pen

[regalado70]

I have 16 chicks would a 10x10 dog pen be OK for them once they are grown I would attach it to the coop

 

[yyz0yyz0]

The quick "rule of thumb" I have seen commonly used is 10sq ft of run and 4sqft of coop space per bird.

BUT, as with anything it all depends on your circumstances. Will the birds be locked up 24/7, will they be free ranged all day, are they bantams or full size?

I have 8 Wyandottes in a 12x12 dog pen with an extra 4x8 space under the coop, so given the "rule of thumb" I could have up to 17 in there. Mine only get out for an hour or two of free range every couple days and I notice that they seem to bicker more the longer they are locked in the pen. This is my first time owning chickens so maybe what I see as bickering is simply them establishing/re-enforcing their pecking order, but I can't imagine having double the number of birds in the same space and mine is bigger than yours. Plus I have a corner set aside for compost I dump in for them to scratch through to keep busy.

From my limited experience(only 1yr), it seems kinda small for 16 birds.

 

[regalado70]

They are full size mostly 4 leghorn 3 road island red 3 americuna 2 silkee and 4 Delaware they will be penned up till I get home then free for 4 he's a day and most of the day on weekend