nesting/perch space - overcrowded?

[andyboro]

Hi Folks,

apologies if this has been done to death but after much Googling I'm still none the wiser so i thought id ask

After a run in with our local urban fox a few weeks back we've had to start our little flock again from scratch, due to an 'offer' at the farm where we generally buy our hens it was cheaper to buy 5 than it was to buy 3. . . so 5 we now have lol.

run wise I'm not concerned about space as they have a decent section of my garden cordoned off with the compost heap for scratching but I'm not sure if my inside/night space is sufficient - I have 2 'standard' size nesting boxes (about 12x12in i guess) and an area 2x3ft with 2 perches.

As I say, this is purely for at night as they are outside all day but i'm worried that its a bit of a squeeze and obviously I don't want something like this to affect their health.

will they be happy enough squeezed in there overnight?

thanks


Andy

 

[amyhill44]

This should be adequate as long as they have good ventilation and it is regularly cleaned, just dont leave them in there for too long!

 

[andyboro]

Thanks for the quick reply

they're only closed in there from when they decide to bed down for the night until I get up at 7am.

 

[JackE]

2X3' is not enough space for five birds. 2-4 sq ft per bird is recommended for inside floor space. Chickens can get kinda crabby when subjected to overcrowded conditions. If, depending on where you live, you get severe winter weather, the birds may have to spend a few days confined in the coop. If overcrowded, they may pick and tear at each other. In such a small space, they can easily develop respiratory problems. You need to give some thought to bumping that coop out a bit.
Jack

 

[andyboro]

2X3' is not enough space for five birds. 2-4 sq ft per bird is recommended for inside floor space. Chickens can get kinda crabby when subjected to overcrowded conditions. If, depending on where you live, you get severe winter weather, the birds may have to spend a few days confined in the coop. If overcrowded, they may pick and tear at each other. In such a small space, they can easily develop respiratory problems. You need to give some thought to bumping that coop out a bit.
Jack

Hi JackE,

see this is were my confusion comes from - i've read the floor space requirements but struggled to decide whether to apply them as their floorspace is my garden (i removed the coop door and fenced off an area of around 30x12ft for them) so they only enter the actual enclosed area at night or to lay. . im in the UK so the climate is mild all year round really and theres never a time where they cant/wont go outside.

do the floorspace requirements still apply for their sleeping/laying area?

 

[JackE]

2-4 sq ft is recommended for inside floor space. Recommended outside/run space is 10sq ft minimum, more is better. I read about the UK getting some serious winter weather this past year. Seen pictures in the DailyMail of snow drifts 10ft deep. I guess you must be south of all that. So you don't have to worry about your birds being trapped inside.
My worry then, with 5 birds sleeping in a small space like that would be air quality. I would, myself, probably cut out a wall and replace it with a hardware clothed one, to get good air exchange. They put out a lot of CO2 and crap out ammonia, gotta have good fresh air exchange to get rid of it.
Jack

 

[andyboro]

yeah, the most we had was a few inches of snow even when it was at its worst and the chickens area is sheltered by a row of trees so it missed out on most of that - the media do like to over-egg things a little too lol... there were some deep drifts in open, rural areas but the rest of us were pretty fine.

I have already noticed a bit of a pong on a morning so the air exchange point is a good one that I hadn't thought of!

I'll look into some venting ideas this weekend.

I think ideally i just need something bigger though don't I? I'm worried i'm trying to justify a lack of space.....

 

[JackE]

I hear you on the media, weatherwise, they sensationalize thunderstorms around here. From what I seen in the DailyMail online, it looked like you guys had an Alaskan winter, LOL.
As far as your coop goes, just bump out a wall, open it up a bit. It's not like you have to build a two-car garage or something.
Jack

 

[andyboro]

I think im going to - I have a habit of making a mess of DIY jobs but I can use whats there and extend a little im sure.

I'd rather put a little time in that make do - after all it makes for better eggs! lol