15ft x 8ft (Good? Bad?)

[KikiDeAnime]

My dad and I worked on the yards today and got the main flock yard put together. I decided to measure it to be sure it was good and saw it was 15ft x 8ft. We also worked on the spot where they can go back into the coop. Some of them were staying in the coop while the rest sat out in the yard enjoying the sunshine.
Is that good enough for them?

 

[kelzey]

how many birds do you have?

 

[KikiDeAnime]

how many birds do you have?

Currently, until we separate, the flock includes 9 hens, 1 cockerel, 2 ducks, and 1 drake. We're going to be moving the ducks soon to their yard once we finish it but until then, they're still with the main flock.

 

[Melky]

I think you have the proper spacing. Sounds like you will be separating ducks and chickens in future plans.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

I think you have the proper spacing. Sounds like you will be separating ducks and chickens in future plans.

Yeah and even though everyone gets along, the ducks aren't breeding like they should so I'm hoping once I move them they will start. Plus, I'm also hoping their own space will mean the female ducks will be quieter without the chickens waking them up early.

 

[Melky]

How old are they?

 

[KikiDeAnime]

How old are they?

Colonel is 1 year old, Duchess is 1 year old, and Kaeda is 7 months old.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I have 10x10 and 8x15 runs, it seems like they'd be fine for 6 to 8 chickens, but I now wish I had made them bigger, more room for dustbath area, hanging swing, shade gazebo, cabbage & corn cob holders, raised bed covered with wire mesh growing greens to peck at, etc. I'm now planning a large grazing area, 50x50, with greens chickens love, covered with netting, in the spring, so I can rotate the groups when I am there. I can't free range here with tons of hawks, foxes, etc.

My 1st lesson, the 1st run, was 10x10, for 6 chickens, then...something I never planned for...chicken math happened! LOL. When they turfed it up & we got a week of rain, I nearly killed myself "skating" in mud. Picture a lady in muck boots kicking out from under her, all while carrying jugs of water, in the pouring rain...yeah, I felt like I was living in a Lucille Ball or 3 Stooges episode! Now I sod their runs every Oct. & believe it or not, after doing this 3 yrs it still shocks me, that it stay really nice thick grass for about 10 mos! It lasts til the late Aug heat waves, but it's worth it for me not breaking my neck & the chickens having grass to walk on, keeps them a lot cleaner than mud. Before the sod I tried straw, what a mess! Basically a mud hole with straw. I tried sand in the run too, they hated it & wouldn't go out, summers are too hot here for that. Well, not to be long winded...but I was new to this area, new to chickens, etc. & wish I had met someone local in this region who knew the weather, to tell me these things. There's alot to consider, and I had to learn the hard way. I know we can't predict the future, but consider you might just really, really love chickens! That means you might end up with more than you planned! Make room for future chickens & "stuff" giving the chickens options & things to do, as I now wish I had made the runs much bigger to start with.