Run size for 16 chickens

[LadyVictorian]

I just put up a 7x7 shed for a coop and want to know how large of a run I need for 16 chickens. The run with primarily be where the chickens spend the day outside of supervised free ranged time which will depend on who is home and when for the chickens to go out in the yard. We have a heavy eagle population around our farm so full time free ranging won't be possible unless we are prepared to quickly lose every chicken before we get a single egg. Most of the chickens are your average mid sized hens though we have 4 bantams and one large chicken as well. How much space total is needed for them to avoid conflicts and have plenty of room to explore and move around?

 

[Folly's place]

Your coop will house ten or twelve birds max, not sixteen. Do you have an additional coop for them? The minimum run size would be 160 or more sq. ft., with a roof, because you will have plenty of 'snow days' where you live! Mary

 

[LadyVictorian]

I have a second coop, primarily for the 4 silkies in the event the larger chickens pick on them but it was far too small to house all my chickens because it was originally built for bantams.

Edit:
Also my 30x30 run I originally planed for should be large enough for all 16 chickens then?

 

[ChickenMammX4]

The 30' x 30' run should be fine for 16 standard size chickens but a 7' x 7' coop is way too small especially considering your climate. If your run has a solid roof, that will help. Those long MN winters will keep them in the coop for extended periods of time. Generally chicken don't like snow.

 

[LadyVictorian]

We are doing half covered half netting so they have shade and sun in the run.

Also does it make a difference that the 4 silkies live inside the house during the winter? So only 12 chickens would be in the coop/run in the winter time. We set up 3 rabbit playpens with a tarp under it in our basement for the silkies this year and they seemed to do fine in the house all winter long. Mostly because how cold it gets and how tiny they are I didn't want to risk them being outside. I know people say silkie's are very cold hardy but they are still so tiny I just don't feel comfortable making them live outside in the cold when they did just fine in the house and were happy to watch tv with me downstairs on the couch. They are partial house chickens since I prefer them to enjoy the nice weather outside during spring, summer, and fall.

 

[aart]

We are doing half covered half netting so they have shade and sun in the run.

That will help....plan your snow load management now.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Well and we have to plow that area regardless for my miniature horses since the run and coop is being set up inside their pasture. They can't walk through the deep snow so their pasture get's plowed for them and the big horses deal because they aren't 24 inch stubby legged little hay burners like the mini's are.

 

[aart]

Well and we have to plow that area regardless for my miniature horses since the run and coop is being set up inside their pasture. They can't walk through the deep snow so their pasture get's plowed for them and the big horses deal because they aren't 24 inch stubby legged little hay burners like the mini's are.

Cool Beans!
Will your plow fit inside the run?

The run roofs, both mesh and solid, may need to be kept clear too.
I have 2x4 run roof and the snow can cling to it and almost brought it all crashing down the first year.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Oh, those magic numbers. I’ve seen anything from 1 square feet per chicken in the coop all the way to a minimum of 15 square feet per chicken, usually with no mention of run space. Even the commercial chicken industry doesn’t go below 2 square feet per chicken and we don’t normally treat our chickens that way. Four square feet per chicken seems to be the most popular on here but you can see a lot of other opinions.

I personally believe the more space you can give them, within reason, the better. That’s not just for the chickens, but for you. You can follow the link in my signature as to why I think that way.

Can you keep 16 chickens in a 7x7 coop in a Minnesota winter, or spring, summer, or fall for that matter? Probably, if you do some other things. With them in that small area you will probably be working harder at poop management than I like to, but it can be done. If they are locked in that area when they are awake your chances of seeing behavioral problems go up quite a bit. I think those are likely to be your two biggest issues.

Living in Minnesota you are probably aware that snow doesn’t always fall straight down. Covering part of the run will help, but snow blows in from the side, either from drifting or while it is still falling. My chickens don’t like a cold wind in winter either. Summers are different, warm winds don’t bother them, but if a cold wind is blowing they will not be out in it. You can greatly increase the available room in winter by not only covering part of the run but by blocking snow and wind from coming in from the side. Your concern there is not just snow load on the top but wind load on a side. Even if you blow snow out of there to give them space, that’s an example of working harder and not necessarily at your convenience. You may still need wind blocks down low. Another issue with that is that it needs to be available when they are awake. That space in the run doesn’t do any good if they are locked in the coop only while you sleep in on a Saturday morning.

There are differences in what you can do and maybe get away with it versus what I’d want to do. I just don’t like working that hard or living my life on their schedule more than mine.

Now to your basic question, how big a run do you need? I don’t have a set answer for that either, other than the more the better like coop space. If they are all the same age and sex, not nearly as much as if you let a broody hen raise chicks with the flock or you integrate chickens at some time in the future. The main idea with room as far as chicken behavior is concerned is that they have room to get away from each other when there is conflict. Having separate coop space and run space enables a chicken to go where the bully is not. Having enough room so the chicken doesn’t get trapped in the coop or run is another plus (the more space the better), but just having separate places available is a big step up.

I wish I had a good number to give you, I don’t. Look at your budget, your run space and how it is built, and then provide as much truly sheltered space as you can and see how it goes.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Cool Beans!
Will your plow fit inside the run?

The run roofs, both mesh and solid, may need to be kept clear too.
I have 2x4 run roof and the snow can cling to it and almost brought it all crashing down the first year.

it should. It's a smaller plow so it can fit through the minis gat. 4 foot gate to keep the big horses from running into it if the gate is left open.

As for 'sleeping in' on a Saturday that is impossible on our farm. He raise horses. Even in the winter if you are not out by 7 letting them out then they will let themselves out by busting the stall doors. We work hard every day and always have so extra work means nothing to me. I have to clean horse stalls daily, change waters, put down fresh shavings daily. Any work with the chickens is already less work than having horses. XD my chicken work is a vacation from the horse chores.