The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: nutterly_uts on July 24, 2016, 03:17:01 pm

Title: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: nutterly_uts on July 24, 2016, 03:17:01 pm

Is there somewhere that gives you recommended minimum spaces for chicken runs (or if you enter a run size, tells you have many chickens is wise to put in?)

Trying to rejig the garden for veg and chickens but I don't necessarily trust the sizes given on the various chicken house seller pages. Tried Domestic Fowl Trust and can't find anything and google isn't that helpful as its giving me 101 different sizes!!

Edit : If it helps. I have a single eglu I'd like to re-use. I want a walk in run for them, and I'm wanting 2 or 3 chickens, probably hybrids but maybe bantams. Minimum ready made run is 6ft wide by 6ft long (by 6ft8in high) and you can make it longer in 3ft increments.
Because its nice and high, I plan to give them a bit of an activity center - logs to jump on, a swing, a plant or two, stuff like that for spoilt pet chickens :)

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: doganjo on July 24, 2016, 03:44:47 pm

New facebook group - ask on there
https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallholdingscotland/158436341246074/?notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1469362739372648 (https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallholdingscotland/158436341246074/?notif_t=group_activity&notif_id=1469362739372648)

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: farmers wife on July 24, 2016, 09:01:33 pm

you could refer to the soil association requirements which stipulates the no per sq m. I dont have it on me at mo but I'm sure you can google it.  This is more commercial then domestic but gives indication.

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: ellied on July 25, 2016, 07:13:34 am

http://www.organicagcentre.ca/Docs/AnimalWelfare/Soil%20Association/Welfare%20standards%20organic%20v%20free%20range.pdf (http://www.organicagcentre.ca/Docs/AnimalWelfare/Soil%20Association/Welfare%20standards%20organic%20v%20free%20range.pdf)

Table is on p5 but summary if you don't have time:

Free range minimum standard is 12 birds per square metre housing, 15cm perch space and access to 4 square metres per bird outdoors for defined periods (can be rotated between 2 lots at a rate of 2.5 square metres/bird overall).

Soil Association standard is max 6 birds per square metre and 10 square metres per bird outdoors continuous daytime access.

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 28, 2016, 08:50:14 am

I wouldn't bother with plants, unless you plan to hang up a bunch of bolted lettuces or similar - they'll destroy them in a short time.

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: chrismahon on July 28, 2016, 11:19:57 am

Two square metres permanent run space each is the absolute minimum Nutterly. Any less than that and you will get behavioural problems, even with perches and other distractions. Hybrids tend to be highly strung and you may get problems anyway with a lot more. Bantams requirements depend on the breed. We have 4 Leghorns in 9 square metres and they seem OK, but still try to escape whenever possible.

Title: Re: Guidelines for chicken space?
Post by: foxy on July 28, 2016, 11:26:57 pm

If it's of interest I'm going to be selling my 6 month old walk-in run in a couple of weeks.  It's 3m x 4m, fully enclosed, perfect for a few hens.  It was a gift, but I have 8 hens now and it's too small for long winter days when they won't be out free-ranging.  Cost £350 so thinking maybe £200?.  Renfrewshire.