The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: paulsou on August 01, 2009, 12:17:46 pm
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I have a chicken house which is 4ft x 4ft & 5ft high, could someone tell me how many chickens i can keep in house this size?
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I would say 6/8 at the very most?
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depends on size of hen. i made my first one 4x4 for six. built others the chickens seem to like being crowded. some times we have to drag another half dozen out of there. but 4-6 would be a good number.
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I assume they will free range and just sleep / lay in the house. If so, you'll need a nest box for every four / five hens and 9-12" perch space per hen.
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When I was researching before getting my hens I read that they only actually need 8 inches of perch space each (full sized hens)as they like to huddle together. So I guess the overall perch length is the critical factor. You have to have them all on the same level though so that they don't pooh on each other at night ! Does that sound right to others? :)
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Some say 1 to 2 square foot floor space per bird. I allow 2 square foot, so I would put 8 hens in a 4x4ft house. At the moment, one of the coops I have is 24sq ft, but the 12 girls all cram into the 4 nest boxes and sleep piled ontop of one another. Leaving enough room for me to sleep in the coop. ;D