So, my run stinks. literally.

So, to continue. How big is the run? Look, I'm not trying to discourage you. We all had to start somewhere. But we need to get to the bottom of your problem so we can resolve it. Both you and your chickens will be happier and healthier, and they will be a whole lot safer.
 
4 square feet? per hen? are we talking about the run, or the coop?

they have metal fencing stacked about 5-6 feet tall wrapped around a bunch of thick wood poles, and it never has snowed
If they have the ability to access the outside constantly, I argue that the coop minimum of 4 sqft per bird can be ignored to a degree. It is important though that the hens have a covered space to keep them out of wind, rain and hot sun. The covered space should allow adequate space for all your birds to be in together, an area for laying (often a nest box) and roosts for all the birds.
For 10+ birds, 1'x4' is definitely small. That's a communal nest box at best.
As for the run, the minimum to keep in mind is 10 sqft per bird. I have 9 hens, my coop is 40 sqft and run is over 200 sqft. If we slip up on maintenance the coop and run can both get nasty fast. Going bigger is always better when it comes to space for chickens.
 
there are a lot of problems with my run, and especially my coop. me and my brother are the only chicken-lovers in the family. i can't really afford all of this, and i am trying to be budget friendly, but apparently there's no going there. if i let them free- range, there are a lot of "sanitation issues" according to everyone i've talked to. i am thinking about just letting them free- range despite all of this and "we'll burn that bridge when we get there"

i think i sound like a horrible person for keeping 13 birds in there. i will lengthen their pen the best i can, with what i got.
 
I have 24 hens in an 8 x 12 building i can walk into. That's too many birds, actually. But I've made some special accommodations for them, so they do okay. And I'm going to process about 9 of them soon.
can you please tell me what those accommodations are? that may help.

our yard is 5 acres, and just "Eyeballing it" it looks as if my run is about 13 by 10 feet or so.
 
there are a lot of problems with my run, and especially my coop. me and my brother are the only chicken-lovers in the family. i can't really afford all of this, and i am trying to be budget friendly, but apparently there's no going there. if i let them free- range, there are a lot of "sanitation issues" according to everyone i've talked to. i am thinking about just letting them free- range despite all of this and "we'll burn that bridge when we get there"

i think i sound like a horrible person for keeping 13 birds in there. i will lengthen their pen the best i can, with what i got.
Free ranging has more risk of predation typically than sanitation issues. Unless you have contaminated water, exposed sewage or garbage in the area, I wouldn't worry so much about sanitation issues. In fact, it would likely be more sanitary to have them free run in your case than keep them in an undersized coop and run.
 
Free ranging has more risk of predation typically than sanitation issues. Unless you have contaminated water, exposed sewage or garbage in the area, I wouldn't worry so much about sanitation issues. In fact, it would likely be more sanitary to have them free run in your case than keep them in an undersized coop and run.
that's what i mean by free range. is let them roam as they please. feeding and watering is not a problem, because they have an automatic waterer, and me as an automatic-ish feeder
 
can you please tell me what those accommodations are? that may help.

our yard is 5 acres, and just "Eyeballing it" it looks as if my run is about 13 by 10 feet or so.
That run size would work for 13 birds, although just barely. Enlarge the coop/ covered area and incorporate roosts. A few thick branches can make roosts and a tarp can be used to provide cover for now until you are able to build a more sufficient coop with supplies like plywood and lumber.
 

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