Me and my husband have 4 hens, most of the day they get to roam around on our 3 acres of backyard. Lately, the rain has been pretty bad so they have to stay inside more. We are concerned they are too crammed in. Just wanting to give them the best lives possible!
by Southern_Ad3427
14 Comments
Yes.
Just right. You remind me of my Dad. Great work!
How many are you planning to raise?
On a different note, you should check out “My Self Reliance” channel on YT and see his chicken coop. He’s this awesome guy from Canada building a home stead alone in the woods. ☺️
Yes. IMO…A 16 sq ft shelter (4’x 4′) and 40 sq ft run (8’x 5′)…. minimum. Free range as conditions allow.
That is just fine.
You can always go bigger. But for four chickens this is ok.
10 sq ft per bird
Too small that looks like a good side apartment in New York City
Tldr – if they free roam during the day doesn’t matter.
If they’re allowed to free roam during the day it doesn’t matter.
I have 22 chickens I have a 16’x8′ run with a coop attached that’s about 6’x4′ for their nesting boxes. At night they go there to sleep, when its raining they choose to go in there to stay out of the rain, they get locked in at night to sleep safely, then are let out in the morning.
I have never heard a single one of them say they don’t like it. Besides, fuck’em they’re carrot brained creatures anyway! They could just run into the woods behind my house and let the coyotes send them off to the great chicken house in the sky.
My opinion, on days my birds don’t get their normal life of roaming I amp up the feed and treats. I think your space is adequate for the number of hens you have for sleeping. Getting out and having free Range is perfect. I think this is fine. Your birds are beautiful
They won’t melt in the rain. My silkies will stay in of their own accord during the winter rains, but in the spring, summer and fall, they like to play in the rain. My smooth-feathered birds play in the rain all year.
Looks snug to me. What I’m more concerned about is that it doesn’t look predator proofed at all. I apologize if it is and I’m not seeing it but if it’s not, you need to work on that like **asap.** Otherwise it’s a matter of time before they become someone’s midnight snack.
Chickens can’t free roam in rain? Surely they’d love some nightcrawlers…
Pretend you are a chicken. How would you like to be “cooped up” in a 10sq ft cage your whole life?
They do look cooped up in there