Chicken Run Question

[Southern28Chick]

I have a question about my chicken yard.

It's 40'x50' and I have a 6'x7' house. I was going to add a run on the side of the house for a secure place to be at night, they could go in the house or have outside area with roosts as well. Does this sound safe? I have opossums out here the size of small dogs!!! I hear they can break through chicken wire so I'm thinking maybe I should save my money, not build the run and just lock the chickens in the house at night.

What do y'all think?

Here's a picture of my chicken yard and coop:

Thanks in advance for y'alls input!!!

 

[nikkimay]

If it were me - i'd keep them locked in the coop at night.

 

[allen wranch]

I agree.
If you can't provide a Fort Knox pen, lock them up at night.

Mine go in and out at will, but the pen is chicken wire covered with welded wire on all sides and on the top. The fence has an "L" shaped apron to prevent digging under.

 

[Southern28Chick]

Anyone else have an suggestions?

 

[allen wranch]

A livestock guardian dog in the pen to watch them, or putting an electric wire around the bottom and at the top of the fence would also work if you don't want to lock them up. Either way, you don't want them to roost outside at night if the run is not covered because of owls. They like chicken too !

Another thought. I see you have some ventilation at the top of your coop, but with summer coming, you might think about cutting a window in the side too. You can cover it in hardware cloth for predator control. Come winter, just staple some clear plastic over it.

 

[Southern28Chick]

We're going to add 2 windows. We just haven't gotten that far yet.

Oh by the way, we get our chicks WEDNESDAY!!!