SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/chick-run-space

What is the minimum outdoor run space per hen?

Plan at least 8 to 10 square feet per bird in the outdoor run.

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  1. About 40 square feet
  2. About 8 to 10 square feet ✔
  3. About 1 square foot

Why: Hens need room to walk, scratch and dust bathe without fighting. The Merck manual lists 8 to 10 square feet per hen in outside runs as a minimum.

Huh, didn't know that: A bigger run stays cleaner and gives plants a better chance to recover.

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Why did the chicken run in circles outside? It was measuring the run.
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References

Answer: About 8 to 10 square feet. Hens need room to walk, scratch and dust bathe without fighting. The Merck manual lists 8 to 10 square feet per hen in outside runs as a minimum.

  1. Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of Backyard Poultry www.merckvetmanual.com/exotic-and-laboratory-animals/backyard-poultry/management-of-backyard-poultry
    (8-10 square feet) in outside runs
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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