tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post6973188013884982128..comments2024-03-24T19:45:21.933-04:00Comments on Natural Chicken Keeping: How Much Coop and Run Space Do I Need?Bulldogmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-68916226348609237382018-03-27T14:06:47.938-04:002018-03-27T14:06:47.938-04:00I am in rice country, rice hulls are fine but reme...I am in rice country, rice hulls are fine but remember they mold easy if they stay damp. Not too bad for chickens but not good for you. Can cause lung problemsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-31420564721616882772017-03-10T16:45:57.897-05:002017-03-10T16:45:57.897-05:00Thanks so much -that gives me hope that carrying o...Thanks so much -that gives me hope that carrying on giving our girls the best life we can should mean they'll be with us for many years to come. They bring us such joy, thanks again for being such a great resource :-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-6888095148005512092017-03-09T10:49:00.346-05:002017-03-09T10:49:00.346-05:00A well cared for chicken can live more than 13 yea...A well cared for chicken can live more than 13 years. I have heard of someone recently losing an 18 year-old bird. <br />It is true that many chickens die early as a result of laying issues, disease and whatnot, but there are some hearty souls out there who just keep chooking along.<br />:-)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-55877798007968766952017-03-08T17:14:55.823-05:002017-03-08T17:14:55.823-05:00Thank you for all your tips and useful information...Thank you for all your tips and useful information. I've been keeping bantams for almost 5 years in the UK and wondered why my silkies didn't perch with the others. Glad to hear its a normal thing for them. A couple are over 5 years old and are not laying very often. To be honest I'm surprised they still do occasionally. Would you know what their expected life expectancy is please? Many friends think I might not have them for much longer but they seem so spritely and happy. Thanks again Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-3858453636231990582017-01-18T12:36:16.859-05:002017-01-18T12:36:16.859-05:00Much depends on the breed. If they are a cold weat...Much depends on the breed. If they are a cold weather breed like Cochins, they should be fine in the lower temperatures. If the breed originates in a warmer climate (like Serama) then you need to wait until it is warmer to let them sleep in the cold... but letting them out on sunny days is probably fine. <br /><br />That said, any sudden change in temperature paired with a sudden change in living arrangements can stress your birds out. It is best to let them get used to the cold a bit more gradually. Let them out on sunny days and bring them in if it will be colder than 40 F at night for now. Once they are used to their new outdoor living quarters, they should be fine sleeping there if it is over 40 F... and if they are a very feathery breed (like Cochins) they can start sleeping outside in just a few days after adjusting to their outdoor coop in the daytime.<br /><br />Tiny breeds like Serama - and especially Silkied Serama should have a heated room to sleep in. They originate from Malaysia and don't do well below 40 F because they are so tiny and don't hold body heat well. Silkie feathers also aren't great for the cold, but since Silkies tend to pile up at night, they can do fine in the cold once they have adjusted (provided they have other Silkies that will cuddle up with them for warmth). Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-38016595609307385702017-01-17T21:44:33.776-05:002017-01-17T21:44:33.776-05:00Hello, thank you for your post, I have 4 bantams t...Hello, thank you for your post, I have 4 bantams that will be 3 months old in two days. They are currently in my garage I am dying to get them outside but I am afraid that the Temps at night are still to cold for them? Some nights are mid 30's. What are your thoughts?? Thank you Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17506331733804839091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-76943814236239431632016-09-11T21:10:01.631-04:002016-09-11T21:10:01.631-04:00You need your bedding to be a couple inches thick ...You need your bedding to be a couple inches thick and add more as it breaks down. See our article on the tab at the top of the page entitled "Deep Litter method." This can be done with almost any bedding material. <br />:-)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-26878554200901786672016-09-10T11:33:09.406-04:002016-09-10T11:33:09.406-04:00Thanks for all the info on space per chicken, run ...Thanks for all the info on space per chicken, run per chicken, etc,etc. I find one important aspect of poultry farming missing and that is - Bed material. All my friends suggest rice hulls. How much rice hulls to be spread per bird in a 3 sq.ft of area.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02803127214573195902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-46632521742293037882016-05-27T10:49:36.201-04:002016-05-27T10:49:36.201-04:00Dear Anonymous -
The answer is "Blue."
;...Dear Anonymous -<br />The answer is "Blue."<br />;)<br />But I will also add that I don't mind helping folks which is the reason I started the blog. True - I wish folks would read the answers in the body of the blog before asking redundant questions, but if someone doesn't understand. I don't mind helping them out for the sake of their chickens.<br />:-)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-56287978330578720942016-05-27T00:26:27.631-04:002016-05-27T00:26:27.631-04:00Why do people ask questions that the article clear...Why do people ask questions that the article clearly answered? This was all about sq ft per bird, and then here comes "I have 4 birds how big of coop do I need". Or "I know you just wrote pages that mentioned 4sq ft per bird minimum, but I just shoehorned 80 birds into a 140sq ft area with no run and am having all of the worst problems you mentioned would happen. What am I doing wrong? I just dont understand." Seriously?? Is the math that hard people? She already was kind enough to give you imense detail on spacing needs for chickens. Did you read any of it or just say "F reading it, I'll just ask a question and make her retype the parta of the article that relate to me specifically because I'm that important in her life."<br /> And really, who asks "can I put my 5 week old Austrolorps in my shed now". Can you be any less specific? It was kind of like literaly asking "How much does it cost to ship a thing somewhere?" Answer: Some money. (For those of you who dont get this example, we would need to know weight size origin destination and prefered shipping speed).<br />There were a few good questions in this but the vast majority of you just wasted this poor womans time. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-45540176900737448922016-03-22T10:21:13.633-04:002016-03-22T10:21:13.633-04:00Heat lamps pose a fire risk when hung in a coop......Heat lamps pose a fire risk when hung in a coop... so I don't suggest it. Also - it depends where you live and what your overnight temperatures are. If it is not dropping below about 50F, you have at least 3 birds (that can cuddle up for warmth) and they are well feathered, they should be fine.Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-11156521789582494822016-03-10T12:10:31.488-05:002016-03-10T12:10:31.488-05:00Can I put my 5 week old astrolorps in my shed now ...Can I put my 5 week old astrolorps in my shed now with a heat lamp in a corner with hayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05516799391739593520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-35029092320314565102016-01-04T12:23:56.854-05:002016-01-04T12:23:56.854-05:00Wood is best for perches. Most folks use a 2"...Wood is best for perches. Most folks use a 2"x4" with the 4" side upwards. In places with cold temperatures, the wide perch helps insure that when a bird roosts, their entire foot will be covered with their warm feathers. Exposed parts of the feet can get frostbitten in freezing temperatures. I use natural branches for perches - but they are very wide pieces for this reason.<br /><br />Chickens (aside from Silkies - a breed that often doesn't perch at all) like higher perches. Anywhere from 3' to 5' works well for most adult birds. A small ramp or ladder to the perch will help younger and heavier birds get too and from the perch if necessary.<br />=)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-61369600670460108192016-01-04T10:15:35.642-05:002016-01-04T10:15:35.642-05:00 How far off the ground should nesting boxes be a... How far off the ground should nesting boxes be and how far off the ground should perch be can I use 1 inch round pipe for purch or should I use wood Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11727743802943920085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-84352697766239992802015-10-30T10:17:32.901-04:002015-10-30T10:17:32.901-04:00Thank you, will probably be a winter project.Thank you, will probably be a winter project.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675984738147645525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-59956792903925791542015-10-30T09:50:55.949-04:002015-10-30T09:50:55.949-04:00Usually birds prefer to spend much of their day ou...Usually birds prefer to spend much of their day outside... unless the weather is very wet and cold. The more run space you can provide them with, the better... but overall it does sound like you have a nice amount of space for them. Look at expanding that run when you can. <br />=)Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-43266754664875924992015-10-29T20:18:12.274-04:002015-10-29T20:18:12.274-04:00Quick question on space for chickens. When you say...Quick question on space for chickens. When you say 4' coop space and 10' run space per LF, should that total combine to 14' space per LF or does 10' include coop? My coop is 8 x 6 and run is 10 x 6. I currently have 6 LF and looking to add 6 more that will be 12 total LF. Will current run/coop accommodate or do I need to add another 10 x 6?, thanks in advance and really enjoyed the article. Grey.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07675984738147645525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-35028282403244450212015-04-20T17:26:42.664-04:002015-04-20T17:26:42.664-04:00Thanks for the info. My first flock of 4 girls are...Thanks for the info. My first flock of 4 girls are currently a month old and are getting rather noisy and stinky in their guinea pig cage in my den; it is time to get the coop finished! I plan to convert my kids' old drop-side crib into the coop (it is a minimal size - 10sf) and to build them a modest run (about 100sf). I have a few questions about details. Should the food and water be inside the coop or in the run? Will I regret building my crib->coop such that the only easy way to access the inside is to lift the cover and reach over the edge (like I was laying a baby down)? In this design, I would have a chicken door and an external door to the next box, but would not be able to easily reach the floor of the coop until I tipped the entire thing over a few times a year to clean.<br />Thanks for the input. I welcome any insights you might have.KSBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954704262346345508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-50206609684307441992015-04-20T17:25:52.633-04:002015-04-20T17:25:52.633-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.KSBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12954704262346345508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-57847628391651963202015-01-10T16:43:50.323-05:002015-01-10T16:43:50.323-05:00Anyone there?Anyone there?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-59655485853558081852015-01-08T17:19:25.512-05:002015-01-08T17:19:25.512-05:00Hi I am in the process of building a coop for my s...Hi I am in the process of building a coop for my soon to come chickens. I am hoping an 8x6 coop will be big enough for 12 chickens. 3 nest boxes. The run will be pretty big. Free range part of the day. What are your thoughts on the dlm. I am trying to decide what to do for the coop floor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-13601656872994197042014-06-14T22:20:49.090-04:002014-06-14T22:20:49.090-04:00Well - 10' x 3' would be one way to get to...Well - 10' x 3' would be one way to get to 30 square feet, but I'd think that 5' x 6' or something like that would probably look a bit less awkward... but it's your coop. If you did 5' x 6' it would be easy enough to have 2 perches measuring 5' long to provide each bird with 1' of perch space. Bulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-67505307086437847502014-06-14T16:40:49.477-04:002014-06-14T16:40:49.477-04:00That' seems awfully large...so for 10 bantams,...That' seems awfully large...so for 10 bantams, you'd need a coop 10 feet long and 3 feet wide? That would give them each a foot of perch space?...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-59975119093638002912014-03-05T10:21:53.140-05:002014-03-05T10:21:53.140-05:00Gale - The space under the roosts does count towar...Gale - The space under the roosts does count toward the total floor space. Your feeders and waterers shouldn't compromise your space too much - though you may do best to put them in the covered run if its possible. <br />It sounds like they will be some happy, well cared for birds!<br />LeighBulldogmahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773653470602929019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-934326041423690709.post-76964857702655399562014-03-04T22:40:59.008-05:002014-03-04T22:40:59.008-05:00I don't know what happened to my first attempt...I don't know what happened to my first attempt to email. I have 8 bantams now, and I'm designing a coop for when they grow up. The min. you have listed is 3 sq/ft per bird. does that include space that the roosts are over? and space taken by a wall feeder and waterer? Or, does it have to be 3 sq/ft clear of anything else. . . .? thank you. they will have a covered run outside, and when I'm working in the garden, they'll get to run some free. . . .Gale Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04654354368153953654noreply@blogger.com