Confusion with square footage per silkie

[NancyD84]

Ok, so I have my first flock of chickens. I was supposed to get only 5 silkies. But they were so cute I ended up bringing home 8. I bought a henhouse that is 3ft by 3ft, not including the run. How many silkies chicks can sleep in that house? I'm confused on square feet for each chicken because it would seem they need a huge house? Or is the square footage for each chicken including the run? So my question is how big the actual house where they sleep has to be? Not including run because I will give them enough roaming space. I just want to know the sleeping quarter size of house they need. Thank you in advance for the help!

 

[The Phantom]

I have 18 hens in my 4x4 coop. But they free range

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

I have 18 hens in my 4x4 coop. But they free range

Do not do this! That is less than 1 sq ft per bird! In Wisconsin which has very cold winters! It doesn’t matter if they free range or not.

A chicken needs 4 sq ft of space in a coop, your coop will need to be at LEAST 6x5 in the run you need 10 sq ft per bird minimum, so at least 8x10

 

[The Phantom]

Do not do this! That is less than 1 sq ft per bird! In Wisconsin which has very cold winters! It doesn’t matter if they free range or not.

A chicken needs 4 sq ft of space in a coop, your coop will need to be at LEAST 6x5 in the run you need 10 sq ft per bird minimum, so at least 8x10

I have had them in the coop for 4 years. Half of my flock is bantams. When it gets really cold it stays nice and warm in there. The run is 16x24 but that is just where I keep their food and water. Otherwise they have 25 acres to run around on.

 

[wamtazlady]

I have 18 hens in my 4x4 coop. But they free range

Do they free range during the winter also?

 

[debid]

Ok, so I have my first flock of chickens. I was supposed to get only 5 silkies. But they were so cute I ended up bringing home 8. I bought a henhouse that is 3ft by 3ft, not including the run. How many silkies chicks can sleep in that house? I'm confused on square feet for each chicken because it would seem they need a huge house? Or is the square footage for each chicken including the run? So my question is how big the actual house where they sleep has to be? Not including run because I will give them enough roaming space. I just want to know the sleeping quarter size of house they need. Thank you in advance for the help!

Silkies are normally sold straight run so you're likely to have 3-5 males in the mix. As long as you're OK with re-homing them, I think you'll be OK with the little coop for the remaining pullets. The biggest issue with one that size is that there is only one roost of whatever the internal width ended up (you'd have to measure). If it's 30-32" as I'd guess, they'll be packed before they reach full size.

When you have them wanting to hatch chicks (as Silkies are known to do), you should get a big coop and use the small one for chicks.

 

[wamtazlady]

The rule of thumb is to have 4 square feet per chicken. Silkies are smaller so you could do a bit smaller and still keep the birds happy.

However, a lot depends on your weather. Can the birds be outside during all seasons? Do you have a run? Is the run covered? If you keep food and water in the coop those items take up valuable space. Is your nesting box inside the coop or the kind that hangs off a side? An inside nesting box also takes up valuable space.

Birds that are crowded together tend to have behavior issues. They will feather pluck themselves and other chickens. They will fight a lot.

Now to answer your question. i would say that 3 silkies can comfortably live in that 3 x 3 coop. That is also assuming that food, water, and nesting boxes are not taking up space. If those items are taking up space then that coop might hold 2 silkies. It is also assuming that the birds have a covered area where they can be outside during the day.

 

[Sequel]

The rule of thumb is to have 4 square feet per chicken. Silkies are smaller so you could do a bit smaller and still keep the birds happy.

However, a lot depends on your weather. Can the birds be outside during all seasons? Do you have a run? Is the run covered? If you keep food and water in the coop those items take up valuable space. Is your nesting box inside the coop or the kind that hangs off a side? An inside nesting box also takes up valuable space.

Birds that are crowded together tend to have behavior issues. They will feather pluck themselves and other chickens. They will fight a lot.

Now to answer your question. i would say that 3 silkies can comfortably live in that 3 x 3 coop. That is also assuming that food, water, and nesting boxes are not taking up space. If those items are taking up space then that coop might hold 2 silkies. It is also assuming that the birds have a covered area where they can be outside during the day.

X2! I don't have silkies but I heard they are not rain tolerant. So they will need covered shelter during winter and/or stormy rainy weather.

 

[JDN]

Do not do this! That is less than 1 sq ft per bird! In Wisconsin which has very cold winters! It doesn’t matter if they free range or not.

A chicken needs 4 sq ft of space in a coop, your coop will need to be at LEAST 6x5 in the run you need 10 sq ft per bird minimum, so at least 8x10

Have you ever seen them on the roost?

Of course it matters if they free range. The "4 Square feet a Chicken" dogma that's constantly regurgitated here is designed for people that intend to confine their chickens to the coop for periods of time. If all they use it for is a roost bar they don't need near as much space.

 

[NancyD84]

Ok so they do mean 4square feet per chicken in the hen house? Or do you mean with run? Because 2 silkies in a 3ft by 3ft henhouse seems like lots of room. It will be to Roost. They're run is a going to be a walk in 7ftx14ft. And unfortunately I am also going to rehome the males because I can't keep any in my location. The thought of that makes me so sad because I already love them all. I do have a friend that can keep roosters so I will visit them and get updates when I can. My henhouse is 3x3feet the nest are extra on the side of that. I won't keep water in there unless I make a nice PVC pipe/watering cup one. I will cover their run with tarps for rain if that helps? So maybe till I know if they're hen or roo's, that coop will be OK till I get materials to build them a bigger house? They always sleep so close together in a little silkie pile