Does anyone know what size a run should be for about 50 chickens?

[Lookingforinfo]

I am looking at housing about 50 to 60 chickens in the future for both meat and egg production, this is not commercial I just have a very large family, but I don't know how large to make the run. The happiness of our chickens comes first so space is not an issue however I do need them in a run, not free outside, for I have very large birds in my area. Thank you for any information.

M.

 

[yomama]

If you use the search box in the upper left corner, you will come up with tons of info on that. However, I believe it is 10sf per chicken in a run, and 4sf per chicken floor space in a coop. (However, since my chickens freerange outside of their coop and run nearly everyday, I go with apx 2sf of floor space. But my chickens are never locked in their coop, they have 24/7 access to their run.)Hope this helps!

 

[catdaddy66]

50 chickens need a minimum of 500 sq. ft. It sounds huge but honestly it is not that big. Remember to proof it for predators including a cover; that was where I messed up and I lost 30 birds from multiple dogs getting into the run! Pretty horrible, but the next day I bought more and they are now laying! They have not been out of the coop yet as I have not redone the run as of yet.

 

[brounii]

If you're toying with getting 60, I'd say you need 600 square feet of space in the run. Better to have too much than not enough. You could break that down to a 20'x30' run, 15'x40' run, or a 25'x24' run (among many others, just as long as you have 600 square feet, lol)

Good luck with this adventure!

 

[Cargo]

I second that! Bigger is better!

10x60 is pretty easy to put up using 20' pvc hoops like a giant cold frame with wire.