free range cockerel moving to small space

[chickenfan]

Someone wants to buy one of my young Speckled Sussex bantam cockerels who has been used to a big run 10 x 8 metres. I've asked to see a photo of where he would live with two hens and it is not more than 1m x 2m. I presume he would be unhappy moving to a small space and that I need to turn the home down, but just thought I'd check what people think?

 

[rick]

Your absolutely right Chickenfan. It's too small for 2 hens already. I'm not sure if any reduction in relitive space can be made for bantams rather than large foul but I think probably not as it is mostly about their visual perception of space to help avoid bullying rather than just relitive sizes. The hens probably know each other very well so getting away with it.

 

[Marigold]

I totally agree with Rick. Three birds would need an absolute minimum of 6 sq. metres, more would be better. The smaller the run, the larger the space each bird would need, to make room for getting away if threatened, and also to accommodate equipment such as dustbath, feeder, drinker etc. I think the two hens she has already deserve much better than that tiny run, and introducing a young cockerel in such inadequate accommodation would be asking for trouble - no possibility of separating him at first. He may well be the one in need of protection!
How sensible of you to check where he was going.

 

[chickenfan]

Thank you Rick and Marigold for your helpful replies. I should have mentioned my beautiful speckled sussex is 18 months old, so even more difficult for him to adapt to a small space at this age. He is glorious, gentlemanly with the hens and non-aggressive should anyone else be interested!

 

[MrsBiscuit]

I just wanted to say you are a more caring breeder than many CF!

Your lad sounds quite a catch. I no longer have chooks but I used to keep sussex and jubilee orps which are pretty close to SS in colouring, and the nicest boys in the world were the sussex. I can just imagine a small flock of bantam SS!

 

[chrismahon]

In our experience bantams need almost as much space as large fowl, so maximum in a 4 square metre run it's two LF or 3 bantams. We have 5 bantams in 9 square metres and had to add an outer run for afternoons as they were getting stressed.

Can't understand why this person wants a cockerel Chickenfan? It's more feed and more noise.