Coop...run...yard...range...what do I need?

[anniem]

The coop/run plan has become more confusing the more I research, so I thought I'd ask for opinions here.
We have a good size yard (live on a 1/3 acre, completely fenced) but I'm not sure how much I can trust my dog so the flock of 6 will not always have free range privileges. I'm thinking we'd fence off a corner of the back yard, 20'x20-40' and coop at 1 corner of that. Does a coop and that run seem good enough or is there a good reason to have small enclosed area with the coop (?chicken yard? i'm sure there's some term for it) and then the bigger run?
We live in a rainy area so maybe extending the roof a bit?
What are some pros and cons of different set ups?

Thanks much!
Ann

 

[Olive Hill]

The size of your flock and the types of fowl that will make it up will be the biggest determining factor of what will work well and what won't.

 

[anniem]

We have 6 chicks right now, I'm thinking we'd max out at 8 some day. They are 2 EE's, 2 RSL and 2BSL. A bunch of mutts.

Just sticking with good layers that make decent pets and are tolerant of kids.

 

[Olive Hill]

For that few birds you could go with as small a run as 8x10 feet and as small as 6x6 or so for the coop. Of course the more room the merrier (and they less likely they are to tear up the ground they're on). But those are the minimum generally accepted guidelines.

If you were ever to add ducks, geese or turkeys you would need to increase exponentially -- much messier, those birds. But both standard and bantam chickens alone are fairly easy keepers.

 

[seminolewind]

I think your plan sounds great. Mine, too, have the yard to freerange, then a protected pen that I can keep them in if I need to. Pics!

 

[elmo]

I like having a secure, covered run. I don't have to worry about hawks or my birds getting soaked if a sudden rainstorm comes through.

 

[PhilErvin]

I have six girls and a roo. Their coop and run is 6 ft. x 24 ft. When we are home we let them free range on an enclosed 1/4 acre. They love the freedom and are able to enjoy scratching and pecking. It's easy to herd them back when I want to and in the evening they migrate back into the safety of their run and coop.

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
Lots of possibilities for you... besides your coop housing, you could do a smaller covered run that opens into the larger space (the remaining 20x20x40). That would be your most secure option, as you could let them out into the larger space only when you're home to keep an eye out. Or you could do a coop housing that extends out to form a "chicken porch" (ours has a small 4 x 6 covered porch), which opens into the larger 20x20x40 run (I'm assuming you weren't going to cover it...just do a fence within a fenced yard?). Or if you have money to burn, your coop housing could open up into a large covered run. Is the fence it'll be against chain link or wood???

If you have the space, don't focus on minimums. Your birds will love as much space as you can allow them

edited for clarification (hopefully...lol)

 

[anniem]

Thanks for the feed back. I was not planning on covering the whole run, we live in a wooded area so there's plenty of shade, and it's more than we can afford. I do want them to be able to get out a bit if it's raining, though (like this weeks numerous down pours!!!).
Sounds like the coop and large run would be fine, but maybe having the enclosed smaller yard/run would be worth having at times.
Our fence is post and rail with wire on it, I think it's 5' tall.
I'm having a hard time with exactly where to put this, mostly b/c I want the larger run to be big enough that they don't feel too penned in and so it doesn't get turned to mud (our ground is very clay-y, covered in scrappy grass and weeds). We have a good amount of space but it's not your normal front and back yard deal, the back corner is really close to the neighbors house, the other end is a big gate, another side is too close to the play structure...they're gonna turn into house chickens at this rate!

And it doesn't help that i'm an over-analyzing virgo.