Build a Chunnel...

[Artfuldodgerrs]

Just found this article since I have not allowed my chickens to be free range for the first time in 11 years, due to the neighbors dog's constant killing of my flock, but them being in a run has been heartbreaking . This time of the year in Wa state, we are just a big mud puddle and no where for my girl's to get grass and dry land, so I was researching how to make a tunnel for them and came upon this. I am SOOO excited to get the materials and start this project on Saturday. Thank you!

Boy I can relate we live in Longview WA and my 12 hens are just 9 and 6 months old. These are our first chickens and are pets with benefits. Mud is there thing, they love scratching in it in the 50’ x 26’ fenced and net over head chicken yard. Looks like spring will bring installing drainage around there yard. There coop has a 8’ x 18’ covered run that is elevated so it remains dry 24/7. When there feathered feet are wet and muddy we clean there feet with a warm water bath and towel dry them. We bring them in to the run a hour or so before it’s time to go up. We put in dry straw in the run so they can scratch in it while drying out there feathers on there feet and they are given SFL and some corn for warmth at night and they eat there layer feed and drink water before they go up into there hen house. We bought some horse trailer mats and put them down and put a cover over it, but no matter what we do they love mud scratching and pecking in it, especially the light Brahmas! We also add pine chips to real wet areas just to soak up water. You can grow flats of fodder for them and we have upped there veggies during winter and have several 3’x 3’ with 1/2” coated wire top on 2x4s over some of the grass so it’s still growing and they can peck what is above the screens. Much success on your project.

 

[Happy Aussie Gardener 53]

Hi, you can learn to trim your chicken's feathers on one wing only. But find instructions on Google so you are sure to cut the right ones and the correct way.
Many years ago when I kept chickens we had a dreadful winter and their big yard was a mess. I made a similar tractor and rested their yard by applying some lime and lots of straw and garden waste. Years later when my chickens had all gone to chooky heaven...I had the most fantastic garden in that area that was their run.

 

[Andrew67]

I love this idea and the pics!

I was going to build a chicken tractor to let my girls explore around the yard and do some weed-abatement, but

1) We have a problem with red-tailed hawks and their love of chicken meat.
2) I didn't want to have to worry about food, water, and getting them back into the coop at night.

Well, now I'm thinking I could built something like this that could be fixed to the main run, and then moved / snaked around the yard. The girls would be safe, and also be able to go back for food, water, sleep at night as needed.

What do y'all think? Would this work? Any ideas on how to make this happen?

 

[Andrew67]

Thanks!

Our hawks aren't super aggressive, but enough that if left completely open we'd lose some of our smaller girls. I want to believe that a really light-weight tunnel would be sufficient for basic protection during the day.

I'll need to think on this a bit more to consider the pros/cons.

 

[Krugerrand]

Thanks!

Our hawks aren't super aggressive, but enough that if left completely open we'd lose some of our smaller girls. I want to believe that a really light-weight tunnel would be sufficient for basic protection during the day.

I'll need to think on this a bit more to consider the pros/cons.

I'd be mostly worried about racoons and coyotes. It would take quite a bit of work to make something like that secure from them.