Light Sussex

[77ricky]

Hello
new to keeping chickens but am absolutely hooked have x2 Gold Laced Orpington Bantams am looking to get another x2 hens to keep in a seperate coop as I dont think the original coop is big enougth to house any more hens they are out for a few hours before work and then out in the evening when I finish work, due to the amount of time within there combined run is the main reason I dont want to overcrowd them.
I quite fancy getting a different colour hen and like the look of the light sussex am a bit paranoid about flyers can anyone give a bit of advice on this my garden has a 5 foot fence alround and my current girls so far are ok.
Thanks

 

[dawg53]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[Basskids08]

Hello
new to keeping chickens but am absolutely hooked have x2 Gold Laced Orpington Bantams am looking to get another x2 hens to keep in a seperate coop as I dont think the original coop is big enougth to house any more hens they are out for a few hours before work and then out in the evening when I finish work, due to the amount of time within there combined run is the main reason I dont want to overcrowd them.
I quite fancy getting a different colour hen and like the look of the light sussex am a bit paranoid about flyers can anyone give a bit of advice on this my garden has a 5 foot fence alround and my current girls so far are ok.
Thanks

Hello and . I love all colors of chickens too. It just gives your backyard such a variety. Here are a couple threads to get you started. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. We were all new at one time.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/2/managing-your-flock

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

What is the size of your current coop? If they are confined to the coop most of the time, they should have 4-6 square feet of floor space per bird. Do you have an attached run to allow them to go outside when you are not home?

 

[77ricky]

Hello current x2 Hens have a built in run have approx 10 square feet.

Was going to get a second coop abd run for the sussex hens

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

Generally chickens need 5 square feet in the coop and 10 square feet in the run. So I would make more space if you plan on adding more birds. Chickens go off on each other easily when cramped in. Here is an article from our learning center on space that you might look at...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

And you might also take a look at our coops pages to give you some ideas on how to expand on your present coop....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/2/Coops

Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Welcome to our flock!

 

[77ricky]

Thanks for all the info,as I said im not adding hens to the existing coop the new hens would have there own new coop they would free range my garden with the existing hens while I am home my main question was directed towards only having a 5 foot fence and whether the sussex breed are flyers or not.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello And Welcome To BYC! With the Speckled Sussex I have had the pullets can fly pretty well and would definitely go over a 5 foot fence, but my Speckled Sussex adults don't do much flying at all, they are pretty heavy birds and mine don't go over a 4 foot fence... so if you clip wings you have a good chance of being OK as adults especially, but wouldn't guarantee it ...

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

 

[77ricky]

Thanks kelsie for the good advice