New to BYC and excited about getting started!

[moody-chicken]

Hi, Im very new to the idea of keeping backyard chickens but excited about giving it a go! I live in South Yorkshire UK and moved house 3 months ago to a house that has a large concreted area between the garage and side fence that are all located in my back yard. The minute I saw this concrete area that the old owners used to park a huge caravan I had to random and overwhelming idea of keeping some chicken on there. It's 17 ft long by 10 ft and beyond it is a small grassy area around a shed and greenhouse they could also use when we are home that is also quite separate to our main garden. I've looked online and quite fancy some feather footed bantams. Is this concreted space large enough or even suitable to keep upto 5 small hens and if so what bantam breed is quite friendly and lays fairly well? Thanks for the advice and look forward to chatting with you all soon!

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

The general space required is 4 sqf per chicken in the coop and 10 sqf per chicken in the run, but if you are getting small bantams you could lower those measurements a little. For an idea of what breeds to get I'd suggest you look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

and also here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/ (reviews on breeds etc)

And since I'm chasing all over the site

Pop in here for coop and run ideas:


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

Have fun!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, moody-chicken, and

! Great to have you with us! I support the advice of sumi - she knows her stuff!! Good luck to you in your poultry adventure!

 

[moody-chicken]

Thanks so much for the links. I'm off now to do some research! Are those measurements in your opinion the very basic proportions? I don't want my run to get poop filled due to over stocking within a few days. I was thinking of raking the run once a week you see. Anyway I shall take a look around and certainly look up the breeds. Thanks for the warm welcome guys! X

 

[Kevin565]

 

[sumi]

Thanks so much for the links. I'm off now to do some research! Are those measurements in your opinion the very basic proportions? I don't want my run to get poop filled due to over stocking within a few days. I was thinking of raking the run once a week you see. Anyway I shall take a look around and certainly look up the breeds. Thanks for the warm welcome guys! X

Those are recommended measurements. See what breeds you get and how big/small they are and if you feel you can put another one or two in there. If they are overcrowded they'll let you know by pecking each other and pulling feathers and just being unpleasant.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[moody-chicken]

Thanks everyone!

 

[sourland]

Hello and welcome to BYC

The general space required is 4 sqf per chicken in the coop and 10 sqf per chicken in the run, but if you are getting small bantams you could lower those measurements a little. For an idea of what breeds to get I'd suggest you look here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds

and also here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/ (reviews on breeds etc)

And since I'm chasing all over the site

Pop in here for coop and run ideas:


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

Have fun!

Great resources recommended by Sumi. Welcome to BYC.

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard.