Be honest - is this fair?

[cricketmum84]

Would it be cruel to keep a few chickens in a secure coop if we work full time and out all day?

I've been thinking about taking 3-4 rescue chickens and building a fenced coop in the garden, I've done a bit of research on ideal space, coop type, security against cats and foxes etc.

I just don't want to rescue them from a rubbish life and then not be able to improve on what they have already had! Ideally I would give up my job and be surrounded by animals lol but I have a mortgage to pay!

Does anyone else work FT and manage to give their girlies the roaming time and freedom they deserve?

depends on the size of the space
I'm often working all day but they have plenty of space - not free ranging but a big area and lots to do

If they have plenty of space available then it will be a huge improvement to what they are used to! Our girls have a large, secure, walk in run for when we are out (a lot of foxes near us). They have plenty of different things in there to occupy them. So much so that when I am here and let them out of the run they don't always come out!

I work both from home and out of home so I am around a fair bit but my husband is out all day. One thing you may want to be aware of is that because chickens wake up when it is light and go to bed at dusk, during the winter months you will see very little of them. Over the winter, unless my husband has a day off in the week, he literally only sees our Girls at the weekend. They are still asleep when he leaves for work and have gone to bed by the time he gets home.

yes it will be absolutely fine. my chickens are up my allotment and although i got up as much as i can sometimes its just for 2 minutes to give them some water. as long as they have other chickens with them they will be fine. they are not like dogs or cats.
mine have a big 20ft by 20ft run. as long as they have a bit of outside space they will love you :). just google conditions on ex battery hens..its so sad. im sure they will appreciate the extra space and loving home you will give them.

If you have a good open area that is fenced-in and a small chicken coop that they can go in and out of Thule I don't see a problem in it. However keeping them locked in a tiny Coupe is in my opinion. Okay, but if they're able to get out of it and roam around in a fenced area that's more than fine. As long as they have food and water and are able to roam around. There is nothing wrong with that whatsoever