ADVICE ON FLOOR OF RUN FOR NEWBIE

[bluie]

Quote:
I would completely remove them, taking all the poo with them, weekly. Then just add fresh leaves.

 

[eggchel]

If you run is large enough in comparison to the number of hens in it then you dont need to rake it out. The rain and the actions of the hens scratching will break it down into the soil.

We dont lock the pop door at night in those pens that are wired over the top and that have protection against digging at the bottom.

 

[Bondojoe]

I'm in the process of building my run now. I have been thinking of running a hot wire along the bottom of the run to keep predators from digging in.
My children are older now with the youngest at 14, she would know better than touch the wire. I wouldn't suggest it if you have young children.
I'm also enclosing the top of the run with chicken wire and feel confident that the chickens will be safe.

 

[cmom]

I live on several acres so I can't give you great advice. My run off my coop does have chicken wire over the top. Also I have wood over the wire which was added later for shading the run for hot sunny summer days. My run is a framed even along the bottom of it. I have another fenced area that is uncovered for the birds to range in off the run. I started off with 6 pullets in my coop and run. My flock has since expanded and so has their fenced in yard. I have electric wire around the yard and run. I had a neighborhood dog who runs loose dig under my fence during the day and kill one of my hens. A while back a possum tried to dig under the fence and got zapped. There are pictures on my BYC Page.

 

[chellyroo]

Lots of great postings, thank you all so much for your valuable advice and suggestions!
We got our 10 chicks yesterday--they were one day old. They're doing fantastically! Eating well, drinking well...we are just in love with them. The only dread we have is that because they are straight run we know many will end up being roosters (which the seller is willing to buy back) so our hopes are that we end up with the 4 or 5 hens we wanted.
The seller told us to get Terramycin for the water, which we did and I added according to the directions. what exactly is this for and how long should I give it to them? Also, when I went to the seed store before we got the chicks, I asked for chick starter, and the guy loaded the bag in my truck; when we got the chicks, I noticed it does not say anywhere on the bag that it is specifically for chicks (thought they are eating it well), it just says Tri Check Quality feed and shows poultry on the bag. Could they have given me regualr chicken feed? If so, is it ok to feed them this?

 

[hensonly]

Quote:
I did the Terramycin thing, too, but won't next time. The dose is a low maintenance dose, too low to do anything except create more antibiotic-resistant bugs! If they get sick, they'd need a much higher dose than what you're giving them, and if you keep them clean, dry, warm, fed and watered, they shouldn't get sick. That's a synopsis of what I was told when I asked the Forum the same question.

As far as the food - you should NOT feed layer feed to chicks, among other things, it's far too high in calcium, which can cause serious problems. They will need the extra calcium when they start laying, to form egg shells, but not now. Someone else can tell you the exact composition of chick feed, but look carefully at the bag. It should say somewhere on there what age poultry it's for. Also, there are different formulas for different types of poultry and they are not always interchangeable.

I get my feed at Tractor Supply, or Agway has it, too, but it should absloutely be feed that is formulated for chicks. There's starter/grower, and grower/finisher, and layer feed. They are different, for different nutritional needs at different ages.

You will likely end up with 50-50 as far as gender, that's the natural ratio.

 

[mightieskeeper]

I will be working on my run soon. I want to put a apron of 2 feet down would that be enough? Thanks

 

[chellyroo]

I did the Terramycin thing, too, but won't next time. The dose is a low maintenance dose, too low to do anything except create more antibiotic-resistant bugs! If they get sick, they'd need a much higher dose than what you're giving them, and if you keep them clean, dry, warm, fed and watered, they shouldn't get sick. That's a synopsis of what I was told when I asked the Forum the same question.

Turns out I actually *did* get chick feed-- I didn't know it was on the bag tag and not the bag itself. I'm sure I gave the old guys at the seed and feed store a few good yuks!

Thanks for the info on the Terramycin. I knew I was probably overdoing everything, I tend to do that when I pick up a new obsession!

On our run, we're going to try to get my very capable carpenter brother to help my husband build something like a 3ft high 4x8 rectangle (is that large enough for 4-5 hens?) and I would like the top to have hinges so that I can just open the whole thing up when it needs cleaning out (of course having locks of some sort to keep out meanies!) or maybe forget the hinges and just have several ways to lock it down on all sides. Does anyone see any glaring faults? Please, don't spare my feelings! (I get the feeling this bunch won't!)

 

[chellyroo]

Quote:
Turns out I actually *did* get chick feed-- I didn't know it was on the bag tag and not the bag itself. I'm sure I gave the old guys at the seed and feed store a few good yuks!

Thanks for the info on the Terramycin. I knew I was probably overdoing everything, I tend to do that when I pick up a new obsession!

On our run, we're going to try to get my very capable carpenter brother to help my husband build something like a 3ft high 4x8 rectangle (is that large enough for 4-5 hens?) and I would like the top to have hinges so that I can just open the whole thing up when it needs cleaning out (of course having locks of some sort to keep out meanies!) or maybe forget the hinges and just have several ways to lock it down on all sides. Does anyone see any glaring faults? Please, don't spare my feelings! (I get the feeling this bunch won't!)

Anyone got any feedback for me on this?

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
You're asking about the pen size? I'm not totally clear on whether this is the size of just the coop, or just the run, or both combined; it is good for a coop, adequate but not overly generous for a run, and either barely- or less-than-sufficient if it's the total combined space.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat