Run size

[Pitaya]

If I have six chickens, how big a run would I need if I don't want it to just turn into dirt?

I'm debating between building a large run vs. continuing to do what I am doing now (moving the coop and small run regularly).

Also, would any run need a roof of some kind if I don't want chickens flying over? So far they have been raised with a roof so they don't know yet that flying out could be a possibility.

 

[Spartan22]

A 10x10 covered run should be sufficient for that many chickens but bigger definitely better, height will be a plus so they can exercise and practice fly. I say covered to reduced muddy pit and the same time they’re protected. Here’s my covered run that I had to redo for less work from partially covered.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If I have six chickens, how big a run would I need if I don't want it to just turn into dirt?

I'm debating between building a large run vs. continuing to do what I am doing now (moving the coop and small run regularly).

Also, would any run need a roof of some kind if I don't want chickens flying over? So far they have been raised with a roof so they don't know yet that flying out could be a possibility.

I don't have a clue. It's going to depend on your climate, time of the year, rainfall, condition the turf is in, and who knows what else. You might get a totally different answer in Miami Florida than say Santa Fe or Calgary. The answer could be different in February than in August.

Three different things can happen. They turn it into a moonscape, nothing green at all. They may only eat the plants they most enjoy and leave the ones they don't, so while it may stay green they aren't really foraging much. If it is really big, and I mean huge, it may stay green with good stuff the entire growing season.

Regardless they will find places to dust bathe so you will have bare spots. They usually find places they like to hang out, usually in the shade, and will strip these. You are going to have a few bare spots but they may not be too bad.

Some people build frames and cover them with wire so the chickens can eat the green stuff as it grows but they cannot get to the roots. A few have several runs and rotate the chickens between them to keep fresh gazing.

 

[jthornton]

If I have six chickens, how big a run would I need if I don't want it to just turn into dirt?

I'm debating between building a large run vs. continuing to do what I am doing now (moving the coop and small run regularly).

Also, would any run need a roof of some kind if I don't want chickens flying over? So far they have been raised with a roof so they don't know yet that flying out could be a possibility.

It has to be so big that they can't turn it into dirt. I have 9 RIR's that stripped my 1,056 square foot chicken yard in a month or two and the grass was 2' tall in some places. As @Ridgerunner points out there are many variables. I'd guess that 1/8 acre per bird you would not notice anything but their favorite places to hang out and dust baths of course that depends on your location...

Put your location in your profile so it's always there.

JT