@PirateGirl to answer your question “Cost Prohibitions”, I agree... runs aren’t “needed”, commercial chicken barns prove that runs are “unnecessary” for chicken management and survival. And a full blown chicken utopia could be created in a completely enclosed space. Proper ventilation, full...
From my observations of the birds on our farm, I think that outside access does make for happier and healthier birds. Granted the coop is too small for proper confinement of more than 2 or 3 birds and there’s over 10 in there. 2 of the girls were transferred in there by the owner from an outside...