Too Many Chickens in the Coop?

[KulturaGlass]

Hey there, first time posting, so I hope this is the right area - it probably isn't lol.

So, my friend just got chickens today; 17 adults and 10 chicks, don't know the type. I am worried that his coop and run aren't big enough. I am out of town at the moment, but judging by Google Maps I think the total space he has is 400 feet, or just a little over. That will be less than 4 feet Total per chicken!

From what I've read, in the coop they need 1.5-4 square feet, and in the run they need 4-10 square feet?

Will his chickens be okay? I don't want them to be stressed, cannibalized, or bullied - but I can't bring this issue up without more information.

I especially wanted to build a door between the run and coop for at night, but I'm realizing that with their limited space that might be more harmful rather than helpful to the poor things (he had 3 flocks get eaten before we met though).

 

[Duckopolis]

That is a little overloaded!

Is there anyway that you could make your coop a little larger? If you could, I would lay off a few of the chickens. Sell them to good homes...

 

[jenniemig]

Maybe I missed something...If he has 400 Sq ft for 27 chickens that's 14.81sq ft per chicken. Seems adequate if you use the 4/10 guidline.

 

[KulturaGlass]

Sorry, the misunderstanding is that the area isn't about 400 sq ft, it's about 20 sq feet (400 total).

I will try to see if I can get him to sell a few chickens off, he let the seller talk him into 10 chicks when he only wanted 3 originally. A bylaw against chickens was just passed for 2014, so I hope that doesn't make it too hard.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Sorry, the misunderstanding is that the area isn't about 400 sq ft, it's about 20 sq feet (400 total).

I will try to see if I can get him to sell a few chickens off, he let the seller talk him into 10 chicks when he only wanted 3 originally. A bylaw against chickens was just passed for 2014, so I hope that doesn't make it too hard.

If you are saying it is 20 feet by 20 feet, that is 400 square feet -- 20 square feet would be an area that is 2 ft by 10 ft or 4 ft by 5 ft.

20x 20 = 400 square feet / 37 birds = 14.82 sq ft per bird.

 

[Mel281]

Yes, I am confused about what you mean by "400 total" as well. 400 what?

 

[KulturaGlass]

Oh my goodness... Am I ever embarrassed! In my head it still doesn't make sense, I guess for some reason my brain wants to think that 'squared' is the same as 'to the power of 2'? Ah well!

Thank you for patiently explaining that to me Ol Grey Mare ! I'm glad to know that my math skills are simply horrible, and the chickens will get 14.8 sq feet, instead of 3.7 sq feet! It's quite the difference.

@Mel281 : Sorry for the double confusion, I'm just slightly math impaired. The chickens DO get 400 square feet for 27 of them. I thought they got 20 square feet, so you can imagine my needless worry.

 

[jenniemig]

It is sweet that you want to help your friend!

Sounds like they are going to have plenty of room. Now you can help him address his predator issue so that this flock doesn't get eaten as well

Good luck to you and your friend!

 

[Blooie]

Oh my goodness... Am I ever embarrassed! In my head it still doesn't make sense, I guess for some reason my brain wants to think that 'squared' is the same as 'to the power of 2'? Ah well!

Thank you for patiently explaining that to me Ol Grey Mare ! I'm glad to know that my math skills are simply horrible, and the chickens will get 14.8 sq feet, instead of 3.7 sq feet! It's quite the difference.

@Mel281 : Sorry for the double confusion, I'm just slightly math impaired. The chickens DO get 400 square feet for 27 of them. I thought they got 20 square feet, so you can imagine my needless worry.

Don't feel too bad about the math skills.....I'm the only person in our family nobody wants to play Cribbage or Yahtzee with - they get impatient waiting for me to count the dots on the cards or dice. <sigh>

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Oh my goodness... Am I ever embarrassed! In my head it still doesn't make sense, I guess for some reason my brain wants to think that 'squared' is the same as 'to the power of 2'? Ah well!

Thank you for patiently explaining that to me Ol Grey Mare ! I'm glad to know that my math skills are simply horrible, and the chickens will get 14.8 sq feet, instead of 3.7 sq feet! It's quite the difference.

@Mel281 : Sorry for the double confusion, I'm just slightly math impaired. The chickens DO get 400 square feet for 27 of them. I thought they got 20 square feet, so you can imagine my needless worry.

Please don't take it that way at all - I have that same thing happen sometimes where I am looking at something and just cannot get my head to see it any other way than I'm seeing it even when I know it's wrong......

I am just glad that you are concerned and would have been looking out for the birds' best interests.