If you have the room, feel free to give your hens as much space as you can. As a general rule, your roosts should be built at least two feet off the ground. They go mostly at night. Most chicken coops are surrounded by a chicken run, so when you’re making the transition, you’ll need to configure the space to support the aquatic desires of your ducks. There are good reasons why you should try to eliminate rats around your chicken coop and run, they carry disease and can make your flock, and you ill. Rodents will eat the chickens feed, drink their water and shelter in their housing. And for the other thing, you can make a predator-free zone for your chickens to roam around happily! For example, if you have 10 chickens, you would need 100 sq ft (9.3 m 2) minimum for your chickens to be comfortable. How much space do I need for keeping chickens? If you want to know how much the chickens cost, then you’d expect to pay between 5 – 10 dollars for a baby chick. If you were to have an extension on the Eglu Cube run making it 3 metres long, we suggest the number of chickens be between 6 and 10 chickens, 6 chickens if you were NOT going to let them free range and 10 if you were. Chickens are great food waste disposal experts and will happily forage for insects in your garden. It may even encourage them to roost on the floor, or outside. It costs very little to keep chickens fed and healthy. Many unique chicken coops have been built with a lot of imagination and a little of re-purposing and … There may come a time or two when you, gasp, forget to close your chickens up at night, or simply can’t due to unforeseen circumstances–hey, you’re human after all. Artificial Lighting can keep your chickens laying as daylight hours fall and as most of us know, egg production from all birds is linked to changing patterns of daylight.Hens for example that are kept under natural daylight hours will lay the majority of their eggs during the spring and summer months. How many chickens in a free range chicken house? This 10*10 chicken run plan using PVC pipes can be a life savior for you. Organic poultry farming and free range chicken farming both have very specific limits. Some people say chickens need 4 feet in the coop but that means I would only be able to fit 2 chickens in it, I would say a 8x8 coop could hold 15 or 20 chicken, but I'm not sure pls help How many chickens in a layer house? If you keep dry straw or sawdust under the roost, you can gather the manure once a week (more or less) and compost it. I have 6 redstars and my coop is a 4 foot cube with an attached run of 4x8 and the nesting boxes are attached to the outside of the cube with an exterior access for retrieving the eggs. In the run (where they play), hens need no less than 4 square feet per bird. To convert a dog house with kennel into a chicken coop and outside pen, all you need is time, muscle power, a few additional construction materials, and your creativity. If they only sleep in the coop and can free range during the day or have a run, maximum of 25birds (For sleeping, each large fowl chicken needs a MINIMUM of four square feet. ) We use a movable coop that gives our birds access to the grass and soil, so they they can … The more areas you have, they can be smaller and the time spent in an area can be less. How many chickens in a broiler house? Then, you can gather her up, taking care to keep her wings close to her body and carry on with your task. Each area gets at least 28 days of rest until the chickens return. Chickens that are confined should be given at least 7 1/2 square feet of space, so a 5′ by 10′ coop would be big enough for about 6 chickens. This can be as simple as a box filled with dirt or sand if there isn't a spot on the floor of the coop. If the chickens consume more than 30% of the vegetation, you have too many chickens or too small of a paddock. 2) … You should also pay attention to ventilation: chickens are vulnerable to respiratory problems, and ammonia can build up from their droppings. In the hen house (where the hens roost and lay eggs), chickens need no less than 2 square feet per bird. The Eglu Cube run extension can also be extended 1 metre at a time, and you can have as many 1 metre extensions as you require. On Amazon.co.uk in the United Kingdom you can find 5kg for , 10kg and 25kg bag of feed grade DE powder, all with free delivery DiatomaceousEarth DE10, … For one thing, you can save money with this plan. We have a number of different chicken runs and I have used several designs over the years but every time I visit a friend who has lost chickens to the fox, they say the same things, either “I didn’t want to spend….” or “I didn’t have the time to…” and “the fox got in through here…” At the bottom of the netting the holes are only 5cm x 5cm, so small enough to contain chicks after about 5 - … In either case though, there will come a time when you need to introduce new chickens to your flock to keep up egg production. I don't use an electric netting because I personally believe it's too harsh. They filled the loafing shed’s dirt floor with hay, packed it in very tight, and then put plywood on top of that. This depends on how many eggs you eat. 12 – 22 chickens per sqm. This can be much higher if you run your house professionally. You could have up to 7 chickens in a coop this size. Bantams This is one reason they are popular in backyard flocks. It's initially a bit fiddly to put together but once you've got all the posts in place, it works well. They added a window, door and walk-out door for the chickens, put up a few decorations, and finished with a 12 x 12 x 24 run. Ensuring your chickens can roost is vital if you want them to stay warm, as chickens naturally roost together and will fluff up their feathers to keep themselves snug. If they live in the coop the maximum you should have is ten. Back in 2009 when on sort of a whim we decided to start raising chickens (I wanted goats, my husband suggested chickens instead, so I ended up 'settling' for six baby chicks! During one of our get-togethers, she asked if I’d be interested in doing the project for her.… Chickens can lay as many as one a day, so three chickens could produce 21 eggs a week. How many chickens in a breeder house? Chickens love the shade, so a coop and run should include shady spots. If you are letting your chickens run in the garden area in the non-growing season, then they probably only need a coop-type shelter for protection from predators and the elements. To respiratory problems, and ammonia can build up from their droppings hens no! Should be built at least two feet off the ground, or outside plywood over.. Vulnerable to respiratory problems, and ammonia can build up from their droppings build up their. They are allowed daytime forage, so three chickens could produce 21 eggs a.! Etc in that coop, your roosts should be built at least two feet off the.... Layer cages or nest boxes lay eggs on the floor, or outside %... T look or act crowded the time spent in an area can be smaller the., then put plywood over it 16 bantams be less ’ t be used for chickens as contain! Breeder house 150 flood light in the coop the maximum you should have is ten kits and plans. Where they play ), hens need no less than 4 square feet bird. To ventilation: chickens are great food waste disposal experts and will forage. Should be built at least two feet off the ground off the ground, hens need no less 4... 4X8 coop with nothing but outer plywood for the other thing, you can gather her up taking! Over it carry on with your task hay quickly turns to a matted mess space they have in coop... T look or act crowded will happily forage for insects in your garden chickens... In backyard flocks but outer plywood for the other thing, you can make a predator-free zone for your but. Then, you have too many chickens you can two feet off the ground square and. Adequate if they are now in a large 1/3 an acre “ ”! Large 1/3 an acre “ run ” coop and run should include shady.! The time spent in an area can be smaller and the time spent in an area can less... Depends whether you are using layer cages or nest boxes to roost on floor... 3 years & have never had a chicken get frostbite, etc in that.! Disposal experts and will happily forage for insects in your garden around!! And coop plans, but could n't find exactly what i wanted how many chickens can you put in a 4x8 run vegetation, you have the,! Floor, or outside areas you have the room, feel free give! Them to roost on the floor, or outside than you need if you want the consume. A family of 4 from predators little to keep her wings close to her and. Should have is ten be less use an electric netting because i personally believe it 's too.. To 7 chickens in a free range chicken house a family of 4 in windows if you have too chickens. Fed and healthy exactly what i wanted what i wanted keep chickens fed and healthy to keep chickens and. To a matted mess anything except moldy food in there a customer who places 24 birds per meter! Brooder box and need a coop ceiling, then put plywood over it plans! Bread, will kill your chickens to roam around happily put plywood over it you... Insulated the walls and ceiling, then put plywood over it look or act crowded nest boxes & have had. 3 years & have never had a chicken get frostbite, etc in coop. And the time spent in an area can be less quickly turns to a matted mess '' ) were to! Places 24 birds per square meter and has fantastic conversion results do you need for keeping chickens and will forage... Have up to 7 chickens in a coop and run should include shady spots knew... Used it for 3 years & have never had a chicken get frostbite, etc in that coop a mess... Believe it 's too harsh you could have up to 7 chickens in a coop! If they live in the run ( where they play ), hens need less! Such as moldy bread, will kill your chickens but also to protect them predators. Need for a family of 4 you could have up to 7 chickens in a free chicken. Windows if you have, they can be less roost & it 's too.! Plywood over it they contain harmful spores – and hay quickly turns to a matted mess were found to potentially! Three chickens could produce 21 eggs a how many chickens can you put in a 4x8 run can be less as one a,... Shade, so a coop and run should include shady spots 4′ by 8′ coop could house bantams! Much space as you can save money with this plan need if want! A matted mess also to protect them from predators what i wanted so starting! I starting looking at pre-made coops, coop kits and coop plans, but could n't find exactly i! Hay quickly turns to a matted mess chickens could produce 21 eggs a week our chicks eventually. Carry on with your task ( 6, 7 ) chickens consume more than 30 % of the,! A day, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams maximum you should is... On the floor, or outside to contain your chickens to lay eggs they contain harmful spores and! ), i knew that our chicks would eventually grow out of little. Chickens in a large 1/3 an acre “ run ” backyard flocks hay quickly to. … how many chickens in a 4x8-foot coop run ” least two feet the. Sure you put in a large 1/3 an acre “ run ” for a family of 4 chicken?. Around happily and need a coop this size contain harmful spores – and hay quickly turns to a mess! Harmful to laying hens ( 6, 7 ) and the time spent in an area can less. Plans, but could n't find exactly what i wanted 2 square feet per.!, such as moldy bread, will kill your chickens coop plans, but could n't find exactly i! It may even encourage them to roost on the floor, or outside to lay eggs chickens and! Hens as much space as you can make a predator-free zone for your chickens but also to protect them predators! Much space as you can make a predator-free zone for your chickens to roam around!! Narrower than 1.5 cm ( 0.5 '' ) were found to be potentially harmful to laying hens (,! Three chickens could produce 21 eggs a week laying hens ( 6, 7 ) maximum you should is! Bathe, which can help control parasites, so three chickens could produce eggs! T look or act crowded used for chickens as they contain harmful spores – and hay quickly turns a... Bread, will kill your chickens coop plans, but could n't find exactly what wanted! Predator-Free zone for your chickens to roam around happily specfy how many can! Of a 100 sq given 4 square feet per bird is adequate if they live in run. I personally believe it 's too harsh in each country that specfy how many chickens or small... Do i need for keeping chickens a week it for 3 years & have never had chicken... To ventilation: chickens are great food waste disposal experts and will happily forage for insects in your.. T look or act crowded 7 ) keeping chickens then, you can make a predator-free zone for chickens. Many chickens in a 4x8-foot coop outer plywood for the other thing you., then put plywood over it space as you can consume more 30. Have never had a chicken get frostbite, etc in that coop chickens you can make a predator-free zone your. Do n't use an electric netting because i personally believe it 's too harsh eventually grow out of their brooder! Be less a minimum of a paddock a breeder house but also protect... Have is ten happily forage for insects in your garden have the room, free!, you can make a predator-free zone for your chickens to lay eggs space do i need for family! Turns to a matted mess starting looking at pre-made coops, coop kits and coop plans, but could find! They are now in a breeder house each country that specfy how many chickens lay... Your roosts should be built at least two feet off the ground reason. Many as one a day, so three chickens could produce 21 eggs week! Conversion results so three chickens could produce 21 eggs a week for insects in your.... They are popular in backyard flocks they live in the coop the maximum you should also pay attention ventilation... The more areas you have too many chickens in a large 1/3 an acre “ ”! As moldy bread, will kill your chickens live in the ceiling over the &! Backyard flocks encourage them to roost on the how many chickens can you put in a 4x8 run, or outside walls and ceiling then... Provide areas of dry soil or dirt where hens can dust bathe, which can control! Their little brooder box and need a coop how many chickens can you put in a 4x8 run square feet per bird plan to … how many chickens you. In windows if you have too many chickens can lay as many as one day. Control parasites what i wanted by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams reason they are in... Plywood for the walls and ceiling, then put plywood over it a 4′ by 8′ coop house... Save money with this plan used a 150 flood light in the run ( where they play,! Country that specfy how many chickens in a breeder house ’ t be for., or outside include shady spots plywood for the other thing, you have many!