Well, I have to laugh.Thanks for that input ValerieJ. It has been pretty confusing to determine what the space needs actually are. Commercial standards, even "free range" seem impossibly draconian. Coop/runs seem to advertise themselves as much more adequate than they really are. Even trying to compensate for that, I may have underestimated. On the bright side, I tend to go overboard on making sure any animals in my care are super happy and have a very enriched environment, so if issues arise, I think I'll be able to notice and address them. It's best we not tell my husband just yet that I'll be needing a second coop and to extend run area many times over.
Since I know I like happy animals I can actually interact with, I had to figure I'm going to end up free ranging these birds 99% of the time. There are two main issues I foresee with that:
One, by choosing birds who are free-range savvy and by living in a place where chickens thrive naturally, I'm risking their increasing their own territory into my neighbors', attracting feral roosters, and straight up deciding to move away.
Two, if and when I need to travel, it would be best if I could keep the chickens cooped for a day or two to simplify things. I could attach an extended run area for those times, perhaps. As an outdoorsy horse-girl stuck in a suburban neighborhood with a NYC native spouse, How do people in similar situations make a slightly farmier life happen for themselves?? I mean, we actually have a mow, blow and go gardener who comes once a week. I was assuming I'd be keeping them contained while he's here?
I think the vast majority of the time the chickens will just be "out" and coming into the coop/run mainly to sleep, in which case I don't think 6 would be an issue, but understanding what to expect during inclement weather or if there's a bully in the group are things I still need to learn about. It will be a little bit interesting to juggle the # of chicks I had to order and the fact that I did end up with some straight run while I can figure out who's who, who gets to stay, and who gets to be a gift to my legit homesteading friends. I will make a commitment to stay in touch in the forums for advice and stern reminders that Icannot!
When I started out my husband built me a 4x8 coop with external nesting boxes, making it a usable 4x10 space. Plenty big enough for my 6 little chicks! Famous last words. 
The next year I wanted to add 3 and I didn't want to give up any. So hubby built another little coop, 4x4, to expand the space. They have always had enough run space because it's my little fruit orchard, about 4,000sf. But, by the 3 year I was afraid to ask him to build another coop so I went to the local farm store and bought one to accommodate the 3 new chicks for that year. 
This condo style living has been very interesting and fun for the chickens, but a whole lot of work for me. 
He has finally given in to me and next spring I will have a large 6x10 walk in coop. 
You will figure it out. Sounds like you love to spoil your animals, and you will fall in love with the chickens. Most fun I've had with a pet ever. Good luck!!! 
I've done a couple rounds of "test chicks" when I've fostered orphan feral babies for one reason or another. The last 2 (my profile pic) were only hours old, getting run over on our town's main thoroughfare, peeping their heads off, and I just couldn't that day. I dumped out my handbag and pursed them home. They pretty much imprinted on me and now live on our upstairs deck where they sh*t everywhere and we can entertain each other all day and honestly, nothing has given me (and the old dying dog) as much joy in a long while. Of course they are both boys. 
But they have taught me so much; mostly that I can do this and that I want to. Even pushing 4 months old now and basically being wild animals, they sit in my lap every morning and evening to welcome and reflect on the day. Not to be that girl, but I'm pushing it with my city-slicker partner and his folks - who stay here all the time - as it is. My ignorance + their reticence is gonna equal a lot of "cross that bridge when it comes", but no chickens will suffer under my watch. And as for the two ferals, my guy is all about them now. He thinks they're great, so we're moving in the right direction. 
I have had chickens for about 4 years now and I'm still trying to figure out what my chicken medicine cabinet needs. Fortunately for me, I have had no disease or serious ailments. Basically, be sure to have remedies and preventatives for mites. There are a lot of opinions on here as to which ones. And definitely have blue kote on hand. You are about to find out what the problem is with over crowding, and when one of your girls is seriously injured by the other chickens, you'll want to help her immediately. You need a sick bay for this as well. It is a scramble to build a sick bay and separate run in the pouring rain and having to run 40 miles to town soaking wet to get some blue Kote to save your girl...but I digress. Just think about this...I thought ignorance was bliss until I had my favorite chicken show up missing the whole back of her head...and no it wasn't a predator, unless you want to call the rooster and a couple other chickens predators. My situation wasn't overcrowding as much as allowing a wicked rooster to live beyond his usefulness.In a way it's fun to be so new and dumb at something.
I appreciate the wake-up call on the coop size. I think I'm still just going to act surprised when it turns out to be not enough space. Or that I keep more than I originally thought.
Question: one of the things that really delayed my chicken keeping was starting to follow social media groups so I could learn stuff and seeing how much crazy medical problems people have with their chickens. I mean, I used to equine vet tech and I was still kind of scared by all those graphic pictures of slow deaths and dispatches in the making. I'm curious what I genuinely need to prepare for and what I should have on hand before the chicks arrive?
Our blissful ignorance can be deadly to our favorite chickens.
I couldn't have agreed more about the RIRs in the past. I have had them from the beginning in a mixed flock and they have been the most aggressive, loudest, and generally ornery birds. Sometimes entertaining though, when one used to sit at the top of the apple tree and give speeches. Then an eagle came around and plucked her right out of the tree. That was a couple years ago. Her sister RIR never went up in the tree again. Now this year the eagles came back and killed another chicken, and wounded another. After a few days the sister RIR died of shock. She wasn't attacked, she just couldn't take the fear anymore.
