Taking two week olds out & roosting pole not working.

[Chicken Fruit]

Well no its probably not really necessary. lol. 80 gallon aquarium... yeah i bet thats big enough. They could probably go outside in a couple weeks anyway with a light in the coop. It'll be nearly july by then.

But file it away, and you can next time say "oh we can get more chicks, because its free to make them a big brooder" lol.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yes, that is what Davaroo is saying.

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Yes, that is what Davaroo is saying.

And that is minimum, unless you happen to like muck and mire, shoveling manure, raking and mulching, and flies and spreading lime and all the other assorted ills of confined rearing. You can move your coop frequently as an option, but that takes bit of pre-planning in it's own right.
I dont want to beat this horse too much, but chickens are detrimental to their immediate environment when confined.
Guess on whom the solution/cure for that falls?

An 80 gallon tank is big - but how much actual floor space are we talking about, when you place feeders, waterers and roosts in there - and all that lovely, lovely manure?. I'd be interested to know.
Remember that whole, "doubling in size per week," thing....

 

[Hatrick]

What I'm saying is that on here I've seen people say you need 10 square feet per bird in a run? This is wrong then?

I'm very confused and unless that's the point of these answers then we're really not getting anywhere.

I have four birds, if we only end up keeping two or three then my backyard (which is 33' X 64') should be more than big enough for them without any type of toxic waste situation that you speak of. I never said anything about "confined rearing" I just wanted to know how big their run should be if they're not going to be in it very often. Or do I even need one, hence the "can I leave them in the yard while I'm out?"

I don't understand what you're saying in relation to the 87 feet thing...meaning, you have a run that has 87 square feet per bird or their general living area (backyard) should be this large?

And yes, they sure are doubling in size every week or from the looks of it...overnight.

 

[simplyscrambled]

I'm in a situation more like yours! I have a egular suburban lot, completely fenced in, and chickens:I WISH I had acres and could have more chickens! I have a 4 x 8 for my 3 girls, and let them out to forage around my backyard every day, and I don't have a stinking morass of poo anywhere.

I think your chickens will be fine and happy, like mine! You can also add a platform, and increase the space in your 4 x 3. There's some urban chicken forum I can't seem to find now, and they have even smaller and successful set-ups than what you've described.

I do go out on errands and leave my chickens out. I've never had a problem with a predator getting my birds (I've had them for about 10 years), although I have to make sure they're locked in their coop at night, because I have coons and possums in my small suburban town (pop. 60,000) My yard is completely fenced in with 6 ft. fence. Neighborhood cats don't bother them. I have hawks, but there's enough 'cover' that I've never had any bother my chickens. Just recently, I did have one of my young hens disappear! Apparently, she flew over the fence, and sauntered over to my neighbors. I posted a 'Lost Chicken' poster, and she was returned the same day!

 

[JReedy72]

My girls are about 10 weeks old, and hey are not using the 1.5" tick stick I put in there as a roost. I am not if I need to replace it with something thick and flat. They are all hanging out by the front door together...not sure why. I open the door and there they all are...right there. I am surprised they do not come rolling out when I open the door.

Jason

 

[Davaroo]

Okay, lets do it this way.

What I'm saying is that on here I've seen people say you need 10 square feet per bird in a run? This is wrong then?
In my humble opinion, yes. Much of what you get here is purely anecdotal, and there are widely divergent opinions.

I have four birds, if we only end up keeping two or three then my backyard (which is 33' X 64') should be more than big enough for them
You will be fine, considering your now disclosed dimensions (33' X 64') for the yard, their "run." That is a wholly adequate space.

I don't understand what you're saying in relation to the 87 feet thing...meaning, you have a run that has 87 square feet per bird or their general living area (backyard) should be this large?
Yes, and Yes. They live in what is a range of 87 sq ft per bird. That it is fenced, makes it a "run." Their house is only one feature within this range/run.
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Now for the back story.

All rearing is confined, unless you have no structures or limits and allow your birds to literally run amok. Any other treatment is confining them to some degree.
What I'm implying by my comments is that there are no absolutes here... all confinement leads to consequences. The closer you confine them the worse these become.

I personally detest that set of consequences and now see the back of such methods for all the reasons mentioned. I rely on the old, "500 birds per acre" formula from a century ago - thats 87.12 sq ft per bird. It happens to be the space our range-rearing grandfathers worked out as adequate for the land itself to manage the waste from chickens.

I haven't dealt with muck, manure or disease since I started using it.

You asked for a number, I gave that. My sincere apologies if I presented it wrongly. It wasn't manufactured by me - it was proven before we were born. That so many choose to ignore it is regrettable.

I appreciate your comments; so thank you. I see that you are literal minded and some sort of defined formula indeed suits you best.

But let me offer you this warning: While opinions differ, there are some hard and fast rules one should not tempt. Much of what is accepted as good practice stems from error and outright lore. Without knowing it, well-meaning people adopt relatively intensive management practices, thinking they're good to go. Only later do they realize something is up... and it aint good.

Again, you should do well in your space. Sorry if I muddled the discussion.

 

[Hatrick]

Thank you for your eloquent opinions Davaroo.

Sorry that some of it went over my head...I have three small kids, a dog and four chickens, so my brain cells are constantly multi-tasking and not very good at it.

Looks like I need to find a full time chicken sitter for when we go away camping in July.

 

[simplyscrambled]

Someone will be happy to chicken-sit in exchange for fresh eggs. You may even get a cohort in the process!

I really enjoy the articles here:

http://home.centurytel.net/thecitychicken/articles.html

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Oh yeah, did someone forget to mention that part? You can't leave 'em alone for long!