New to Chickens and Thrilled!

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leilanio said:
[COLOR=FF8C00]Welcome to the best resource for all things chicken!  :woot [/COLOR]
[COLOR=FF8C00]I find I can literally spend hours on this site hopping around and reading how to do better for the girls.  [/COLOR]
 
[COLOR=FF8C00]There is a section under the learning center that covers spacing/square footage etc... as there are a number of variables unique to each person's situation.  Will you free range? Will you keep them in the run only?  There are general rules of thumb located there... but I would say you should have more square footage for 10 hens. [/COLOR]
 
:welcome
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I don't want 10 hens... For laying hens I only planned on having 3 and a rooster. I read 4sq ft per bird. I have 15sq ft of hen house so I'm a little squished for 4 birds. I was asking about 10 because it was said that I need 10 hens for my rooster... I have an acre+ of open unfenced land and plan on letting them free range for several hours every day while I'm outside working/enjoying my garden and playing with my son. I thought that would offset the smaller enclosure size?
 
LowerBamaMama said:
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I don't want 10 hens... For laying hens I only planned on having 3 and a rooster. I read 4sq ft per bird. I have 15sq ft of hen house so I'm a little squished for 4 birds. I was asking about 10 because it was said that I need 10 hens for my rooster... I have an acre+ of open unfenced land and plan on letting them free range for several hours every day while I'm outside working/enjoying my garden and playing with my son. I thought that would offset the smaller enclosure size?
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If you can free range then yes, it will help to offset the smaller quarters. Just watch to make sure they don't get too aggressive with each other as that is a strong indicator of cramped quarters. Good luck!
 
leilanio said:
If you can free range then yes, it will help to offset the smaller quarters.  Just watch to make sure they don't get too aggressive with each other as that is a strong indicator of cramped quarters. Good luck!
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Thanks! I'm gonna try it with the three hens/1rooster for now and if they seem unhappy at all, I'll build another runoff another side of the hen house. Like I said, I have the lumber =]
 
welcome-byc.gif
Welocme to BYC!!! It is an aweosme forum (the BEST in the world) and has a great comminity!!! Hope you have a great time and learn A LOT!
 
LowerBamaMama said:
I
I don't want 10 hens... For laying hens I only planned on having 3 and a rooster. I read 4sq ft per bird. I have 15sq ft of hen house so I'm a little squished for 4 birds. I was asking about 10 because it was said that I need 10 hens for my rooster... I have an acre+ of open unfenced land and plan on letting them free range for several hours every day while I'm outside working/enjoying my garden and playing with my son. I thought that would offset the smaller enclosure size?
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Yes, it will definitely help offset the smaller enclosure if they spend the entire day out free ranging.
 
mymilliefleur said:
It varies on the breed. I give my chicks free choice feed, plus healthy treats such as scrambled eggs, liver, yogurt, etc.
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I'm getting Bielefelders. I read that they're heavy eaters till they grow out, but since I'm new to chickens, I don't have any point of reference as far as what normal is. I ordered three female and a male.
 
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My coop now has a roof, sides, and one pop door =D This thing is HEAVY!!! Will be building the run for the other side and the pop door for that side tomorrow. Then everything will be ready for hardware cloth =] My question is, will the run being split the way I have it hinder them in any way?
 
Hi!
I have Barbus myself, but Bielefelder are a much loved breed here. You will finde feeding recommendations on the chicken starter package. Double it. If you find out they don't eat everything up, you can still reduce. Depending on how old your peeps are, when you get them, they easy double their weight in a week. They will grow bigger and bigger for six month and than with seven month start to lay very big, very tasty eggs.
Bielefelder are realy lovely, big birds. You will fall in love, I promise.
Here is a vid of "Stadtlandeier" a blogger from Hamburg who rehomed some Ex-Battery-Layer-Hybrids lately. The big birds are Bielefelder. See the difference!

 

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