So after some short convincing I talked my wife into getting chickens. We just picked up 6 chicks about three days ago. Two Jersey Black Giants, two Buff Orpingtons, and two Amerucanas. I'll post some pictures soon. We have them in a self made storage tub brooder for now but I have a feeling they will outgrow it soon. After a few days of using the 250w red heat lamp my wife became concerned with its safty, even though I have it fully secured by a chain from the celing. So she put me into the ecoglow. Although I was sure the heat lamp was fine, I did have to admit that the ecoglow is way safer. We just switched to the ecoglow last night, day 4, and man what a difference. The chicks seem way more calm and love sleeping under it. It did take me shoving all six under it to show them how to use it, but after one trip they knew what to do.
and Welcome To BYC! Sounds like you have a nice little flock there. X3 more room is usually better (especially if chicken math takes hold) so might as well make the run as big as you can. With the nest boxes, like TwoCrows said, Giants or other really big breeds appreciate 16x16 or 18x18 nest boxes, I have various sizes of nest boxes, and the couple of big hens I have always go for the biggest boxes.
