How much space do bantams need!??

[romea]

You are dealing with living animals, each with its own personality. We manage them differently and have different climates. General guidelines are just that, general. For many people they work great, for some they do not give enough room.

What is the purpose of the coop? Is it for them to lay eggs? A predator safe area to sleep? How much daylight time will they be stuck in there, either waiting for you to open the pop door or stuck in there because of snow or other weather? Will you use it for integration or for a broody hen to raise chicks? You mention 6 to 10. To me that is a minimum of 10 unless you are going to commit to fewer. Do you want a walk-in coop or will you be happy with a reach-in coop?

Most common building materials come in 4' or 8' sections. The most effective way to build a coop with minimal cutting and waste is to use those dimensions. A 6' dimension is not horrible, you can usually use the cut-offs to build nests or something else. If it is a walk-in I'd want that extra width for my comfort.

A 5' x 7' coop might work but a 6' x 8' will give you extra room, be easier to build, and probably not as much cut-off and waste if you are careful with your design. A 4' x 8' might work for a reach-in but if they are going to be stuck in there for days on end during your winter that might get really tight. If a predator starts picking them off one at a time you might want to lock them up until you can deal with that predator.

I find that the tighter I pack them the harder I have to work, the more behavioral problems I have, and the less flexibility I have to deal with issues. I also know that building bigger can be more expensive. I try to find a good balance.

Good luck!

How many bantams with a docile, sociable nature, considered to have pet qualities and registering at mid-level on the energy-scale do you think would be happy in a 7' x 7' environment that also provides 'enrichments'?
Btw: good suggestion to consider sizes of building materials. First time I am seeing that mentioned.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not many, but them I don't keep bantams. My goals are totally different from yours. I don't have experience keeping any chickens in that small of a space other than young chicks, totally different experiences. I don't think in terms of how many can I shoehorn in a certain space before they start to eat each other. I assume that 7x7 includes both coop and run, their entire environment.

A mature bantam should weight between 1 and 3 pounds, depending on breed. I'd suggest you take whatever ruler of thumb for square feet you want to use for bantams and then half the number of birds you come up with. I don't have a feel for what that number should be for combined coop/run. Just for talking purposes suppose the combined coop/run square footage is 5 per bantam. A 7x7 gives you 49 square feet so that divided by 5 gives you 10 birds. I'd put half of that (5) in there but others will tell you that you could have 10. I really do not like to crowd them.

 

[romea]

I don't think in terms of how many can I shoehorn in a certain space before they start to eat each other.

*chuckle* Well, my question is more: how many can I shoehorn into 49 square feet while still providing them with a flock experience - where 3-4 birds would probably lack that sense of safety but 5-6 would.

And yes, "that 7x7 includes both coop and run, their entire environment" - during inclement weather days - of which we sadly have a few. The rest will be spent with access to a fenced in area of about 700+ square feet of unmowed lawn (+ a small shelter).

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know what you mean by "inclement weather days". Imagine this - a feral flock with no human interaction. Would your inclement weather days risk their survival? They survived for thousands of years on their own before they were domesticated. Dad had a flock that contained some of the "modern" breeds we still keep that slept in a henhouse but basically took care of themselves during the day. Sone slept in trees. They might be a little tougher than you think.

High winds, extreme temperatures, and such could be a problem. But I let mine choose if they want to go out or not. For the first couple of days after a snow they are not going out, but by the third day many are out walking around. A strong cold wind keep them in, but then they might find shelter outside behind a wind break. A heavy rain can keep them in but a mild rain means they are out looking for worms that the rain is bringing up out of the ground. I don't know how big of an issue your increment weather really is. If you are uncomfortable with them out in it then don't put them out. But I give mine the option.

If they do not have access to that 700 square feet when they need it then is might as well not exist. It is a nice to have, they should really enjoy it. But it does not count toward needed space.

In my opinion they are not going to have any greater sense of safety in a flock of 5 or 6 than they would in a flock of 3 or 4. If you want the extra chickens then get them. Your facility should be able to handle 5 or 6. But that is because you want them, not that the others need them.

 

[romea]

Your facility should be able to handle 5 or 6. But that is because you want them, not that the others need them.

Good point.
Inclement weather days mean something different for creatures who are further removed from a feral flock such as, for instance, booted bantams (who lack agility) or Silkies with a head of fluff (through which they cannot spot predators or easily make out distances).
But I will certainly let them choose - on most days.

With regards to chickens not stepping out on snow, my explanation is that they have to learn each year anew what this sudden change in landscape colour and surface texture means. Memory in chickens has been clocked to last about 6 weeks. (Which explains why removed flock mates, who have been kept out of sight for reasons such as illness, are not recognized and, thus, treated as newcomers.)

I understand what you mean with “tough" but I have a very different perception of birds and find them to be some of the most delicate and vulnerable creatures. Also, a lot of things can be hidden under feathers - and nothing quite conceals wrinkles like fur. But I digress…

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you've never had bantams before, they are surprisingly active. Much more so than the large fowl I had before. So I personally would give them just as much space in the run as you would for a full-sized chicken. 7x7 doesn't give you much room for enrichment items, especially since food, water, and walking paths eat up some of it. I'd find a way to extend into that 700 sqft area for all weather.

Also, your cat is adorable!

 

[romea]

If you've never had bantams before, they are surprisingly active. Much more so than the large fowl I had before. So I personally would give them just as much space in the run as you would for a full-sized chicken. 7x7 doesn't give you much room for enrichment items, especially since food, water, and walking paths eat up some of it. I'd find a way to extend into that 700 sqft area for all weather.

Also, your cat is adorable!

I need to clarify that, unfortunately, this is not my cat - but I do have wrinkles... and cats. The picture simply served to illustrate the wrinkle/fur part...