I let them free range during the day and keep the run coop door open all day to air it out and let them go inside to rest or get away from hawks etc. They put themselves to bed at night and I go and shut the door and close them up. I put up deer netting to keep them confined to my yard and garden area. I did it double with one a few feet away from first fence so if they excape I have a back up fence. It is 7 feet tall so they cannot fly over but sometimes do dig out if I don't secure it regularly. I used bamboo poles to hold it in place. Works good when I am home. If i leave they get locked up till I RETURN.

they are in their roost sleeping You can see it in the other picture where it is beside the door they love it up high like that and prefer to sleep there over any other place. I built a bottom and sides to it and am adding a front with one hole soon to keep more heat in for winter. I will take it off in the summer months so they have adequate air on the roost. I added the plastic sheeting for winter.

I let them free range during the day and keep the run coop door open all day to air it out and let them go inside to rest or get away from hawks etc. They put themselves to bed at night and I go and shut the door and close them up. I put up deer netting to keep them confined to my yard and garden area. I did it double with one a few feet away from first fence so if they excape I have a back up fence. It is 7 feet tall so they cannot fly over but sometimes do dig out if I don't secure it regularly. I used bamboo poles to hold it in place. Works good when I am home. If i leave they get locked up till I RETURN.

so I bought this when it was marked down and put it inside my run,coop and they have to be put inside to make them sleep here. I put cardboard over the wire to keep cold out. I force them to sleep here when it is real cold. That way they can huddle together and have a house inside a house to add extra warmth without using heat in the run,coop area. I have since taken it off the crates to further winterize the little coop. They don't seem to like it . The hens like to lay their eggs in it. I might put this outside in the summer for an outside area for them to run for cover when it rains or something freightens them or just for shade in summer.

Haha I was using this old window to hold down the plastic. I have since stapled clear vinyl down and window is no longer in use. I use the sheet of white vinyl to insulate the inside of door and any holes around it. Might staple it on permanently for now I just have it thrown over door. Still working on this. Plan on putting a hard red roof on soon. You can see the hen on the egg box i have made where the coop will be next summer. for now it has a tarp over the area the coop will be made and I use it to store my supplies like bedding. The hens like to go in there and snoop around. I have the bottom wired and covered with plastic and they go under as part of their run. I am building this on a 2x4 by 2x4 piece. As I get the money I buy the wood. lol. I have added some more braces since this photo was taken and it is all framed out and winterized. The roof has several layers of tarps and plastic to keep it dry till I can add a good roof.

run used as coop until coop is actually made. Winterized to keep them warm for the winter

I let them free range during the day and keep the run coop door open all day to air it out and let them go inside to rest or get away from hawks etc. They put themselves to bed at night and I go and shut the door and close them up. I put up deer netting to keep them confined to my yard and garden area. I did it double with one a few feet away from first fence so if they excape I have a back up fence. It is 7 feet tall so they cannot fly over but sometimes do dig out if I don't secure it regularly. I used bamboo poles to hold it in place. Works good when I am home. If i leave they get locked up till I RETURN.

henmama6plus
Dec 18, 2014

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