Overhauling the Run. Need some advice.

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ta2d

ta2d

In the Brooder
Aug 13, 2015
34
7
26
lower michigan
Hello, I have a few questions as a newer Chicken owner.
We have 17 chickens right now.
5 Silkie Sultans, 5 Reds and 7 Americauna's. One Silkie turned out to be a Roo.

They currently have a 10x12 Insulated Steel Shed Coop and a 16x20 run, with a additional 16x5 run and a 5x4x4 Raised Coop.

My question is I'm planning to a full rebuild.
Possibly two 20x20 runs with the large coop in the middle so we can do 1 week on one run then one week on the other to give the grass some sustainability.
We also want to ramp up to 30-40 layers.
1. Will the 12x10 coop be large enough?
2. Will 20x20 be enough room for a run?

Any advise would be great.



Our Roo and Silkie Sultans


The old coops before adding a 12x10 shed
 
The coop has enough room for 30 chickens and the 20X20 is enough for 40 chickens so rotating between the two you should have enough grass or you could do the one run and then have the grass boxes so they always have fresh grass or other growing greens available, you should be good with a total of 30 chickens.
 
Oh it is perfectly fine it is 4 2X4s any length but it has to make a square/rectangle, and then is covered in hardware cloth, whatever types of grasses or greens you would like to feed you will plant in the ground and then but the box over it with the hardware cloth side up towards the sky that way they cannot scratch up the roots, you can make them any size but you will have to add more bracing to keep the hardware cloth from getting stretched down which can allow the chicken to pluck the greens/grasses up by the root.
 
Would not put 30 birds in a 10 x 12 coop in Michigan....will get crazy in winter, if not before.

20 x 20 run sounds good......but not really sure if you can rotate more than a dozen birds(if that) and maintain grass growth.
They are wicked rough on tearing up grass, and their poop is so hot (with nitrogen) that it burns anything they down't scratch up.

Grazing frames(grass boxes) can work well for providing some greens for confined birds to nibble on.

http://www.thegardencoop.com/blog/2012/02/07/grazing-frames-backyard-chickens/

1/2" hardware cloth for grass-like leaved plants(sod and grains)
1 x 2" fencing for larger leaved plants.
When fresh planting seed I stack a second frame on top until roots are established or they pull the whole plant out.

I like the one at the top best and am converting the others over.
Ripped a half inch off the 2x4's and used it to cover mesh edges to avoid cut feet and subsequent infection (bumblefoot).


 

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