What's the minimum size for a run & house for 3 birds? & q's

[Gryfon]

Going to draw a plan of my garden today and know the area I want the chicken run and house but I'm not sure if it's going to be big enough.

I think I have about 6' wide by about 10' long spare, but this is an educated guess

Also my plan is to fence off the back half of my garden so that the dog can't go and dig in my vegetable beds, but if I let the chickens out will they eat it all instead?

Oh and also how high do my fences have to be?

Think that's it...might try and get into town to see if there are any books in the library later. Thanks

[MaureenHall]

A quick rule of thumb is 1 square metre of run per bird and 1 foot of perch space in the coop per bird.

Yes, the chickens will eat your veg, and the grass and the flowers and the weeds

I think most people say the fences need to be about 6 feet high, but mine (on the garden side) are only 2'6" or so. There's 7 - 8' high walls and fence around the rest of it. Even though my "barrier" in the garden is only low, the chooks don't bother getting over it, I think they're too lazy, or they know where they'll get their treats from Mum Having said that, Lavender has jumped over twice this week and come knocking on the back door for a fuss and cuddle

[Gryfon]

Great thanks, think I should have plenty of room then!

The smallest wall in the garden is about 4' but we're going to plant something in front of it which will be higher.

[Eyren]

The main reason folks say 6ft is to keep the foxes out (although tbh foxes can climb higher than that!) - it really depends on where you are though, as city chicken-keepers have a lot more trouble with foxes than those in more rural areas. Also, some breeds of chicken are more flighty than others - I used to have a hybrid bantam who must have had some Leghorn in her, as she would happily fly to the top of a 3-4ft fence, whereas my pekins can only get about 18" off the ground

I have black bird netting about 2ft high around my veg beds - it's too weak to perch on and because they can't see it too clearly, they don't try and fly over it for fear of getting tangled up. Doesn't stop them from occasionally poking their beaks through and nibbling what they can reach, though!

[Gryfon]

We don't have any foxes in Guernsey which is a bonus! Not sure what kind of hen I can get over here, will have to look into that as well

[Suechooks]

We don't have any foxes in Guernsey which is a bonus! Not sure what kind of hen I can get over here, will have to look into that as well

Good book (available on Amazon) is Starting with Chickens by Katie Thear and you could look in Practical Poultry Mag as they have breeders lists under areas so you could try that. Lucky you having no foxes!
PS 1sq m of run is the minimum req - more is better.

[frias]

Wow, no foxes! They are my biggest worry.

Maureen can I come for a visit to have a cuddle with Lavender? None of mine like being picked up even, and I'm VERY cuddly.

[MaureenHall]

Maureen can I come for a visit to have a cuddle with Lavender? None of mine like being picked up even, and I'm VERY cuddly.

Course you can There's only 5 of them that aren't that keen on being picked up, but they tolerate it

[frias]

Arrrhhhh thank you. The only time my lot let me stroke them is if they have their beaks in the porridge bowl. All treatments (powder etc) are a two man job. I'm hoping in the summer to sit in the garden with them more. All treats will be given only if they get on my lap.