[YorkshireLass]

I'm prepared to get an earbashing for thinking along these lines but here goes


I have an outbuilding, about 2.5mx3m. High roof, watertight, large window. Bricked floor. What would be your opinions on keeping a trio of layers more-or-less permanently in here? It's a larger space than I could spare outdoors, it is secure, I could remove and mesh over the window hole to increase ventilation. To my mind it would be like mucking out a horse's stable, in terms of bedding and poop. I could add plenty of toys, perches, garden trimmings, hidey holes etc...?

[Rosemary]

I think there are worse ways to keep chickens 

[deepinthewoods]

my only proviso would be that i would rear them there, so they hadnt experienced outdoors, otherwise, if the breed suits, why not? as rosemary says, that would be heaven for some chooks.

[omnipeasant]

Better indoors than fox fodder!

[aaronsundin]

We have chooks in the old stable building at the moment who are all doing fine , however they will be moved out when they're big enough . keeping them inside sounds ok  , maybe putting in something for them to have a dust bath in would be good . We use one of those shallow plastic storage containers , the type you can fit under a bed - filled with sand / earth mix .

[Sylvia]

And plenty of greenery. They'll be fine

[Derby_menagerie]

Obviously light will be important, I had some hens in a similar set-up, then I put them out and laying rates went way up! so some sort of artifical daylight would be helpful, plus you could keep laying over the winter!

[chrismahon]

At 2.5 square metres each for three, assuming they are internal measurements, you may achieve it with a placid breed. So avoid the commercial free ranging hybrids like Blackrocks which would go mad in there.
 
As Deepinthewoods suggests, getting chicks at say 6 weeks and rearing them in there would be the best idea, because once they have been outside they will hate being cooped up. If they don't like the environment egg laying will be poor, feather pecking and cannibalism a major risk and illness because of stress a probability.
 
Doesn't sound very kind though.

[YorkshireLass]

No that's fair enough, it's why I asked I'm struggling to find "realistic" info online, as everything is either geared for Mr Broilerman with 2000 birds in a shed, or Ms Smallholder with a flock of free range, rare-as-hens'-teeth, saintly birds    I'm trying to suss out an acceptable midpoint, and if it's not feasible then it's not feasible.


Another thought could be the same space for a couple of meat birds every so often?


Oooor...maybe a micropig     

[deepinthewoods]

that would be great for meat birds, as you could control their diet and as theyre fast turnover it wouldnt matter so much being inside.

[graham-j]

Hi,some meat birds such as sasso's would love it in there.Three rhoad island reds should be OK they are pretty docile for egg layers,loads of nice clean shavings,you can also increase your flaw space by mounting pallets up on legs this gives them something to do as well, just make sure they all have room to get up there or they will fight.I have also found nipple type drinkers handy as they give the birds something to keep them occupied rather than pecking each other they peck the drinker.As you have all ready said you will need to do some thing with the windows.
The Ideal would be this with a small outside run built on the side of a similar size to the shed.

Free range is always best,not every one has that.

Graham.