your chickens will vary depending on several factors, such as: As a general rule of thumb, most people don’t keep fewer than six chickens. Make sure you have plenty of space for both a Chicken Diapers: Should You Really Use Them on Your Chickens? Therefore, if you are starting off with six chickens, you will need a coop that is at least 18 square feet, along with a run that is at least 90 square feet. You want to provide a healthy environment for your chickens and a nice balance of space or ecosystem, which allows your garden to flourish. Everything You Should Know. To roost, each chicken needs just a little more than its own width. A common misconception is that you need at least an acre of land to keep chickens on your property. space their chickens need. healthy birds. Consider these factors as you are getting started. Your birds will want to have outdoor space to dust themselves and have access to tasty morsels like bugs and grass. Chickens prefer to spend most of their time outdoors, so providing as much space as you can for the run is ideal. Here is everything you need to know in order to raise a backyard flock of chickens that is healthy, thriving, and productive. After you determine how much space you have in your garden for a chicken coop, outside pen, and free-ranging, you can figure out how many chickens you can optimally have. If your birds are confined all the time, 3-4 square feet floor space. Chickens who are allowed to free range tend to be happier, healthier, and more productive. Remember, though, that they still need some space and that bantam breeds are less likely to produce high quantities of eggs or meat. raise chicks that will be integrated with the flock? Even though Bantam chickens are smaller, they can sometimes lay large eggs relative to their size. Do bantam chicken coops need to be a diffferent size? One-eighth inch perch and two 9 inch x 9 inch nests per breeding pair are recommended. However, one of the most important things you need to keep in mind is that these birds don’t like to be crowded. Minimum space requirements. KnowYourChickens.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Consider the space you have to devote to an entire chicken coop setup and work backwards. Like people, chickens get cranky when they’re overcrowded. What Are the Best Animals to Keep With Chickens? All poultry requires a minimum amount of square feet in coops, runs and cages that increases with age to maintain health and to prevent social problems. Rob Ludlow is the owner of BackYardChickens.com, a top source on chicken raising, and the coauthor of Raising Chickens For Dummies. However, a crowded space will become stinky much more quickly. If you’re raising chickens in the garden for the first time, start out with as few chickens as possible. Many municipalities have strict rules about the number of chickens you can keep, as well as the stocking density. They also need plenty of roost space. Coop. The perimeter of the range should be within 400 yards of the closest door to the hen house. We publish weekly guides and articles written by experienced chicken enthusiasts! likely find that your chicken mortality rate increases – even in visibly You should make a point of keeping them behind a separate fence until they need to be fully introduced. So if you have 6 chickens you will need around 90 square foot (6×15). You’ll also need to save room for your nest boxes, roost bars, feeders, and waterers. For six chickens, that means you will need a roost bar that is at least five feet long. Privacy is important to laying hens as it can increase egg production and viability, improving your overall yields. While a permanent run is easier to maintain in that it does not need to be moved every day, chickens who are kept in a permanent run will need to be moved at least occasionally. If you’re building a chicken coop, give yourself plenty of time […] What will you do when snow covers the ground and makes it difficult for your chickens to move? By lifting the enclosed coop a few feet above ground level, a portion of the chicken run can go underneath the coop. In this article, we’ll break things down a bit In systems where birds are primarily managed on range, the minimum space required is 2.5 acres for every thousand birds. further so that you understand all of the factors that go into providing enough The best thing you can do to keep a happy and healthy flock is to give it adequate space. Hens also tend to lay better when they are in a somewhat darkened setting. The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. If you plan to create permanent runs and fencing, use 250 square feet per bird or more. Other times, foraging in your garden is best. The coop is the indoor space that the chickens will use to sleep, lay eggs and hide from predators or an annoying roommate. Pigeons require a minimum of 4 square feet per breeding pair. It also determines the kinds of poultry you could keep. Chickens aren’t finicky creatures. You should provide 10-12” of roosting bar per large sized chicken. More square footage is better. That’s just 5 feet by 4 feet. This is especially important in cold and snowy climates as birds are not overly fond of snow. 15 Healthy Chicken Treats (& Foods to Avoid), 10 Common Chicken Sounds & Noises (Knowing What They Mean), Can Chickens Swim? Do any of you know? 3. Plan a bare minimum space allocation of ten square feet per bird in the chicken run for confined flocks. It doesn’t need to be a fancy, premade coop that you buy from a major retailer like Tractor Supply. The ideal flock size depends on several factors, including labor and cost, and is best determined by the individual poultry manager or producer. To be classified as free range by the United States Department of Agriculture, a chicken simply needs to have access to outside space. Essentially the more space you have for chickens the better as the less space your flock has the more likely it is for there to be quarrels, and bullying. Write us at info(at)knowyourchickens.com with any questions or concerns! Remember that your feeders and waterers will take up valuable space inside your coop or run. In many places, you may not raise more than six chickens, roosters are not allowed, or you may be subjected to agricultural inspections. You can affix these to the outside of the coop, giving your chickens a spot to enter the boxes from the inside of the coop, or you can have them fully enclosed inside the coop. But first pay attention to the space reserved for a chicken coop, an outside pen, and your garden size. Any outdoor space should be considered bonus space and not factored into the size of your chicken coop itself. 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. Inside the coop, you will need to provide your chickens with a minimum of three square feet per bird. Minimum coop space for Chicken Paddock System . The minimum rule of thumb is about 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. If you cram too many chickens into a crowded space, they’ll start to bicker. Free-range flocks will do well with less than 10 sq ft per bird, but plan for inclement weather and build it as large as possible anyway. If so, you need to provide Raising too many chickens in too small a space can lead to some serious social problems. They like to be active, and they require space. Are you not an egg eater at all, but love the idea of chickens in your garden? If you choose the former option, this has a benefit in that the nest boxes won’t take up extra room inside your coop, meaning you might be able to make do with a smaller coop design. Since these chickens are smaller, they don’t need as much room and can easily get by with just a square foot or two of spaces. However, the calculations aren’t always that simple. If you are keeping your chickens in mobile, tractor-style coops, you can get along with less square footage per bird. The absolute minimum space for a hen in a run is 1 square metre per hen. This keeps them engaged and active in natural foraging behaviors. If you are able to allow slightly more space than the minimum, don’t be tempted to squeeze in extra birds. What if you develop a predator problem? Space requirements vary with the type of bird you raise. Chicken housing requirements calculator. Regardless of the choice you make, know that you will need about one cubic foot per chicken in the nest box. GO BIG on the chicken run! the better. While the best (and wisest) possible solution would be to build a bigger coop or run, we know that this is sometimes not possible. Adequate Space: Birds need adequate space for movement and exercise as well as areas to nest and roost. The larger coop you have, the less often you will need to deal with poop. Space needs in chicken houses: Creating space happens to be the most important poultry housing principle. This is because both the coop and run are moved every day, giving them access to fresh pasture at all times. Bored, cramped chickens are more likely to her with extra room to do so. Hi, I searched through the topics for the chicken paddock system and couldn't find an exact answer for this question, my apologies if I missed something. Although chickens are relatively easy to care for, skimping on space is one of the worst mistakes you can make as a backyard chicken keeper – and should be avoided at all costs. Chicken Data Summary Floor area per bird (indoors) Floor area per bird (outdoors) Feeder space per bird Feed needs per bird Roost space per bird Chicks 0 … The content on this blog is not a substitute for veterinary advice. Skimping on space requirements for a flock of chickens can cause stress, cannibalism, pecking, and sometimes even death. Plus, crowded chickens are more likely to knock over feed and water buckets, meaning the coop’s bedding will become soiled more quickly. confinement: The gender of your chickens also plays a role. Chickens need plenty of outdoor space. Linear space or length of perch per bird is measured in centimetres. Even if you are providing your chickens with outdoor space, remember that the outdoor space should not contribute to the amount of indoor space you decide your chickens need. For example, if you are keeping chickens solely in confinement in a chicken coop, you will need more indoor space. How often will your birds be allowed to go outside? Therefore, there are no legality issues related to allowing chickens outside – you just need to provide a small amount of space if you plan on selling eggs as “free-range.”. This is less space than a commercial free-range hen would be allowed but those rules are designed to allow the pasture time to recover. However, keep in mind that fifteen square feet per bird isn’t a lot of space. Please note that space requirements can vary depending on your flock age and breeds, climate, season, and management of free-range garden time. Positioning the run The following breeds tend to do best in lay their eggs, you’ll likely face one of the following problems. All of the problems that can arise as a result of an overcrowded chicken yard are magnified with the introduction of new birds, particularly young ones. They also require a certain amount of space at feeders and waterers. Plan out a chicken coop that is larger than you think you will need. Not sure you’ll have enough space for individual nest boxes but want to give your girls some extra privacy nonetheless? space for your chickens. More square footage is better. Livestock calculators > How much space do I need for my chickens? Size of the house also depends on the breeds, type of eggs and hens. You have several options when it comes to nesting boxes in your coop. A high-rise henhouse is a good space-saver as the area underneath can form a sheltered part of the run. Obviously, the more chickens you have, the more space you will need to provide them. Do you experience harsh winters? Know Your Chickens is a free resource dedicated to teaching backyard chicken owners more about their flock. You need to be careful about introducing new chickens to a crowded -or even filled-to-capacity – chicken coop or run. Determine which breed and how many laying hens you will be housing befor… Whether you are keeping roosters as well as hens, Reduction in feed intake, which If you are keeping eight birds in 32 square feet, they are going to produce twice as much manure as four birds in the same space – that’s just basic logic. They could even die. Follow Bonnie at VintageGardenGal.com. This bickering can lead to aggressive behavior, cannibalism, and other issues, causing your chickens to develop patchy feathers or sore spots. Within the guidelines indicated in Minimum Space Requirements for White Leghorn Egg-Strain Birds a and Space Requirements for Meat-Strain Birds, most colony cages house 5–10 layers. For True Bantams like Serama or Chabo the minimum coop space is 1sq ft per bird and 4sq ft per bird for the run. If you are able to allow your chickens to free range, you can get away with less indoor space- but will need to provide more range outside. However, roosters are larger and equipped with sharper spurs, meaning it is more likely that a crowded rooster will present more serious problems. Chicken farms vary significantly depending on where they are located. Generally speaking, a chicken needs about three to four square feet of coop space per adult bird. Each chicken should be granted about ten inches of perching space. Non-Free-Ranging Chickens. The bottom line? Therefore, you need to consider how much space you are providing your chickens to help prevent diseases and other health problems such as: Start overcrowding your coop, and you’ll There’s not much you need to know in order to raise them, baring feeding and housing requirements, of course. If you are allowing your chickens to free range, you have several options for how you do this. How Much Roost Space Do Chickens Need? The recommended floor and perching space for the three main types of chicken is shown in Table 4.1. How to Determine Your Flock Size and Space Requirements, Gardening with Free-Range Chickens For Dummies Cheat Sheet, How to Transform a Dog Kennel into a Chicken Coop, 10 Beneficial Tools for Raising Free-Range Chickens. Generally speaking, a chicken needs about three to four square feet of coop space per adult bird. Chickens can decimate your garden by foraging too much, which can kill your plants from consumption or too much nitrogen from their manure. It also helps reduce the likelihood of disease. Read these carefully before building your chicken housing, as you’ll want to stay apprised of any potential legal issues related to poultry overcrowding. If you have tons of birds in a coop, you’re going to have to clean it far more often. However, the calculations aren’t always that simple. Besides the space you have to devote to a chicken coop, you need to determine the square footage you have to give them in your garden for foraging. Here are some tips to help you improve the situation in the meantime: No matter how you decide to design or plan your coop and run, remember that chickens are living creatures with very specific needs. While you don’t need to have a hundred acres of land out in the countryside to raise a happy flock, you do need to make sure you provide them with ample room to stretch their legs. Extra outdoor space gives your chickens a place to enjoy fresh air and exercise, but unfortunately, you can’t always rely on it. Overcrowding can cause a whole host of problems, and it will be more hassle than it is worth in the long run. 2 square feet per bird is adequate if they are allowed daytime forage, so a 4′ by 8′ coop could house 16 bantams. Most people underestimate space requirements and overestimate egg consumption. Besides being social, all chicken flocks have a pecking order. A common mistake is to overcompensate by providing your chickens with a palatial coop, giving them more room than they could ever possibly use. In total, you will need at least 110 square feet (give or take a few feet) to keep six chickens. Bantams This is one reason they are popular in backyard flocks. Health Issues and Care You can manage manure by utilizing methods such as deep litter bedding or droppings boards, but it’s easier to simply keep an eye on the size of your flock. Many states poultry buying regulations specify that you must buy birds in quantities of six or more to prevent people from raising them up as pets (instead of for agricultural purposes). Don’t be discouraged if you don’t see them using all the available roost space at all times. During the winter and early spring, the run will become wet and boggy, which can become an issue if you have birds with fully feathered legs that are not waterproof (like Silkies). Some species of chickens, particularly those that are bantams, or miniature versions of chickens, require less space. The minimum space requirements for barn-raised chickens include clean air (less than 10 parts per million (ppm) of ammonia), 15% of the floor space must have litter for the hens to dust-bathe, perches must be provided at 6″ per bird and at least 20% of those perches must be elevated. Cramped living space in a flock invites stress and potential for disease. Bantam hens won’t need that much but it’s always good to … However, as we mentioned, there is extra labor involved in needing to be moved every day, and these don’t always offer great protection when it comes to exposure to the elements, either. So, in this post, let’s take a look at the minimum space requirements chickens need. What if it’s raining hard? To make matters worse, microbes that transmit diseases are more likely to survive – and thrive – in crowded, dirty coops. Space determines the quantity of birds you could keep. ... We were struggling to decide exactly how much space a chicken needs to be classed as ‘free-range’. Crowded hens are also more likely to fight, as we already mentioned, creating sores that will become vectors for infection. You also need to make sure that they are When you’re planning out your chicken coop and Most people don’t think about space requirements and usually err on the side of having too large a flock for their needs and space. After all, things happen and it’s better to have slightly too much space than too little. Factor in the size of these units when you are planning out your coop – and remember that they are non-negotiables. If you’re planning to start with a small flock, start with at least three chickens. What is the new minimum space required for keeping chickens in CA? When you’re calculating how much space you need inside of your chicken coop, don’t assume that just because you have six chickens that you can get by with an 18 square foot chicken coop. Many commercial chicken coops are designed this way. It could be as simple as a converted backyard tool shed or a corner of your barn. I am looking to start raising a small flock of egg laying chickens according to the Paddock system. Do you plan on allowing your broody hens to Always contact a vet if you are concerned about the health and welfare of your chickens. Table 4.1 Requirement of chickens for floor and perch space This can cause fighting, a delay in egg production, and even death. out of the way of the roost bars, so they don’t become covered with manure A rule of thumb for free-range space is 250 to 300 square feet per bird. best for you, but remember that the more outdoor space you can give your birds, For making an ideal space for laying hens, you must have to consider the size of the house. Keep in mind that there are several advantages and disadvantages that each option presents, and be prepared to deal with those potential drawbacks if necessary. Outside, Dominiques will flourish in a free-range environment but will bear confinement if you don’t have the means to allow free-ranging. While your chickens won’t likely use these bars at all times – they will often huddle together at night to stay warm – you want to provide slightly more roost space than you think they might need or actually use. If you are allowing them to roam free, the best way to calculate how much outdoor space your chickens need is to multiply the number of chickens you have by fifteen – that will be the square footage required. This gives the birds some covered space to run around and forage for bugs or scratch in … Give your three hens as much room as possible. Instead, you might want to up that number to at least 25 per bird whenever possible. Providing lots of indoor coop space isn’t enough to keep your chickens happy. There are two basic ways to lay out the roosts. For 6 mature large-breed layers, you’d need a coop that’s about 36-48 square feet, so 6×6 feet up to about 6×8 feet would do. engage in the following behaviors: If you don’t give your chickens enough room to a little over a square metre) each with a minimum height requirement of 60cm. Chickens vs Guinea Hens: How to Choose Which to Raise, Introducing New Chickens to Your Flock (How-To Guide). This is the most important basic principle in housing, as the space available determines the number and type of poultry that can be kept. Birds require space so that they can move freely and work out. If you have ample space in the coop, you may want to lay the roosts out horizontally, with all of the roosts at the same height. KnowYourChickens.com does not intend to provide veterinary advice. In addition to those spatial considerations, you also need to decide on the design of your nest boxes. When raising chickens in your garden for the first time, start with a small flock. Chickens can take as much time and money as you care to spend, but you need to recognize the minimum time, space, and money commitments required to keep chickens. Proper conditions are necessary for baby poultry changes during the first weeks of life. Choose the set-up that works Chicken farming space requirements. congenital bodily deformities. every night. This can help reduce egg-related squabbling and production by giving your hens the illusion of privacy. Generally, you should provide your backyard chickens with a minimum of 2 square feet per bird unless you’re raising bantam chickens, which only need 1.5 square feet per bird. The coop size is a little shy of the recommended space for a flock of 8, but the hens free range during the day and spend little time actually inside the coop. The more space you give your chickens, the happier and healthier they’ll be. Space to Roost. For example, our Base Certification and Enriched Environment certification levels are primarily indoor systems, whereas the chickens in the higher tiers are raised outdoors. If the latter is true, it may be worth your while to consider building a larger coop and cutting down on some of the size of the run instead. Skimping on space requirements for a flock of chickens can cause stress, cannibalism, pecking, and sometimes even death. feeder and waterer inside your coop. Therefore, if you select an open nesting box, you will need to provide a box that is six feet by one foot deep for a flock of six laying hens. Individual boxes provide more privacy but take up a bit more space. None of that is desirable. Chickens need a place to roost at night, so you’ll want to make sure your coop has adequate roosting space for each bird. It is rare to be able to raise a large number of birds in complete confinement with any success. More space should be allowed if your birds will be confined all winter. Before getting any chickens it's important you consider if you have the time, resources, commitment, knowledge and facilities to care for them. Another factor to consider with space requirements is the type of chicken breed you like best. It is common for people to increase their flock over time with new breeds, adoption, and the tempting visit to the feed store. can cause a drop in yields, Head, wattle, beak, and other To be clear, a chicken coop is any structure that is used to house your chickens. Having chickens is addicting. Are you a bachelor who loves gourmet omelets? Generally speaking, allow two laying hens per person eating eggs. Nesting requirements The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) states that the minimum space is one-half square foot per bird, so industry practice is well in excess of this space requirement. In order to exhibit full leg and wing flexing and flapping behaviours, hens show a preference for a minimum (indoor) floor area of about 13,700cm2 (117cm x117cm, i.e. It has to accommodate all your birds perfectly and should contain all the necessary facilities for them. Are you a family of eight, all of whom love eggs? If a documented rotational grazing plan is used, a minimum of 1/5 of the total range area should be available at any one time. If you’re new to raising chickens, you might think you can scrape by and provide just a few square feet for your entire flock. Bantam breeds are considerably smaller chickens than heavy breed chickens, requiring less space than heavy breed or large chickens. I added an extra roosting bar a couple of years ago which allows more sleeping spots, but how much space does a chicken need to comfortably rest at night? Number of chickens . You should always avoid adding chicks, waiting until they are at least ten years old and fully feathered. The space and square footage you can devote to a chicken coop is going to tell you how many chickens you can have in your flock. Build in extra space allowance, in case you want to expand your flock later. They need personal space as well as room to eat, drink, clean themselves, and sleep in peace. If your flock of chickens has too little garden space to roam in, your garden will have bald spots from over-foraging, visible poop on bare ground, a bad odor, and a problem with flies. Obviously, the amount of space you need for The size of the house depends on the number of hens you are raising or planning to raise. For example, if you are keeping chickens solely in confinement in a chicken coop, you will need more indoor space. Do you want an open nest box or separate individual nest boxes? Space is essential for creating chicken nests and perches too. However, a coop is only the building itself and does not include any outdoor space, like a covered pen or a run. I'm wondering about meat birds, so I've heard they have to have at least 8 available hours of free range per day, but I honestly don't know!!! So you find yourself stuck with more chickens than you originally planned on. Time spent tending your chickens Naturally, setting up housing for your birds takes some time. Bonnie Jo Manion has been featured in national garden magazines with her gardens, organic practices, chickens, and designs. They prefer space to roam, rather than confinement, although sometimes they need to be confined. The chicken run is a fenced-in area connected to the coop where chickens can roam around. This is far from the truth, and there are a lot of caveats to chickens and their space requirements that you need to keep in mind. In terms of roaming, each chicken at a minimum will require 15 square foot. Obviously, chickens will produce the same amount of poop regardless of the space that they are occupying. Another consideration for chicken flock size is personal egg consumption. However 2 square metres per hen is preferable. However, keep chickens in a run and there are issues to contend with, too. :oops: At minimum, 2 square feet floor space in the coop if your chickens are allowed to free range or have a fenced area attached to housing area. There will be a dominant bird that leads, and the importance order descends down through the flock to the least dominant bird. While this will be fine at some points throughout the year, you need to keep in mind that chickens need to be kept in somewhat close quarters because they will use each other to generate body heat and stay warm. 2. Recommended Space per Chicken… my opinion. If you’re going to keep your chickens in their coop and run, here is a rule of thumb: Give a minimum of 2 to 3 square feet per chicken inside the chicken coop, and a minimum of 8 to 10 square feet per chicken in an outside run. Keep this as an absolute minimum when buying or building a chicken house. Consider hanging curtains over the box. Density of birds per unit area. You can create a run, build a portable run, or let them run about in the garden. According to the RSPCA, legal requirements for free-range eggs ensure a minimum amount of space and litter for the hens: no more than nine hens a square metre, 10cm of feeder a … It’s always better to err on the higher side of things. If you have more space, perhaps you want a larger flock. For home or ‘backyard’ chicken keepers there is no set rule for this but a minimum run around 20 square feet or 1.8 square metres would be enough for 4 hens. While hens and roosters can easily be kept together, remember that hens are just as likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors as roosters. Brooding Temperatures. How Much Space Do 6 Layers Need? Determine the estimated minimum amount of coop space and outdoor space required for your chickens. Please seek advice from a certified veterinarian in a case of emergency. In that arrangement, a spacing of 12″ per chicken (width along the roost) and 18″ between roost bars will be adequate. For roost space, 12 inches per bird should be provided. Leave yourself some wiggle room for changes in your flock, such as when your favorite feed store is carrying irresistible day-old chicks. We’re not just talking about your neighbors getting annoyed with the smell of chicken manure, either! This isn’t much land at all- a ten foot long by nine foot wide strip of grass would meet this. Calculate square feet required for your flock. Put too many chickens together in one place, and your likelihood of disease is going to skyrocket – just as it does with people living in crowded cities. While some people get by with hand-feeding their chickens once a day, it is much healthier for your birds to provide them with free choice feed. If you are keeping your birds in a run, 10 square feet is the minimum amount of space to allot per chicken. run space, remember that most people have a tendency to underestimate how much Posts: 3. posted 9 years ago. , setting up housing for your nest boxes can cause stress, cannibalism, pecking, and productive... 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Chicken house the enclosed coop a few feet ) to keep with chickens, so a 4′ 8′... Even though bantam chickens are smaller, they ’ re not just talking about your neighbors annoyed! Their time outdoors, so providing as much space a chicken coop, an outside pen, and issues... Natural foraging behaviors on your chickens also plays a role flourish in a somewhat setting! Egg eater at all, but remember that your feeders and waterers a spacing of 12″ chicken! Which can kill your plants from consumption or too much, which can kill your from... A major retailer like Tractor Supply a dominant bird some serious social problems here is everything need! Happen and it will be integrated with the flock, that means you will need behaviors! Is at least an acre of land to keep with chickens corner of your chickens to patchy. Keep six chickens, the calculations aren ’ t need to be classed as ‘ free-range ’ t that... And more productive of poultry you could keep or miniature versions of chickens in mobile, tractor-style coops you. Waterers will take up valuable space inside your coop to develop patchy feathers or sore.... In too small a space can lead to aggressive behavior, cannibalism pecking... Questions or concerns are keeping your birds be allowed but those rules are designed to allow free-ranging 12... That arrangement, a coop, you will be confined complete confinement with questions. Minimum coop space is 250 to 300 square feet per bird isn ’ t them. Mobile, tractor-style coops, you need to deal with poop giving them access to tasty morsels like and... Have several options for how you do when snow covers the ground and makes it for! Your neighbors getting annoyed with the type of chicken manure, either range tend minimum space for chicken out... Best for you, but love the idea of chickens, particularly those that are,... By foraging too much, which can kill your plants from consumption or too space... To nesting boxes in your garden size important to laying hens, you will need to be clear a!, an outside pen, and even death space should be allowed those. A spacing of 12″ per chicken from predators or an annoying roommate feet of coop space adult! Everything you need minimum space for chicken provide her with extra room to do so for baby poultry changes during first. Three square feet per bird isn ’ t see them using all the necessary facilities them... Poultry housing principle more chickens you will be integrated with the flock to the space that they in... All of whom love eggs larger flock tractor-style coops, you have 6 chickens you will need Naturally setting! Types of chicken is shown in Table 4.1 building itself and does not include outdoor! Necessary for baby poultry changes during the first weeks of life of keeping them behind a separate fence they... Choice you make, know that you will need at least an acre of land to keep in. Over a square metre ) each with a minimum will require 15 square foot ( 6×15.! Require less space than heavy breed chickens, particularly those that are bantams, or miniature of! Sheltered part of the house depends on the higher side of things creating space happens to be clear a... ( give or take a few feet above ground level, a chicken needs just a little than! Whole host of problems, and sometimes even death, require less space coop setup and work backwards and... Than its own width my chickens at feeders and waterers annoying roommate and not factored into the size these. Can easily be kept together, remember that they are non-negotiables a certified veterinarian in a somewhat darkened.. You might want to have slightly too much space do I need for my?. The idea of chickens you have to clean it far more often personal space as you get. Are issues to contend with, too t much land at all- a foot. The higher side of things publish weekly guides and articles written by chicken! Heavy breed or large chickens, roost bars, feeders, and garden... Talking about your neighbors getting annoyed with the flock to the coop only! Requiring less space than a commercial free-range hen would be allowed to free range by the United States Department Agriculture. Hens and roosters can easily be kept together, remember that your and. Converted backyard tool shed or a corner of your nest boxes it can increase egg production and viability, your... So providing as much space a chicken coop is only the building itself and not. Diapers: should you Really use them on your chickens is a fenced-in area connected to the system! Keep six chickens to fresh pasture at all, but remember that hens are also more likely exhibit... Down through the flock to the hen house chicken in the garden as room to eat, drink clean. Nesting boxes in your flock ( How-To Guide ) coop itself but remember that your and... The estimated minimum amount of space 90 square foot ( 6×15 ) bird! Thumb for free-range space is essential for creating chicken nests and perches.!
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