By nature , wimp are mean to roam , graze and hunt . Their jungle domestic fowl root put across down the instinct , but human domestication of chickens over metre has remove some ( not all ) of their own protective power out in the wilderness . Some breeds are better Texas Ranger than others , and some smaller , meeker breeds actually favour to be button up in confinement . Confinement , on the other helping hand , can conjure range of inhumane 1 - straightforward - metrical unit cages , or C of broiler convey raised flank - to - wing in a “ cage - gratis ” barn .
In the backyard or on the hobby farm , there ’s a lot of room for a happy metier . For the health of the passel and for the wellness of the inwardness andeggsyou harvest from the flock , the amount of space you extend them to roam is one of wimp keeping ’s freehanded , most authoritative decisions .
Space Exploration
Inside a coop where hen lay testicle , repose and snuggle on the roost at night , large wimp ( versus small bantam ) need at least 4 square feet per bird . Many coop - building tutorial will give notice this amount of space in both the coop and run with minuscule cite of ranging or confinement livelihood . Unfortunately , the small 4 straightforward feet per chicken is a minimum idea , and it should be consider for short - term confinement use and daily nightlong protection only . This minimum coop space should be considered only for a flock that spends most of its day hours gratis ranging in the yard or with some other aegis at grazing land .
My 8 - by-4 - footA - frame mobile coophas enough square footage in the run ( minus the coop infinite above it ) to pass the minimum 4 straight pes per bird recommendation , but it ’s not enough room for my eight chicken for any longer than a short weekend aside — their behavior in confinement tells me so . We ’ve construct an additional 8 - by-4 - fundament run annex , which we bond it to the existing ladder to double their space for short weekends when we ca n’t let them to free - stove unsupervised .
Personal Bubbles
In labor , a flock should have enough space available to fulfil natural demeanour , get exercise and even spend time alone . reckon of additional space as being necessary for personal maintenance . When adding extra space for a farseeing and healthy life-time of confinement , number on this extra place being way for gaming .
Inside a coop , hens will often divvy up a favoritenest boxor two , so extra space inside the chicken coop will often go unused , specially in the summer . In the winter , spare blank holds more cold air that chickens have to sate with torso heat , so do n’t waste space ; just 4 solid foot per bird is a fine estimate for indoor coop blank . However , remote go space should expand to a full 10 hearty human foot per dame , another minimal recommendation . Even better would be doubling the run orbit to 20 square feet per bird , construct the run acme to 6 foundation tall , and install roosts the chickens can aviate to . The finish in restriction should be to mime tangible out-of-door keep .
For comparing , full - time confinement in my A - frame nomadic hencoop would require a slew no orotund than three full - sized chicken , but because my coop has no vertical space , it ’s inappropriate for goodly , full - sentence confinement .
Leave Room For Chicken Math 101
Inevitably , most of us become obsessed with our chicken , so three chickens turns into five wimp turns into 12 chickens , and so on . This is anticipate volaille math — the unintentional multiplying of a flock size . Do n’t risk overcrowding in your coop . Build more space now and your future chickens will thank you with happy life and healthy eggs .
