[leddenton]

I am planning on getting some new chickens and need confirmation on how many would be best. I had 3 hybrid girls but unfortunately they became ill at 3yrs old and I had to have them put down. i was always worried about them having enough space and let them out as often as possible but they trashed the garden! My hubby says when we get more they are not allowed out! They have a coop of 1mx0.75m which is inside a fenced area of 6m squared. Do you think 3 would be O.K or should I get just 2. I am thinking of getting black rocks or Plymouth rocks.Any advise much appreciated.

[ANHBUC]

I have 4 Black Rocks and 2 Bovan Goldline hens and they have 36 sq meters so would not like to say how many you could have.  I know that they are a lot happier the more space they have.  The Black Rocks are really playfull chasing each other a lot so they love lots of space.

[GrannieAnnie]

Well the DEFRA minimum is 1sq metre per bird of run space, but we try to get people to give them at least 2sq metres each, so that would be big enough for 3, 2 isn't good as they are flock birds and if you have 2 and one dies, then you have a lonely chicken until you get it a new friend!

[Pepperpincushion]

DO you mean you have 6 metres squared of space or 6 square metres? If you mean it is 6 x 6 (6 metres squeared) then that's 36 square metres which is a whole lot more!

[leddenton]

Oh not good at maths! It measures 4.5m length by 2m wide.Just been out and measured it

[andreadon]

that's 9 sqm.

3 should be fine, the reason Joy put - a just in case

[leddenton]

Thanks for advise. I feel better now I know the space is good for 3. Now to decide what girls to get!