Enclosure size for bantams

[Katalyst]

Hi guys,
After about 9 years sans chickens, I've just thrown myself back into it with gusto.
I've got a space in the garden to erect a 20 ft long, 6 ft high and 4ft wide enclosure. 6 feet of the 20 foot lent will only be 3 ft wide.
The laying/roosting box will be raised 2 feet off the ground to avoid losing run space.
Adequate enrichment and perching opportunities will be provided.
How many sebright/dutch/sablepoot sized bantams could comfortably and ethically be housed in this enclosure bearing in mind that they'll only have limited free range time in the evenings?

Many thanks for taking the time to help.

Kat

 

[dinosaw]

Hi Kat and welcome to the forum.

Even though they are only small birds I wouldn't go above 4 if you want them to have the best quality of life.

 

[Marigold]

If my maths is correct you will have 65 sq ft of run space, about 7 sq yards or maybe 6 sq. metres. We recommend a minimum of 2 sq metres per bird, so taking their size into account I think Dinosaw is about right.

 

[chrismahon]

We have a quartet of English Leghorn bantams (cock +3 hens) in 8 square metres and they would certainly like more Katalyst. Half is covered and the coop is outside the enclosure. They have a 2 metre perch in there as well. Breed wise the Dutch bantam is very similar.

 

[Katalyst]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

 

[chrismahon]

One thing that occurred to me Katalyst- some bantam breeds are very flighty. Putting the coop inside the run gives them somewhere to launch from to fly over the fencing. Our bantams have netting over the run to keep them in- particularly a problem when the grass dies off and they can see fresh grass outside. We actually use scaffolding debris netting, which is also sold at garden centres as windbreaks. The advantage is there are no holes to get tangled in if they do decide to fly. We have to remove it when snow is forecast, otherwise the weight would pull it down.

 

[Marigold]

I would think it will be worth while to make a proper top to the run, for security from predators esp. foxes. Either weldmesh, same as the sides, or preferably a solid roof with a gutter that will keep the run dry as well, such as corrugated plastic. Small runs get very wet and muddy in winter if not covered, and if you want any sort of booted or 'fancy' bantams, this is a real problem as well as being uncomfortable for the keeper as well as the birds.