Size of hen house!

[Gryfon]

How much room do they need inside? Just enough to roost? Will enough room to roost and a covered area outside be enough?

Need to sort out how much shed room I need and stuff before it's all finished! Also I was thinking of having a roost area I can go into the shed, lift the lid and then get the eggs if you get me.

Thanks! Will finally be asking what sort of chickens! BTW do the small ones (bantams I think) produce as nice/as many eggs as your bulk standard chicken

[Clarea1]

Rachel,

I have the eglu and whilst you may think it looks small, when my three girls (one big, one med and one small!) are tucked up on a night - you could fit three more in easy! Mine free range the bottom 30 x 30 ft approx of my garden. I found that in the eglu run (not really that generous) they began too bicker and peck at each other. Even with the space they have now they can squabble. I would say the more room the better.

As for breeds, I have hybrids (originated from a combination of 2 pedigrees to get the best of both) I have: 1 white star - pretty little white hen lays white eggs. She is quite flighty and I wouldn't reccomend if you have kids. Too stressful for the hen and no fun for the kids. 1 Amber Star - white with brown flecks - quite a big girl and a bit bossy too. Very bold, lays small brown eggs. Would be okay with older kids but can be a bit in your face and will jump up at you if you have food in your hand - not nice for little kids! last but not least is a Buttercup. Hybrid of the Rhode Island Red. Rather ordinary red/brown hen who lays ordinary pale brown eggs. She has a lovley friendly and calm nature and I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend her suitability with kids.

Hybrids are bred to create a hen that lays well, doesn't go broody like pedigrees are more inclined too and lays for a longer time. Pedigrees can be more inclined to stop laying earlier in life... which poses the dilema pet or pot?

Sorry for such a long post but I hope it helps.

[Gryfon]

Thanks it does lots I don't think my three year old really wants chickens jumping at him!

I worked out that the run will actually be about just over 6' x 17' so bigger than I thought!

Eventually as well I'll need to work out how to protect my crops as the last thing I need is chickens destroying it when they're let out!

[poultrychat]

Hi Gryfon,

The size run and house you need will depend on the size chickens you decide on. Bantams will lay just as well as large fowl but the eggs will be quite a bit smaller, I would avoid anything with Leghorn in the mix if you are just starting out as they are flightly and not ideal for being in a run, they are better free ranging. On hybrids versus pure breeds, it depends on the breed but roughly speaking they will lay the same amount of eggs just over a different time scale, hybrids tend to lay more in the first couple of year and then it tails off a bit whereas pure breeds lay less each year but keep it up for more years but hybrids have one advantage and that is that they are more inclined to lay through the winter although in reduced numbers and although they aren't meant to be naturally broody at the moment I have 2 very determined black rocks who screech at me every time I take them out of the nest boxes

[Clarea1]

Lol - damn those black rocks! This is our first spring and so far no broodiness and they layed all through winter too. We had a week or so with limited eggs when the nights suddenly got darker quicker.

It's nice to hear mixed opinions, another good site is www.omlet.co.uk - their forum is great for chicken stuff.

[Peardrops]

If you are after excellent chicken advice, go to poultrychat.com It is a really friendly forum and full of helpful, experienced people.

I have 2 hens in a coop supposed to be for 6, it is 1m square, but my 2 hens take up less than a quarter of the perch at night, when they snuggle together. They have a run of 3m x 2m, and are not allowed to free range. I am told that it could easily accommodate 6 large hens, but I think any more than 4 could cause arguments. The manufacturers seem to recommend more hens than most people would want to put in.