entire acerage and let the birds have it all, just no practical

 

[LaLoomis]

Maybe the people who were criticizing your coop and run were really just annoyed by your political avatar.

If your birds are getting along and seem happy then I think they have plenty of space.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Maybe, although I wonder why they would then have made so many complimentary comments along with the query about the size of the run. I never even noticed the avatar until you mentioned it.

 

[wjallen05]

Maybe the people who were criticizing your coop and run were really just annoyed by your political avatar

I think you're annoyed with my political avater.​

 

[PunkinPeep]

Someone else, whose name i don't recall, said this and i agree.

You are the only person who can accurately ascertain the health and comfort of YOUR chickens. YOU are there. YOU know your chickens.

Guidelines are just guidelines. And honestly, here on my beloved BYC, there seem to be about 5 different sets of guidelines to follow.....so who's to say.

And i still don't know that you have a political avatar. Don't i feel stupid.

Chicken on, girl!

 

[DarkWolf]

Quote:
With these dimensions the coop is 80 square feet and the run is at least 160 square feet.. Going with the standard 4-10 rule this gives you enough room in the coop for 20 chickens and 16 in the run, though if the size is more like 25x8 than it's 20 in the run..

So you've got room for 20 chickens.

BTW, your coop is the exact same size as mine. My run is smaller though.

Who ever says you don't have enough room is crackers.