9 standards, will an 8x16 run be big enough.Need answers asap please

[Shellyb]

My hubby and I have been going back and forth about this and he is outside right now putting the run up. We have just built a 6x6 coop and the run will be 8x16. Is that big enough? Thanks in advance.

 

[Karrie13]

The general rule of thumb is 10 square feet per standard bird outdoors and 4 square feet inside. So if your run is 8 x 16 that is enough minimum space for 12 birds or if you round up 13. Of course it is always better to make it bigger. You never know when you will want to add to your flock!

 

[sianara]

That is fine for a run (depending on how many you have that is), but I would also give them a much larger fenced in yard if possible. When I started with chickens 7 years ago I built an 8'x8' coop with an 8'x16' run. Housed 6 chickens in it. Within a few months I realized they really needed more room to roam and be happy. I ended up fencing in another yard approx 50' x 40' and now the 12 I have are content with their total 2192 sq feet of roaming space. This yard is mostly wooded and the top is not covered but I've been lucky and have never lost one to a predator.

During the winter, I cover the entire run (7' tall with a covered roof) in plastic and the entire 32 sq feet is adequate but personally I would never have more than 12 chickens in that space again. Last year I had 20 and it was waaaaaaaay too small so I ended up giving 8 of the newest hens away to keep the peace

. Now with only 12 in there things are fine.