A cluttered run

[Mrs. K]

Many people ask for help integrating new chickens. I thought I would show you what works for me.

 

[Mrs. K]

good Lord, this is why I can't post pictures, I am sorry for the repeated pictures.

Behind the plywood is a feed bowl that really cannot be seen from most of the rest of the run.
I have the pallet leaned to the east as it is giving shade in the late afternoon.

If you notice the black plastic box, it is used for wind shelter, and there is a feed bowl in front of it, but there is also one behind it, under that old piece of tin. So I have 3 feed stations all out of the sight mostly of any bird at another station.

The old saddle rack and saw horse and the branch in the corner allow my birds to perch in the late afternoon sun. It gives them another way to get away from each other.

Now I realize that many of you live where that much old junk would not be tolerated by the neighbors, but I wanted to give you ideas what maybe you could add to make the run more interesting and safer to your chickens.

This summer I got a single bird, at 10 weeks of age integrated into the flock. She is still a bit of an outcast, but she is working in more and more each day. I won't say she never gets a bit of a chase or a peck, but she can escape and get away.

Hope this perhaps give you some ideas.

Mrs K

 

[Mrs. K]

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Many people ask for help integrating new chickens. I thought I would show you what works for me.

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[Mrs. K]

Yes, I agree, what works for one person, may not work for others. It is just advice I often give, but am not sure if I am making myself clear.

I do think more of an obstacle course does make it more interesting to chickens even in a small run.

 

[paneubert]

If this is turning into a "what sort of crud can you have in your run to block all out bloodbaths from occuring" thread, here is my contribution.

Compost bin in back corner of run, made of pallets. Access path around exterior of bin that is about a foot and a half wide. Another pallet attached to the "rim" of the compost bin so that they have a large flat area to perch. Also provides shade below. Long natural branch attached to front of elevated pallet to allow a long perch as well as a midway stage/jumping point between ground and pallet. Small house with roofing shingles on it just for fun. Old wooden ladder. Couple other small pallets leaned against fence. Old dried out Christmas tree leaned against large cherry tree. Chicken "tee-pee" built with long branches around trunk of cherry tree.

 

[aart]

Will contribute some of my 'run clutter'...set up here for when I had chicks last spring.
I have 2 separate runs, main run is L shape 8x50 and the other is 8x8.

 

[Pennys Mama]

Well actually if you think about it, adding clutter makes it look more crowded, but if you do the math, you actually add usable space. In an empty run, the only space a bird can use is the floor - 2 dimensional space. But add a platform, and you have the space under the platform and on top of platform, basically doubling the space, plus adding some exercise, and a space to get away from other birds. Even a roost, adds usable space for the birds.

So add clutter to runs, more is much better than too little.

Mrs K

You've given me some great ideas for more enrichment, I've got several swinging outside perches that the juveniles like to use to get away from their elders. The younger roosters use the swings and goat yard to hide from "the rooster". I posted a pic of my chicken pass-through, goes from the chicken run to the goat yard, bypassing the ducks pen. The chickens really liked to get into that pen and eat up all the duck feed. I also have pens inside the chicken house that makes integration go smoother, the birds can get use to seeing each other before being released. The guineas are the only ones that really pay any attention to the new releases.

 

[Mrs. K]

My dear hubby built this for me, I am blessed. As for everything being secure, I have really never had too much trouble, and (hope I didn't just jinx myself) I rearrange it fairly often.

 

[Mrs. K]

Well actually if you think about it, adding clutter makes it look more crowded, but if you do the math, you actually add usable space. In an empty run, the only space a bird can use is the floor - 2 dimensional space. But add a platform, and you have the space under the platform and on top of platform, basically doubling the space, plus adding some exercise, and a space to get away from other birds. Even a roost, adds usable space for the birds.

So add clutter to runs, more is much better than too little.

Mrs K

 

[slippednfell]

Some great ideas that I am going to incorporate into our run. We wont have as much space, but we can use a few of these ideas.