how many ??

[Seamus]

hi,newbie here, have built a chicken coop that is 3 ft by 4 ft and 3ft high, was wondering how many layin hens i cud fit in this, i have put on 2 external nest boxes, i dont want to overcrowd it, but dont want it understocked and cold for the chooks either, was thinkin of putting 5 into it, how does that sound ???? thanks in advance

[Eco-Chic]

I'd say five is fine in 12sq feet. The knowledgeable people will probably post answers in the morning.

Will the chooks have access to a run or the great outside in addition?

Welcome to the Vine. This is a very helpful and friendly forum

[Seamus]

hi eco chic and thanks for d welcome, i have an area 20ft by 30ft ready, but when they get settled and used of the place they will b able to free range over an acre, want to keep them confined for the first couple of weeks till they settle in !!!

[Eco-Chic]

Lucky chooks

Mine busted out after 3 days

4 weeks later they're still only interested in the small corner area near their coop and run. It is a bit of a nooks and cranny area where I've dumped sacks of leafmould and homemade compost though so there are probably lots of creepy crawlies to fascinate 3 bantams. Going on their progress to date, they'd need to live to 300 to range over an acre.

[Seamus]

hey eco chic, is it your first venture into hen keeping and how do u find it so far ?, it wil b my first time keeping hens, and i while i know i will make mistakes i dont want to make any mistakes that will endanger their lives, any advice is welcome !!!, by the way, i have done alot of reading up on d subject, but like anything nothing counts like first hand experiance !!

[Eco-Chic]

Yup, Seamus, my entire experience is 4weeks of chooking.

Sadly, in week 2 I was careless locking the gate to the garden and the dogs killed one of the hens. I'm still kicking myself over that but the dogs are better disciplined now (the wonders of a water bottle spray) and the dogs are locked behind the garden gate whenever the run door is opened, even for a nano-second.

I like the dogs to run about the garden when the chooks are locked in though, to be a 'presence' and ward off foxes and rats.

Advice? Don't trust dogs around chooks.

Handle the chooks as much as possible to get used to the look and feel of them and for them to get used to the feel of you. When they're roosting, or about to, is a good time for this, they're calmer and more relaxed.

Give them growers or layers pellets or mash, and water, ad lib. Greens and fruit until you let them free range, then reduce. A handful of corn between 3 or 4 chooks late afternoon or evening at the coop ~ this will encourage them to come home and put themselves to bed.

Starting building a second coop now. You'll need it sooner than you think