Square feet per chick?

[IRL]

Hi
My six chicks are getting to be almost 2 weeks now. I have them in a 16x26" (bottom of the container) plastic bin. Should I move them to a large fridge box in the garage soon? What is the general rule for sq feet per chick @ 2 weeks? Thanks!

 

[ChickenToes]

There's not a rule (that I know of anyway) for square feet per chick. I think you should just use your own discretion - if they look crowded and are pecking at each other, move them to a bigger space. If not, they're fine.

 

[theFox]

Quote:
There are published tables that take into account the age and type of chickens and the kind of use that the confining area is going to get.

The chickens are classed as Bantam, Standard, or Heavy, the use of the coop is classified as confined or open, then the ages of chickens are considered.

A lot of people are under the assumption that a couple of square feet of coop space per bird is fine, it isn't.

I'd get hold of a copy of Storey's Guide to raising Chickens by Gail Damerow.


On page 227 there is a table specifically for brooding space

The chicken classifications for brooder space size start at 12+ weeks

But before that:

0-4 weeks 1/2 square foot per bird.
4-8 weeks 1 square foot per bird.
8-12 weeks 2 square feet per bird.

at 12+ weeks (still brooder space not coop space)

light breeds (bantams, standards) 2.5 - 3 square feet per bird.
heavy breeds 3 - 3.5 square feet per bird.

The big table for minimum space requirements spans pages 28 and 29.