a run or not a run, that is the question

[Chicks Galore3]

Thanks a bunch everyone! I think i'll make a small five foot or so tall run, for when i want them outside, but not want them all over the place. (like when little kids come)
As for dogs, I live in the country and i have a neighbor, a mile or so away from me, but they have chickens and dogs so the dogs are accustomed to chickens and won't eat them!
We do have Raccoon, Possum, and Skunk problems sometimes. (our cat just got sprayed, in fact.

) but that is a risk i am willing to take for my girls to be happy!

 

[AlienChick]

We also have a run about 5' tall that is small but it's only there for days when we're not home and cannot let the chickens out.
Otherwise, they free range all day and go in/out of the coop through the run.
I close the gate to the run at night and leave their chicken door open so they can go in/out if they want before I get up in the morning.

Quote:

 

[teach1rusl]

My girls "free range" on our fenced 2 1/2 acres 95% of the time. But that other 5% makes me greatful that we have covered runs, for times when we're out of town for the weekend or know we're going to be home really late. If our property was not fenced, they would be confined to covered runs.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

I think we have about 6.4 acres of land, so they can free range without road-crossing problems or run out of space problems.

 

[Me & Jack]

My biggest problem with letting my birds free-range was not with predators but with sneaky hens laying their eggs all over the place -- under the barn, in the loft, behind the shed. Wondered why our laying rate was so poor until I found dozens of eggs in multiple locations over several months. That's when I stopped letting them free-range since their "job" was to give us eggs for ourselves and for friends and family. Still, their run at the time was 700 sq. feet (not covered), so it's not like they suffered too much! LOL

 

[JodyJo]

I have over 300 acres for mine to free range...we also have a small run. On days we can't be there, they can come and go out of the coop, and be safe. I have their feed and water in the run...with a drop door that I secure at night, they all go in around 4:30 now, I just drop the door and lock it. The coop door stays open all night with a curtain over it to help keep the cold freezing winds down. (we have gotten to -29* here)

So in my opinion, a run is a must...but each to his own, whichever works for you and your environment.

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Me & Jack :

My biggest problem with letting my birds free-range was not with predators but with sneaky hens laying their eggs all over the place -- under the barn, in the loft, behind the shed. Wondered why our laying rate was so poor until I found dozens of eggs in multiple locations over several months. That's when I stopped letting them free-range since their "job" was to give us eggs for ourselves and for friends and family. Still, their run at the time was 700 sq. feet (not covered), so it's not like they suffered too much! LOL

I don't think predators are to much of a problem (of course, their're still there...) And we have a pretty open area boarded with trees on two sides, and feilds on the rest.

So there isn't much 'sheltered' and 'dark' places for them to lay eggs....oh wait....long grass....

mumble mumble GRRR​

 

[williamsl77]

I thought I wanted to let my chickens free range all day. Chickens poop a lot. So now I let them out for 1-2 hours a day. Having a run makes that possible, so they can be outside whenever they want, but not always out in the yard.

 

[KFaye]

I have a run attached to my coop. The run has a door so they can free range. I set this up so they can have fresh air in safety, kind of a screened in porch I guess you could say. It has a cover and for winter I plywood the sides (except for the door) to keep the breeze down. The free range most of the time but for some reason they haven't ventured out this past week....dogs..do you have something you need to confess?