Coop Run Question

[chippie]

I have 4 chicks coming on the 12th and I have 9 bantam eggs in the incubator. The coop is almost done we built an 8 x 8 x 6 coop, lots of ventilation and 4 shed windows with hardware wire on them. I have a metal fence that is 7 x 8 x 5 and since I am home all the time I intend to free range I have the run more for days I have errands and cannot be here to let the free. Is it large enough for the time they will be in there or should I add more space?

 

[chfite]

If the run is too small, there can be problems with abuse among the chickens.

It is more trouble to make it larger later than to do it now. 10 square feet per chicken and you're set.

Chris

 

[NovaAman]

I agree with Chris, the more room they have in the run, the better, especially if they end up locked in the run all say. You need a minimum of 130 square feet. You are only offering half that amount. While they will be chicks, that will not be bad, but they grow FAST. Build the size for more than what you have... Chicken math will get you, and you won't have enough space...

 

[chippie]

We ordered á dog kennel made of galvanized steel to add to our run it will add another more feet so together it will be 7 x 18 more than enough in case chicken math occurs plus they will free range a lot of the time since we are retired. We will add 2 feet up the hardware wire plus the coop will be hot wire at night to protect from predators.