Is the run big enough?

[9pollock]

Hi all
On as usual asking for advice as this chicken thing is really addictive. I want constant improvements as my girls are very special wee characters.
Would 10ft by 6ft be a big enough run for my 3 girls? The area they have at the moment is to small and I want more room for them. What would be the maximum number of hens that could be kept in this size of run as I am thinking in getting a further three?

[Nicos]

I think the RSPCA minimum recommended is 1metre square per bird.
According to that, 10 x6 ft would just be enough for 6 birds.
BUT...would you really want the absolute minimum???

How much more can you spare?
If you are making the run yourself then it may be worth looking at the width etc of the netting and seeing if you can work the frame dimensions to fit with that???

[Bill HH]

The ideal is to have two runs then you can shut one down to recover while they destroy the other.

[HoofyLoo]

I think 10x6 is fine for three birds but not for six. We've got 12x6 and have 4. I wouldn't add anymore. Mine have some branches they can perch on and also room to scratch on the ground. Any more chooks and it would be overcrowded I think.


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[The Nichols']

We've got 8 birds on an area 4.5m x 7.2m (14ft 9 x 23ft 7) which (if I've got my sums right) is 32.4mSq and means each chicken has 4mSq.

They have eaten every blade of grass in a little over 2 months and I'm desperately using the limited after work light to build their extension.

Like everything really, the more space the better.

[coveredinoil]

We have circa 160 birds on aprox 2,000sq m the majority being feather legged bants, very glad we didn't have many more this winter the place is awash with mud!
Our birds have about 12.5m each, can't image keeping them on 1m


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[9pollock]

Hi
Many thanks for all you replies. I am having the 10x6ft run made at the moment but if I get new girls it could always be extended. Had great fun relocating them to another part of the garden which involved having to catch a couple as they escaped.
I will incorporate a selection of raised area etc. to the new run when complete. The girls will get out in the spring but the ground is to wet at the moment.
Thanks again.

[jessmorris]

I have a run 4 Heras panels by 1.25 Heras panel. That's about 12m by 4m = 48msquare. I've got around 9 banties in there and they've eaten all the grass, and half the leaves of the resident currants...chooks lurve greenstuff, whatever you feed them!

[Mikey]

When I originally built my enclosure it was designed to fit over 2 beds giving them about 2sqm each. It was done this way so that I could swap the cover over to a new bed and give them fresh ground, allowing me time to plant something into the cleared ground. This never really worked and I ended up moving the greenhouse to give them more space, I still think they don't have enough room and they have about 18sqm each now. However much space you give them they will clear it of grass by eating and scratching at it, so give them as much as you can spare.

[chris]

I picture 10 x 6 as the size of my GH - personally despite the min requirements I don't think it's enough for them to be in there full time.

If they're able to be let out, then I'd say that's fine. I have a small run for 5 birds, but the door is always open for them to come and go as they please.