Question about run size

[R3bauer]

I am getting about 15 chicks so I have a little time yet but I am wondering about run size? I am getting BO and Austies. Would a 10ftx10ft run be big enough? Or should I go a little bigger?
Thank you for your advice!

 

[Pork Pie]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

 

[PirateGirl]

If they do not free range and are confined to the run 24/7 I would recommend going bigger. At a minimum I would give 15 LF 150 square feet, but if you have the space to go bigger than that, I recommend it.

 

[R3bauer]

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/how-much-room-do-chickens-need

Sorry I thought I searched and didnt dind anything. Must have missed it. Thank you for the advice!

 

[Pork Pie]

Sorry I thought I searched and didnt dind anything. Must have missed it. Thank you for the advice!

No need to apologise we're all here to help each other

 

[R3bauer]

If they do not free range and are confined to the run 24/7 I would recommend going bigger. At a minimum I would give 15 LF 150 square feet, but if you have the space to go bigger than that, I recommend it.

I have plenty of space so that isn’t the issue, I just want them safe when not in the coop I also want them to be happy and comfortable.

 

[PirateGirl]

I had fully fenced (including top) 10 square feet per chicken prior to purchasing my birds as that seemed to be the magic number that people mentioned repeatedly. It's now been a year of them living in their coop/run. They do not free range. They are full grown. I feel this is not enough space for them and have plans for expansion this summer, but not for more birds, just for more run space for the existing birds. After a year I feel their 4 square feet each in the coop has been adequate, but in the run full time, 10 square feet per bird is not really enough.

 

[JDN]

I had fully fenced (including top) 10 square feet per chicken prior to purchasing my birds as that seemed to be the magic number that people mentioned repeatedly. It's now been a year of them living in their coop/run. They do not free range. They are full grown. I feel this is not enough space for them and have plans for expansion this summer, but not for more birds, just for more run space for the existing birds. After a year I feel their 4 square feet each in the coop has been adequate, but in the run full time, 10 square feet per bird is not really enough.

Out of curiosity, how muddy/dirty is the ground? I get that CO isn't exactly a swampy state but I'm still curious if they totally rub it barren. I'm in the process of setting out my run and am not totally certain as to what the "optimal" size will be.

 

[PirateGirl]

Absolutely barren once the chickens went in. If we got more rain it would be a mud pit, as is, it's more of a dust bowl.

I don't have a manicured town golf course looking yard, but the rest of the lot is a meadow with thick tall grasses and wildflowers. The chicken run hasn't had a single blade of grass or plant growing in it since about a week after they moved in. That is with 10 square feet per bird. This is one of the reasons I want to give them more space, even if it's just a fenced bit of the field they can go in supervised from time to time, I want them to have a chance to forage some and enjoy the plants and bugs. I'm not sure how much space they would need for grass to still grow in the run.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The 10 sq ft minimum recommendation is just that, a minimum, so if you do have the space to spare you'll never regret going bigger than you need. Extra space helps cut down on any tension in the flock plus give them room to stretch their wings a bit more.