Hi Guys
Well, we've measured out the available area for our permanent run today and it measures about 9 foot by 8 foot - 72 sq foot in total. (Sorry, I only work in old money and don't know how to convert this to the new fangled metric system)
The chap who's going to be selling us the chickies says that this is big enough for four hens but I'm not sure about that. The problem is that the chicks will be in the run for most of the day as we can only let them out into the rest of the garden when we're home from work and on weekends.
The run will be flagstones with woodshavings on them (for easy(ish) cleaning) and the house is built up on legs so that there's room underneath it for the chickies to shelter from the rain - there shouldn't be any wind there because it's in the lea of the garage and greenhouse.
The coop itself will be 4 foot by 4 foot with two nest boxes, two 4 foot perches and removable plastic trays on the floor (again for easyish cleaning) and the walls will be sealed with non toxic gloss paint (anti red mite hopefully) and a good thick coating of the diatom slurry that I've read so much about on here!
Is this going to be big enough for four hens?
I really don't want to make any birds we get unhappy because I can't give them enough room.
The chickens we've been looking at are hybrids - a bluebelle, a white star, a Warren and Black Rock - but we'll only get them when I'm quite happy with their accommodations.
Any advice gladly taken.