A cluttered run

[3KillerBs]

but each keeper should use whatever works in their climate and set up.

This.

We're all different in our preferences and management styles. Fortunately, chickens are tough, adaptable animals who are capable of thriving in a wide array of setups assuming that their basic needs of food, weather-protection, and elbow room are met.

 

[Hip Hillbilly Acres]

Chickens don't really poop on most of the clutter, even if they do, I just knock it onto the ground.

I mean, you're going to have to clean, no matter what form of litter/poop control you use. Not sure why you're implying that deep litter + cleaning a coop once a year is somehow more work than a different type of litter

Looks like I need to go back and reread what I wrote Because I had no intention of implying what you wrote.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks like I need to go back and reread what I wrote Because I had no intention of implying what you wrote.

The joy of internet/forum communication is sometimes what we write gets interpreted differently by the reader.

 

[LadyBBGoneCountry]

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

Thanks for all the info.

 

[LadyBBGoneCountry]

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

Wow, everyone here has such great and unique ideas. No wonder I had a problem. Our run was empty except for a tree. lol. We now have a pallet pyramid but may rethink its placement after seeing all the ideas. Thank you all so much !

 

[Fontaine]

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You gave me some good ideas. Wouldn’t you know I had a wooden pallet sitting in the woods and about a month ago I finally thought I’ll never use this, so I got rid of it. Lol I do have some pieces of particleboard in the garage I could bring out and rig something up, thanks

Just to note, you don't need as much stuff as shown in the photos. The birds still need open space to move about. In a smaller set up smaller obstacles are fine too - some overturned plant pots, wood ladders, unused patio furniture... the idea is to give birds a way to break line of sight if another is giving them the stink eye or chasing them.

oh that’s a good point break in the line of sight. Never thought of that makes sense. Thanks.!

 

[TooCheep]

Bumping to hopefully make more people aware of this technique to help their flocks.

I'm not surprised that there are benefits for chickens in cluttered environments. They were bred from jungle fowl which do not generally inhabit large, open fields. Having places to roost, hide behind and duck under better matches their original environment than large open spaces/runs.

 

[saracarver3]

Where did you get the turtle sandbox and what kind of dusting material do you use? I’ve noticed my birds like the dry dirt in my yard but don’t really want to dig a hold to fill a bath. What other options has anyone used with success?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Where did you get the turtle sandbox and what kind of dusting material do you use? I’ve noticed my birds like the dry dirt in my yard but don’t really want to dig a hold to fill a bath. What other options has anyone used with success?

This one?

It's a Little Tikes sandbox, I sometimes see them left on the curb for "Free" once someone's toddler outgrows it (which is how I got mine). I use peat moss as the material but if the birds have loose dirt in the yard that they like, you could just dig some up and use that instead.

 

[igorsMistress]

Where did you get the turtle sandbox and what kind of dusting material do you use? I’ve noticed my birds like the dry dirt in my yard but don’t really want to dig a hold to fill a bath. What other options has anyone used with success?

Let them just use the dirt in the yard?