The Poultry Keeper The Independent Forum for Poultry Keepers    FAQ   Search     Register   Log in  Checking house and run size Goto page 1, 2  Next          The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing Author Message marmite66 Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:55 pm    Post subject: Checking house and run size I have a point of lay Maran and have just aquired 2 ex-battery hens. Is it right they should have 1.5 sq foot each in the house and 8 sq foot in the run. Thanks Marmite...love or hate me! Back to top Knobby Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 6707 Location: North Warwickshire Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:04 pm    Post subject: Cant help you on the size outide issue, but as long as theyve got enough room to walk about and flap their wings, theyll be fine ! As for inside.....as long as they can get in, eat, and get up to perch theyll be ok too.......they all tend to cuddle up at bedtime.......they dont all make sure theyve got the correct amount of space ! Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 2:07 pm    Post subject: Hiya Around 1' sq should be fine for the house, the more room you can give them outside the better, not sure on recommend minimums though By the way, hate the stuff, it should be banned from the planet ! Back to top jooles Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 668 Location: Bedfordshire, but craving to live in Cornwall Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 3:57 pm    Post subject: mmmm... marmite ...yum! Back to top mojo Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 10986 Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:16 pm    Post subject: hi hi marmite work out the averages sizes required then double or treble it ..why?....cause in six months you will be addicted like all of us and filled all the space with birds........mojo Back to top summayah Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2005 11:45 pm    Post subject: I completely agree with mojo ~ once you start you just can't stop getting more ..............and more...............and more Back to top marmite66 Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 7 Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:19 am    Post subject: Thanks for that. Yes I realise I am on slippery slope. The kids want chicks..... and I think my original coop will be an ideal brood house. Ahh shucks I'm hooked!!!!!... but happy Back to top chicken_house_man Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Brynmawr Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 6:48 pm    Post subject: reading the defra site the other day for a free range bird you needed 4m sqr/bird of outside area. If they are kept indoor then it's either 9or 12 birds/sqr metre. If they free range then there doesn't seem to be a spec for the house size only the amount of perch space - 15cm/bird at 30cm centres. this is obviuoly the minimum specs Back to top chrislee765 Joined: 09 Oct 2005 Posts: 47 Location: Hayling Island Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:33 pm    Post subject: knobby wrote: Cant help you on the size outide issue, but as long as theyve got enough room to walk about and flap their wings, theyll be fine ! As for inside.....as long as they can get in, eat, and get up to perch theyll be ok too.......they all tend to cuddle up at bedtime.......they dont all make sure theyve got the correct amount of space ! eat? I dont give my chooks anything in their coop overnight, food nor water! Am i starving/dehydrating them???! Back to top George Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 7:37 pm    Post subject: chrislee765 wrote: I don't give my chooks anything in their coop overnight, food nor water! Am I starving/dehydrating them???! LOL of course not, they're probably sleeping, so long as they have access to food / water during the day, they don't need it in the house Back to top poultry poofs Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 1808 Location: Wensleydale,North Yorkshire. Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:37 pm    Post subject: chicken_house_man wrote: reading the defra site the other day for a free range bird you needed 4m sqr/bird of outside area. If they are kept indoor then it's either 9or 12 birds/sqr metre. If they free range then there doesn't seem to be a spec for the house size only the amount of perch space - 15cm/bird at 30cm centres. this is obviuosly the minimum specs Quite right maximum free range stocking density is 2500 birds per hectare or 4 sqr metres per bird.usable area Stocking density must not exceed 9 hens per sqr metre. there are also minimum requirements for feeders and drinker space per bird and its all down to animal welfare directive from EU and nothing to do with whether you have chickens for hobby or commercial reasons, everyone is required to adopt minimum animal welfare regulations.Its up to local authorities if they choose to inspect every hobbiest or to enforce the regs though Just as an example one of our houses is 8ft x 6 ft -garden shed size -and we would be allowed to house 39 birds in it as a maximum and providing we have the correct amount of perch space feeder and drinker space and the pop hole is the correct size 40 cm wide x35cm high. One nest box per 7 hens 45cm high by 30cm wide perches should not be above the usable litter area so droppings boards are needed to prevent the droppings falling on birds below.Nest Box area is not to be counted as usable area for movement for stocking density rules. Commercial arrangements are required to have 10cm per bird of linear feeder space or 4cm per bird for circular feeders. For drinkers its 2.5cm per bird of linear drinker or 1cm per hen of circular drinker. Or one cup or nipple drinker per 10 hens. Most of the regulations apply to commercial set ups of more lthan 350 hens unless you a supplying eggs to the retail trade to which you can only supply grade A eggs and must be registered and comply with all the regulations regardless of the number of birds. In reality the densities in the regs are much higher than most people would apply to their hens and its a lot down to common sense. Hope the info is of help to someone rich Back to top summayah Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2005 10:40 pm    Post subject: hello rich, what does....4 sqr metres per bird.usable area Stocking density must not exceed 9 hens per sqr metre....... mean exactly. It seems to be contradicting itself, but I know its just me not understanding. Can anyone clear it up for me ~ or is the first size for outside run and the second for in the house? Am I close??? Back to top chicken_house_man Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 129 Location: Brynmawr Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 4:56 pm    Post subject: 4 squ meter/bird is the defra spec for free range, I read 9/meter as houseing for barn birds although this is also the spec most people use for thee free range houses Back to top summayah Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:24 am    Post subject: thanks, I was close then. Back to top mojo Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 10986 Location: GLENAY north deux sevre FRANCE Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 2:34 pm    Post subject: my easy aide memoire.........1.5 sq feet inside 1.5 sq metres in run .........and as much space as poss free range.........minimum.mojo Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First         The Poultry Keeper Forum Index -> Feeding and Housing All times are GMT + 1 Hour Goto page 1, 2  Next Page 1 of 2 Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2005 phpBB Group