Run Size

[Currysniffa]

Hi,

My wife and I have been talking about putting a few hens on our allotment plot, we know someone who will let us have a hen house for not a lot of money and I'm intending to build the run if we go ahead. What we would like to know is what size of run would we need for 3 to 4 hens?

Thank you in advance

[CaroltheCarrot]

I have four,although three of them are silkies so they are small,my run is roughly eight foot by twelve

[roitelet]

I belive that the recommended size for a run is 2 sq metres per bird but it is a good idea if you can move the run from time to time to give the ground a rest. Mine go on the potato bed (3m x 6m) in the winter and then are moved to a grass run in the summer. The run is made of moveable panels 1m x 2m and held up with metal rods so that I can change the size to fit the available space. I also net the top of the run to stop the escapees!!!!!!

If you would like more details PM me

[kittykat8]

Advice on what to have

My coup and run should be ready this weekend or next, have trouble in deciding what to have.

Last week saw some chicks that were5 weeks old and point of lay hens. As they willl be my pets as well , and have names it was suggested by a friiend at the allotment that if I have them as young chicks it might be better.

Went over to have another look and the ones that were now 6 weeks, the person who owned the stores said that these were commercial hybreds and would only lay well for 70 weeks , and that it might be better to have the traditional hybred that they used to use in the fifty's, these would start laying at 26 to 28 weeks old, but would lay for about 4 years, these are 4 weeks old at the moment but to me they would not start laying till October sometime and then may not lay much in this winter.

Or I get 4 point of lay for example 1 white sussex and 3 rhode island reds that he has, if he still has them.

I don't know what to do

[MaureenHall]

If you're wanting something that'll lay eggs all year round, then go for Warrens (sometimes called Ginger Rangers, ISA Browns etc). they're the kind used for commercial eggs, that's both battery and free range, so they've got to be good They'll lay for a lot longer than 70 weeks, though production does start to go down as the girls get older (that's why they only keep battery girls for a year). Whatever you get, you'll enjoy having them