[little sweetpeas]

We have an average size garden which we are going to let our new hens free range in in the afternoons and weekends but whilst at work they will be in a run and i guess when the neighbours look after them.

The area of the garden we are going to site the run will give us an area of 9ft by 3ft and being just over 3ft high.  How many LF hens can we keep in this. Is it too small for 5.

The hens we are looking at getting are a mixture of amber lee, goldline and Bovans Nera. (think that's the correct spelling)

[kattcottrell]

Hi there,
In one of my books it say's that chickens kept in a run should have at least one square metre of space each. Hope this helps

Ps
I'm from Bristol also

[Foxy]

Hi I would say a bit on the tight side - as Kat says 1m sq absolute minimum which would mean (if my math is right!) your run would be suitable for 3 hens. Also some birds suit confinement better than others. Can you increase the size of the run? or reduce the number of birds?
Oh and I am near Bristol too!!!! (we are def catching up on the Northerners here!!!     )

[mumof4]

My run is slightly bigger than yours will be and I've got a couple of bantams and will be soon getting three pol LF hens but i have to say mine will be out for a few hours each day.

I've discussed the size of my run when talking to breeders and they have said that the hens will get used to being in the run but like others have said I would perhaps start with less.

My new Pol hens are also Amber star, and Bovans

[kattcottrell]

WOW!!! this thread is turning into the Bristol Chicken club   , now there's an idea

[poultrygeist]

I'm going to spoil all the fun by gatecrashing !

I'm Nowhere near Bristol.  

We have 6 amberlinks in a run approx 12'x12'ish x 5ft high and it can get crowded sometimes with the few logs and a ledge to get them off the mud.

You'd be surprised, once the rain and scratchign turn it into a quagmire they have nowhere to go. I'd stick with 2 or 3 or preferably make a bigger run.

Rob  

[kattcottrell]

Ooh thats true Rob, by the time you've put in all their bits and pieces, ie feeders, drinkers, logs and stuff then its surprising how much room it does take up.

[Foxy]

I'm going to spoil all the fun by gatecrashing !

I'm Nowhere near Bristol.  

We have 6 amberlinks in a run approx 12'x12'ish x 5ft high and it can get crowded sometimes with the few logs and a ledge to get them off the mud.

You'd be surprised, once the rain and scratchign turn it into a quagmire they have nowhere to go. I'd stick with 2 or 3 or preferably make a bigger run.

Rob  

Thats OK consider yourself an honorary member!!!!

[poultrygeist]

Thank you

I'll practice moi Brizzol aczent then, moi luvver !!

Rob

[peggyprice]

I used to live in Zummerzet, can I join :?:

I was told 1 square foot per hen in the hen house, 3 square feet per hen in the run.  And Rob's right, you need to allow room for extra mud.  Plus the fact that as you'll have realised round here, you're almost bound to end up with more hens than you start with      

I think it's like a greenhouse; however big you make it, it'll be too small the minute you start using it     I've had mine set up for nearly two months and I'm already thinking about how we can expand it  :roll:

[kattcottrell]

oi! is you lot taking the p%@& out of ar gert brissle accent?
     

[too many girls]

as if

[peggyprice]

oi! is you lot taking the p%@& out of ar gert brissle accent?
     

Neverrrr moi loverrrr  

[kattcottrell]

better be careful mind or Ime gonner set me gert chooks on to ya.

   

[poultrygeist]

 

Gotta love regional accents !!  

Luckily, cos I'm from London, I don't have an accent  :roll:  innit  

Rob