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Now I'm really confused. Is 4 square feet per bird basically 2 ft by 2ft or is it 4 feet squared (i.e. 16 ft) per bird? Our new run is 11ft x 5 ft now that it's finished, so I can either fit 3 and a bit hens in it or 13! Bit of a difference, and our 4 hens are arriving hopefully this weekend, so I hope it's big enough. I was working on a metre squared and thinking I could fit that many in. They will be allowed out into the garden when we're at home, and they've got 8 ft of perch space and a 5ft x 3 ft coop, so hope that's plenty. Can anyone help?

I think im right here but its done like this 2 feet square is about 13 inch square and not like 1feet by 1feet by 1feet by 1foot as that would be 4 square feet

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Now I'm even more confused, Dave! So how many could fit in an 11 x 5 ft run? Sorry to make you do maths on a Friday!

Maths isnt me strong point but id say it adds upto 11 hens I think

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http://davefromthechipie.blogspot.com

Thanks for that! I'll feel better when I see the 4 hens in it. Just possibly thinking ahead for that future, when one or two of them have stopped laying or we just get a couple of younger birds.

Ooh heck, I didn't mean to confuse you - sorry

In an 11 x 5 run you could in theory fit 13.75 birds (don't forget the .75)

The 4 sq ft is a minimum for each bird though.

Think I'll keep quiet now in case I do any more damage

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Save the earth - it's the only planet with chocolate

Thanks Chris. For some reason I kept doubting the 13.75 birds and thinking 3.5ish (don't forget the 'ish'). Was imagining enormous hens, size of dinosaurs... Having said that, won't ever have 13 birds, but nice to know that I can have another 2 or 3 if necessary!