Chickens prefer more room in the run?

[ChickensNCoffee]

I'm looking to build a run for my girls. I have 7 red sexlinks and 2 silkies. We currently have a coop with a run that's 6x7. But I'm wonder Do they prefer more areas to travel? (Making long chicken tunnels OR do they prefer a run where they can all scratch together? Our original plan was to make a "range" area around their coop with a trap door so they could only "range" during the day

[/IMG]. We were going to put metal stakes in the ground and hardware as fencing and cover. But now I've seen these chicken tunnels and we could make a pretty long one so they could travel. But of course the tunnels are smaller. I only plan to stand in my girls coop area the "range area is more for them. Here's a side pic of our coop area that girls have access too 24/7

. Sorry if I'm confusing. I hope you can catch my drift. Ask any questions for clarification.

 

[BruceAZ]

if you have the budget and space for it.. more space is better

chickens like to roost even during the day (taking nap, etc) .. so if you can add some roost bar/perches outside on the run as well

if you have space give them a swing

 

[teach1rusl]

I'm not quite clear on what you're asking... But I think one larger area is better than long, narrow areas. Besides chickens generally liking to be around one another, there's less predator risk. In a narrow area, it's much easier for a predator to reach in and grab hold of something, because there is no space for the bird to move out of the way...

6x7 is a very tiny space for 9 chickens, so I hope you are able to manage something about double what you have currently...

 

[ChickensNCoffee]

Yes we plan to double it we just weren't sure about tumbles vs fenced in range area. The 6x7 is where they will be locked in at night. I think we voted on a fenced in area with covering