Covered run without a coop??

[Lesean2016]

I have a 10x 12 completely covered run. I want to see if anyone has opinions about setting up roosting and nest boxes sans a coop. I live in a very humid coastal area. For example here we are in the middle of January and we have a balmy 75 degree day out here. I was thinking of putting up a back wall and two side walls and creating a roosting area and attach some nesting boxes somehow. Im just trying to see what the actual use of a coop is other than extra protection. I don't lock my flock up at night they free range through the day and then put themselves up into their run at night. I have a very small box that they will lay eggs in and then about 7 of my flock will cram in their together the rest will get on the top. I feel like if they had roosting bars they would all use those. If i do what Im thinking they would be protected on three sides and if for some strange phenomenon we get a super dip in temp then I have heat lamps I hang. Im more of the school of thought that they are chickens and they are created to warm and cool themselves if given the right environment. I use the heat lamps only when the temp drops below 40. Anyway any body have a set up similar? Thanks!

 

[Matilda Belle]

First off, you don't need heat lamps when it's below 40. That's pretty warm. If it goes below zero degrees you can add heat. I wouldn't use a heat lamp. Buy a heat panel or a sweeter heater. They're much safer. I don't think you need to worry about heat where you live IMO.

One thing I would be worried about with not having a coop is predators. If predators catch sight of possible food, that's more motivation to break into your run at night even if it is well-built. I'd build/buy a coop if I were you. Just my two cents.

 

[quackingdom]

That's basically what I have. It's a mobile pen, covered on the back and sides but not the front, with a roost. It does have a raised wooden platform with bedding in the back end, which a couple broody ducks have used to hatch ducklings, chicks, and goslings, but I don't think even that was necessary. I was planning to put nest boxes on this platform, but my chickens either lay in the corner of it or in a nest box in their free ranging area, so I decided it wasn't necessary. It almost never gets below 50 degrees here, so the temperature isn't an issue.

Some predators might be able to rip the chicken wire off the front, but nothing has ever happened to any of my birds while they were in their mobile night pens.

 

[Shadrach]

I assume you are talking about 10 feet by 12 feet but you don't say how many chickens you have. I get the impression that it is more than ten chickens (?)
A picture of the run would be helpful.
In principle what you are suggestinng is fine. I know of other chicken keepers who do something similar but with runs 10X the size you are talking about for a dozen, or so chickens. I know people will tell you ten square feet per bird is fine; it isn't really.
Then there is a question of how secure your run really is. A poster above mentions chicken wire for example, so I know their run isn't secure.
There is nothing wrong with the idea, it's the implementation that makes it work or not.

 

[quackingdom]

I know people will tell you ten square feet per bird is fine; it isn't really.

That's for the daytime, though, right? For the night, all they do is roost, so 5 square feet per bird should be plenty. It sounds to me like the OP free ranges their birds for the day.

My mobile coop/run definitely isn't as secure as a coop, but I should mention it's not the regular chicken wire with massive holes. I can barely fit my finger through the holes. I don't remember the exact size or what it's called. But yeah, if predators might be an issue, a full coop is probably much safer than a covered run.

 

[Lesean2016]

I assume you are talking about 10 feet by 12 feet but you don't say how many chickens you have. I get the impression that it is more than ten chickens (?)
A picture of the run would be helpful.
In principle what you are suggestinng is fine. I know of other chicken keepers who do something similar but with runs 10X the size you are talking about for a dozen, or so chickens. I know people will tell you ten square feet per bird is fine; it isn't really.
Then there is a question of how secure your run really is. A poster above mentions chicken wire for example, so I know their run isn't secure.
There is nothing wrong with the idea, it's the implementation that makes it work or not.

Thanks for the reply! Yes thats feet. And Im not concerned with size of the run. I was seeing if an enclosed coop/house was needed. My birds spend about 8-10 hours a day ranging my yard and my neighbors yard. The only time they are confined is on really nasty days and i don't feel like going outside to let them out. So far all my girls get along fine (2 years of cohabitation) no one picks on anyone else when they have to spend a couple days confined. Im torn on the type of coop/house design seeing how a majority of the flock like roosting outside of the box at this point. They have high perches and thats where they go. Only my silkie and my youngest birds go into the box. So Im looking to see what others have done. although i understand a coop/house is the norm.

 

[Lesean2016]

That's for the daytime, though, right? For the night, all they do is roost, so 5 square feet per bird should be plenty. It sounds to me like the OP free ranges their birds for the day.

My mobile coop/run definitely isn't as secure as a coop, but I should mention it's not the regular chicken wire with massive holes. I can barely fit my finger through the holes. I don't remember the exact size or what it's called. But yeah, if predators might be an issue, a full coop is probably much safer than a covered run.

Yes they are given free range of mine and my neighbors yard pretty much every day. My run is covered top, sides and three feet out at the bottom with hardware cloth. Then it has roofing over the hardware cloth top so they stay completely dry when it rains.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for the reply! Yes thats feet. And Im not concerned with size of the run. I was seeing if an enclosed coop/house was needed. My birds spend about 8-10 hours a day ranging my yard and my neighbors yard. The only time they are confined is on really nasty days and i don't feel like going outside to let them out. So far all my girls get along fine (2 years of cohabitation) no one picks on anyone else when they have to spend a couple days confined. Im torn on the type of coop/house design seeing how a majority of the flock like roosting outside of the box at this point. They have high perches and thats where they go. Only my silkie and my youngest birds go into the box. So Im looking to see what others have done. although i understand a coop/house is the norm.

I would go for it then. It gets forgotten that predators break into coops as well as runs.
If you can make the run secure then I believe chickens are healthier roosting outside.

 

[Ridgerunner]

From a quick check, it's only gotten below 10 Fahrenheit in nearby Charleston two times since 1938. Charleston has an average of only 32 days a year below freezing and not much below. Pretty mild winters. John's Island is really close to water which helps keep temperatures mild.

From seeing chickens roost in trees in temperatures below 0 F I'd think you'd be OK with three sides blocked from wind with no heat. Put the roosts in a corner. If you want to be even safer put a windblock at roost level on that fourth side. I'd totally forget the heat of any kind, it's not necessary.

 

[rosemarythyme]

As long as the structure is secure enough (predator proof) and provides adequate weather protection, there's absolutely no requirement to have an enclosed coop. The chickens are probably a lot happier staying "out" in the run.

A solid wall (or two) in the direction of prevailing winds is a good idea to both buffer winds and to protect from rain. I would probably place roosts against the wall(s) to take advantage of the protection it provides. Nest boxes can be as simple as a few small dog houses on the ground or I've seen people get creative with plant pots, old chimneas, etc.

I'd totally forget the heat of any kind, it's not necessary.

x2. 40 degrees is absolutely no problem for a chicken. Keep in mind many keepers deal with freezing/below freezing temps, without need for a heat source.