Size of run

[chickadeeterri]

To be short here, we have 19 chicks and the coop is a old metal garden shed. The run (for now) will be 12' x 6'. Is that ok? I read 4 sq ft for large fowl.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I think you have coop and run confused. Coop recommendations is 4 sq ft. Run recommendation is 10 sq ft.

If your coop is 12x6 it should do, depending on the layout and your climate.

If it's the run that's 12x6, that is really going to be tight as the chicks grow into full size. You will need to free range or find some other way to increase your run space as tight quarters can cause stress, health and behavioral problems.

 

[ScottandSam]

I think you have coop and run confused. Coop recommendations is 4 sq ft. Run recommendation is 10 sq ft.

If your coop is 12x6 it should do, depending on the layout and your climate.

If it's the run that's 12x6, that is really going to be tight as the chicks grow into full size. You will need to free range or find some other way to increase your run space as tight quarters can cause stress, health and behavioral problems.

yep I agree.

Scott

 

[N F C]

x2 on the comments from @rosemarythyme

Is enlarging the size of your run an option?

 

[chickadeeterri]

For now we are making it 12' x 6' and the we are extending it to around 12' x 60'. But it's a bit costly for now and since they're small.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

For now we are making it 12' x 6' and the we are extending it to around 12' x 60'. But it's a bit costly for now and since they're small.

But they won't be small for long! 12' x 6' is pretty small unless you're free ranging. We have 6 hens with a 8' x 16' run. I would only add maybe 2 or 3 to our flock since we don't free range.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Well 12x6 will do for chicks, so I hope you'll have the 12x60 version ready for them soon. Once they start growing they magically take up a lot more space than you'd think. For example, I have 4 pullets and I just got a 4x4 moveable pen since I don't free range and they enjoy having some grass. My chickens look like sardines in there, 4 sq ft per chicken in a run is just enough room for them to turn around and squeeze by one another and that's about it. Their actual run is 20x27.