Help! Confused of Devon!

Hi All

After long deliberation we have decided to get 3 chickens for the back garden, and I am going to build my own run and house. Because we are at work they will need to be confined to the 1.5 X 4m run during the day, which after searching the internet and asking questions seems reasonable. The problem I've got is I can't find any dimensions for the housing. I intend to construct a 1x1m box with 3 nest boxes of approx 30cm square, is this too much or not enough? This will not encroach on the outside run at all, in fact it will allow another 50cm tall space underneath. Does this sound right? Am I getting it right? I really do not want unhappy birds!!!!

So do you think this is enough space? Got myself in a right pickle!!

That should be more than enough. You could fit more hens if u needed to.

I would make the run as large as you possibly can, the more space they have the happier they will be.   

I would personally only have a maximum of 3 large fowl birds or 5 bantams in a 6m sq run.

You might be best trying to find a breed that does not mind being enclosed most of the time.  Some breeds prefer to free range and can be really vocal when confined.

Will it be a movable run or static?  If movable then loads of space if static then allow 2sq m per bird as they quickly muck a small area up.  You could use wood chips or sand as a run base as you will find that grass turns to soil/mud within an week.  I have found straw to be a good base as well.  Make sure the run is covered as a dry run smells a lot less.  Get some Stalosen F in for disinfecting the area.  The sleeping area will be fine foe 3 medium sized hens but 2 nest boxes is plenty.