How many Chickens

[kittykat8]

I am thinking of getting chcikens on my allotment I was think of about 4 to 6 being msde up of 3 ordinary point of lay chickens (brown type)and 3 others a bit more fancy or differnt colours or a 2 to 2 split, I live a 5 minute walk from the allotments and they will be locked up a night and let out in the morning. What size pen is needed I am think of having a 6 by 4 shed or something simular and a pen is goning to be donated the pen is a bout 6 ft high abut can't remember the length.

What type of chicken do people have these will be pets and will be kept until they die and have names etc

marion

[Bramble-Poultry]

6x4 shed is perfectly adequate for that number of birds and also allows for the inevitable expansion As for the run area, it goes without saying the more room you can give them the better but the space for them is limited by space availability, just enrich their environment with hanging greens, perhaps a bale of straw or apple crate to jump upon etc, to keep them occupied and you will have happy chooks, and remember to add perching in the shed.

Keeping chickens on an allotment is fine - loads on here do it and would be better placed to advise - but i assume teh biggest risk is actually 2 legged pests - vandals and the like!

Also you will need a good stroe for feed, metal bin or similar - perhaps you can put a false mesh wall in the shed making it 4ftx4ft for teh birds and 2ft storage for you