How much space do chickens need?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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Hi,
I want to get chickens for the school I work at. Space is unfortunately rather limited. Currently I've managed to find a space around 10.3 by 4 meters. This area would need to include their coop & fixed run. (I'm planning on either buying or building one, preferably one which requires them to go up to roost.)

It is currently lawn (tho I know it wont last long.) After that I have planning on making their diet a bit more interesting by growing various fast , growing shoots for them and putting in a little log pile (and perhaps mini compost bin) to provide them with bugs.
The rest of their diet will be chicken food mix, and a small amount of scraps.

Based on the size (10.3 x 4 m) how many chickens could I happily house?

Thank you
Laura
 
Hello

If I had a patch that size, I'd working on around one bird per four square metres, so about 10 would fit okay.
I read somewhere that in order to have free range status then farmers should have no more than 2,500 hens per hectare which works out at one per four square metres - so I'm told anyway!
I'd build the coop higher up if possible so they've got somewhere to shelter under, maybe build another shelter and plant a few shrubs and trees to give them some cover and clip back the lower branches so they can wander underneath so you're still making the most of your land. I'd also let the grass grow a bit before getting them. No doubt it'll end up looking fairly bare in there but a bit more grass will keep them busy and slow them down a bit.

Just found where I got the info from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-range_eggs

Four square metres is an EU requirement!

What breeds are you planning on getting?

Regards

Osric
 
Laura,
How exciting.
I was thinking of approaching my local school and asking if they would let me keep some large fowl on their grounds as hubby only lets me have Pekins here and I would love more eggs.
Now I've read your question, I think I definitely will. Hubby's a governor there and says it wouldn't get approval, but at least i could try and it waould be great for the kids to help look after them.
Fingers crossed.
 
Lots of schools now have chickens, main issue is what to do with them in the holidays!

I was orignially thinking silkies - but I've been warned that they aren't ideal, as they get broody very quickly.

Which is making me think battery hens (ethical, help teach the kids the effect the demand for cheap food has etc.)

Originally I had considered incubating eggs, so we could have a webcam on the chicks hatching etc, but it leads to the problem of what to do with the boys... 'dispatching' them wouldn't be popular with the kids or staff, but I don't see any other option.

So I'm still not sure whether to get a fancy breed or exbattery..... I'm beginning to think I may put it to a vote with the kids!
 
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