Hi new to chickens need advice
| Sun, May 9 2010 11:30am BST 1 |
mabon19
4 Posts
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Hi I'm new to keeping chickens, so new I haven't got any hens
yet, still building their hotel.
So I could do with some advice on the number of large hens i can
keep in the space i have available please,
so far they have a shed five foot six by five foot six for theire
roost and nesting space and a scratching shed that will be five
foot six by therteen foot when its finished.
I can only find info for open runs not a scratching shed, and
that goes from ten square foot per hen to forty square foot per
hen !!! the latter would allow for one and a half hens.
I hope someone will have an ansewer, before i get carried away
with all the breeds i like and want to keep lol
( too much choice and limited space )
thank you
Paul
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| Thu, May 13 2010 04:47pm BST 2 |
archiesgems
30 Posts
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Hi Paul
I can only advise on what we allow for our birds, we give an area
of 5 sq feet per bird for the run and for the roost i give enough
room for the amount of birds per perch space so a five feet long
perch could comfortably roost 4 birds, and one nest box for three
birds. personally i wouldn't put more than 12 birds in a run of
that size as a maximum stock rate, (10 ideally)
Are the birds for egg laying, breeding or meat birds? I ask because
the size ratio would change, if its for breeding then we allow 6 ft
sq, as for growing on for meat birds I wouldn't know as have never
done it
I hope that this helps a little
Jay
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| Sun, May 16 2010 12:57am BST 3 |
mabon19
4 Posts
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Hi Jay
Thanks very much for the information it's the best ive had so
far,
there's not a lot of information on scratching sheds and numbers of
birds.
im hopping to have 4 birds to start with 1 of each a Copper Black
Marans--a Black Red Aracuna--
a Light Sussex-- and a Road Island Red. keeping them for there
looks and eggs,
keeping up to 10 is more then i hoped for I was thinking of 6 as a
max.
Can you please help with some advice on the space needed between
the wall and the roosting bar so there not rubbing there bums on
the wall and space between roosting bars as im now going to put two
5 footers in to cover me getting more birds in the future.
Thanks again for your help
Paul
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| Mon, May 17 2010 12:55am BST 4 |
archiesgems
30 Posts
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the space between the wall and the perch depends a lot on the
birds, there should be about 8 inches btween birds on the perch
(but they will sit so close they will all merge into each other!) I
usually place my perches 14 inces from the walls and 24 inches
between each perch, If you put your perches 6 to 8 inches higher
than your nest boxes you should get the birds roosting instead of
sleeping in the boxes (doesnt always work though)
Jay
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| Mon, May 17 2010 08:42pm BST 5 |
mabon19
4 Posts
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thank you for your information, it is very useful.
now I can plan the inside of the shed with more certainty and would
hope that I can pick your brains again in the future if I need
to!!
Paul
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