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loubielou
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
Location: North Devon
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 Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 5:07 pm Post subject: Size of Run? |
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If you are not able to free range your hens all day every day, what size run would you keep them in? I mean, how much area per hen? I would be interested to hear what the recommended area is aswell as experienced poultry keepers ideas!  Also, would you definitely go for a covered run, or open? Ours would be kept in one place, on part concrete, part hard earth.
Thanks
Lou |
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Kitsune
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 1168
Location: Manchester
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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the industry standards for outdoor space for free range hens are 4m sq per hen - soil association organic standards are 10m sq per hen.
It's less for meat birds, as they are smaller and don't spend as much time in the system as laying hens do - 1m sq for free range, 4m sq for organic. |
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loubielou
Joined: 18 Apr 2008
Posts: 25
Location: North Devon
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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Oh gosh, thats a big run then, 8sq meters for 2 hens! I'll need one 4m x 2m, how do people do this in small gardens? I was looking at buying a Forsham Boughton 902a, which has 2.34 sq m of run, does everyone think this is too small then if they are to be in the run for all but a couple of hours a day? How come they say it can accomodate 7 hens? I'm confused...  |
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Kitsune
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 1168
Location: Manchester
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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you'll probably find the coop can comfortably keep 7 hens, runs are always too small in my opinion.
Free range laws are not vital for you to abide by legally - unless you're selling eggs as 'free range' but for the welfare of the hens I'd suggest as large a run area as you can manage in the area you've got. |
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Woodburner
Joined: 26 Jul 2007
Posts: 617
Location: Deepest Essex, well, a village...
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| Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Battery hens and barn broilers have something like the area of an A4 sheet of paper  It doesn't kill them but it's obviously not nice. The more space they have the happier they will be. It's not just a matter of area though, one of the shrubs in my border has deep leaf litter, and they absolutely love scratching around there, they'd stay there all day if I let them!
As for how many I'd keep in a given, permanent area, I don't really know. Even when I confine them, it's always on fresh grass, moving when the grass gets thin or too mucky. |
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