[gracie]

We were discussing this yesterday. I have read that Defra recommend this, mine will have more than this but there is someone down my lane that has the pyramid shaped house/run and has much less. So what is this recommendation meant to achieve. Not sure if I'm explaining myself properly, but hope you get the gist.

[joyfull]

the pyramid shaped arks are meant to be moved every day or so which will ensure they have fresh ground and grass available.

[hillfooter]

Actually this quite a good question because I've never actually seen this advice first hand and I thought it was the RSPCA not DEFRA but I could be wrong there.  I assumed that it was more aimed at room to range without crowding rather than fresh grass but I guess both are relevant.
HF

[Casey76]

When I looked up the regulations, the 1sqm actually referred to meat birds, the guidelines for laying hens  went from battery cages, to barn hens (9 per sqm  ) to free range (4msq each)

Having said that, if you actually look at 6 hens in a 6smq pen I think they still look crowded.  My chicken pen is about 140sqm in total, of which about 100sqm is in use.  I know from experience it look "busy" if i have 20 adult LF hens in it!

[Dominic]

Size is important, but quality is also very significant too.

I suppose its a little bit like saying you can either have ten ingrediants in your kitchen cupboard to last you all year, or you can have three, but you can change them every week.

As to what its meant to achieve.
I think its the legal definition for free range meat hens.
So if you want to call your meat hens free range, the inspector will make sure they have at least that amount of space each.

Its a fairly good amount to be supplemented by free ranging and a moved run every now and again.
If I was doing a mixed run, I double it, at least, and do something about entertainment.