[anitaws]

Hi All

does having an oversized chicken house to the number of birds you intend to start with cause any problems.  Say 3 to 5 Orpingtons in a 12 bird house?

I would love to know your thoughts about this. 

No hens as yet but Orpingtons soon to arrive!

[poultrygeist]

No probs that I'm aware of. They'll huddle up on the perch and squeeze into the same next box.

Enjoy them once they arrive.

Rob

[poultrygeist]

Hello and welcome btw.

How rude of me 

Rob

[Vember]

Hi anitaws

Welcome to the Hen House

When I first started out I only had 2 in a 4x6 shed and they were fine, so I can't see you'll have any problems
My two got a bit miffed when the flock increased and they had to share their space


Sarah

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Anita, and welcome to the madhouse, sorry I mean hen house!!!!     The only possible problem I would see is if it was deepest winter, and the house didn't have enough little bodies in it to keep the warmth in.  But spring is coming, and you are being sensible in having room for the extra chickens you'll have to get once you discover how lovely they are!!!!    

[andreadon]

The main problem is that it'll make you want more chickens to fill it!

If you're worried, though, you could always put upa secondary wall in the middle - it wouldn't have to be too strong, just a piece of plywood with batons top and bottom would suffice.  Push it into the middle and hey-presto! instant stud wall partitioning!

[anitaws]

Thanks every so for your replies.  The stud wall thing might be a good idea.

My maximum run size is the restriction on more birds.  At 5 foot by 8 do you think there is sufficent room for 5 large Orpingtons or should I stick with 3?

An after thought.  As I'm still at the planning stage what do you think about Bantam Orpingtons in the same area.  I've not been able to find as much information about them and wonder what size eggs they lay and if they are simular in character to the larger Orpingtons?

[Foxy]

Hi Anitaws,

Well orpingtons are very large and a lot of henhouses are  based on medium birds. One of my breeding houses is 3X4 foot,which should be OK technically for 12 birds as a  standard requirement of space per bird is 1sq foot. Saying that though I only have six large faverolles  in that shed and thats about  the right size for them.

Bantam buff orpingtons are lovely birds, very sweet natures and easy to look after, The eggs are a smallish medium.

[andreadon]

The run size 5ft x 8ft is 3.79 metres square.
The minimum run size for one bird is 1metre square, so your area is fine for 3 birds.

But, if you're effectively making the sleeping area smaller, then the run area is bigger (they can wander in and out during the day for shelter etc), so you might be okay with 4 in that space.
Especially if you are able to give them an extra layer to play on (say a table in the run with a ramp to walk up to it) - it does depend how high your run's roof is!

[poultrygeist]

I would just put a caveat on that and say that teh 1 metre sq is a minimum and, unless they will have access to some extra area, they will soon find the space cramped.
I would stick to 3 personally with the climbing bits too.

Rob

[andreadon]

yeah, i think you're right.

[Rhode Runner]

It all depends really on some other considerations. Are the birds going to be allowed to free range for part of the day? If so the area required in a coop and run can be considerably reduced. If you get bantams egg size will be considerably reduced, but on the bright side you can keep more in the same area. Feed bills will be less too.
Details of Orpingtons are:-
Large Fowl

ORIGIN  England 
SIZE EGG  53 gr 
EGGS/YEAR  110 
EGGCOLOURS  yellow 
SIZE MALE  4000 gr  SIZE FEMALE  3500 gr 
RING MALE/FEMALE  22 mm /20 mm 
FLYING  0,5 m 
COMB  single
BEARD  no   
CRESTED  no 
FEATHERED LEGS  no
TOES  4
CHARACTERISTICS  many feathers   
COLOURS  black, laced blue, buff, white, porcelaine, white spangled black, barred, red, buff laced black, partridge   
TEMPERAMENT  tame
 BREEDING  yes 
PRODUCTION  fancy 

Orpington bantam
ORIGIN  Germany 
SIZE EGG  40 gr 
EGGS/YEAR  170 
EGGCOLOURS  yellow   
SIZE MALE  1250 gr   
SIZE FEMALE  1000 gr 
RING MALE/FEMALE  15 mm /13 mm 
FLYING  0,5 m 
COMB  single
BEARD  no   
CRESTED  no
FEATHERED LEGS  no
TOES  4 
COLOURS  black, laced blue, buff, white, porcelaine, barred, red, buff black laced, birchen 
TEMPERAMENT  tame
CHARACTERISTICS Lots of feathers
BREEDING  yes 
PRODUCTION  fancy 

HTH

Allan

[Steevie]

I've just bought my chicken house, but it looks a bit on the small side to me, and it is supposed to house 4 chickens. The one thing that I'm confused about is the fact that it only has two laying compartments, do the birds take it in turns or do they squeeze in together? I'm collecting the birds tomorrow(Sat 21st) so any info would be appreciated, thanks.

[poultrygeist]

Hi steevie.

How big is your house (internal space) ?

The nest boxes are usually reckoned about 1 per 3 birds but the chickens themselves try for about 10 per box 

Rob

[GrannieAnnie]

Actually, I was reading through some DEFRA stuff last night, looking for feather pecking info, and on one document, it stated 1 nest box to 7 birds is fine!  Not all at once hopefully!