Pen size and it's been more than 30 years since geometry...

[kiaya611]

I have been looking around on the net and the books I have trying to figure out what size of outdoor pen is appropriate for my chickens. I have 42. I built a structure that is 10' at one end and goes to 16' at the other and is 32' long. I am trying to find out the area in sqft for this space. Based on one website and one formula (Brahmagupta's Formula. [/i]This calculator will only solve for cyclic quadrailiterals. If the points of the quadratilliteral can not create a circle then this calculator will be wrong[/i]), I get about 414 sqft. The calculations are "Greek to me" but, if they are correct...fine.

LAYOUT

The references I have found talk about how many sqft a chick or chicken should have at different ages INSIDE a coop or inside pen, BUT doesn't (or I haven't found) give the requirements (or at least suggestions except for "bigger is better than smaller") on how much space is needed for chickens in an outdoor space.

Based on what I found for chickens of 12+ weeks, they need 4 sqft per chicken (heavy breeds) and at 42, that would be 168 sqft. My coops is 6.5' X 32' which is 208 sqft....plenty of room inside...I am just worried that they don't have enough room outside.

What are your thoughts?... Besides I am nuts and have too much time on my hands.

Thanks as always,

 

[missouridave]

Your pen size is approximately 416 sf. (10 x 32) + (3 x 32)

So your calculations are corrrect. Most people say 4 sf per bird in the house, and 10 sf in the yard. If this is the actual pen area and the coop is adjacent to it then 416 / 42 = 9.9 sf per bird, which is fine.

If the coop is in the pen then you have 416 minus 208 for a pen. 208 sf / 42 = 4.95 sf per bird. Not enough IMHO.

Hope this helps

 

[kiaya611]

The pen is adjacent to the coop...see pic...

416sqft (9.9sqft per chicken as you said) for the pen and 208 sqft (4.95 per chicken) for the coop...total 624sqft (. Which would be 14.85 sqft per chicken total (if you can figure that way).

So much math with this stuff...

Who would have known

I REALLY wanted them to free range my property, but I only have a 4' fence surrounding it and I live to close to other neighbors and the road.

Thank your or your help.

Best wishes,

 

[missouridave]

My chickens don't even go over the cattle fence around me. You may try to let them free range while you are outside and see how it goes. Very nice coop and pen by the way. Very nice.