When can we expect Mr. and Mrs. to start... making babies?

[bobbi-j]

That would be my advice. If you didn't want a rooster in the first place, and don't intend to breed or hatch chicks, why put up with the fuss? Plus, he's a big freeloader and you could use that coop space and feed money for another nice, productive hen 

Agreed!

 

[sebloc]

That would be my advice. If you didn't want a rooster in the first place, and don't intend to breed or hatch chicks, why put up with the fuss? Plus, he's a big freeloader and you could use that coop space and feed money for another nice, productive hen

We have too much space. These are gonna be some spoiled chickens.

 

[bobbi-j]

We have too much space. These are gonna be some spoiled chickens. 

In my opinion, there is no such thing as "too much space". They won't be spoiled, but they'll be much happier!

 

[sebloc]

Well, with the rooster gone there's about 5 feet per chicken. If we wanted to we could probably house 12, but that's not gonna happen.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

That isn't a lot of space. Each chicken should have about 4 square feet minimum, not including roosts and nests. Smaller breeds can have less space, but you have bigger breeds.

 

[sebloc]

I thought it was 2 to 3, but for bigger birds it was 4. Ours aren't that big, at least not yet. Haven't noticed any more growing.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

For bantams it is about 2 square feet min. The breeds you have are considered pretty normal sizes, not huge, but not small, and require about 4 square feet minimum. Of course, the more space you have the better.

ETA: left out some words.

 

[junebuggena]

I thought it was 2 to 3, but for bigger birds it was 4. Ours aren't that big, at least not yet. Haven't noticed any more growing.

4 sq ft of coop space for Leghorn types. 5sq ft or more for larger, dual-purpose breeds. And that is just coop space. There is a bare minimum of 10 sq ft of run per bird. More run is always better. Basically, there is no such thing as too much space. But give them too little space, and things can get out of hand very quickly.

 

[sebloc]

Haven't had many fights over space yet. I think we're doing fine at the moment.

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Probably, but you definitely couldn't have twelve chickens without expanding coop space.