You would be getting the (what I consider the minimum recommended) space if you give each bird 8 square feet of run space. I understand the budget thingy. I've never been able to buy all the materials I need at once. I build my pens as I can afford them, which basically means when I run out of money, I stop building. When I get a little money, I buy a few more things for the build. I've been building on my new coop for over 3 months, and it still isn't completed. It's close, and I could move birds in right now, but I won't until it's completely done. I have my 11 RIR running around in a temporary pen (roughly 12' x 12'), and my basement (YUCK!), where they get closed up every night. I can't wait until they get to move! The moral of the story is... do what you can when you can. Slacking up on adding more birds might help. Just saying...
Hahaha, I thought I was the only one crazy enough to put their grow outs in the basement. The key for me is to just put small amounts of bedding down and clean it constantly. I always underestimate how expensive things can be...in my head I think in theory you could just build a run with a couple $7 posts and some welded wire...but then it's the cost to rent a post hole digger, cement, bottom boards, bracing, and all that stuff. I think I did the pricing and it's something ridiculous like $800 for a 10 x 20 run. For that price I better be raising a second Mohawk V, lol. I'm also trying to browse Craigslist to see if anyone is getting rid of dog kennels. I think a run made of them could be pretty cheap. Throw a tarp over it and you are good to go. But I like the theory of having a large enough space that cleaning isn't necessary. Plus it makes the birds happy. Did I mention I would have to hire someone to build the run, cause I can't build anything to save my life?
