Do Chickens Really Need a Run?

[Cyprus]

Runs provide access to the outdoors for chickens in confinement, but are they really necessary?
I understand that if a chicken is free range they may not need a run. That's not the focus of my question. I am wondering about chickens who do not free range, who are captive 24/7.
Assuming that a coop meets adequate ventilation and square footage.
I've kept large fowl birds always with a run and adequate coop. I've never, ever given my bantams (now deceased) runs. Not even my breeding pens. What would be the considerations for going without a run? Would certain breeds not be advisable for this method? Is it detrimental to the health of the birds?
If toys are added, or flock blocks or other distractions, maybe the birds won't get too bored. Would a rooster overbreed hens in confinement?
With us approaching spring, and coop plans on the horizon, I feel this is an important topic to cover. All insight is welcome, participation is encouraged.
Some examples of coops with and without runs.

A good read on the subject: https://richsoil.com/raising-chickens.jsp

This discussion is not meant to be about critiquing me, it is meant to be an informative discussion for all readers.

 

[backyard pigeons]

Good qeustion. I mean back 50 years it was practically unheard of to have a run. And they may or may not have free ranged during the day. I do feel it's good for health, but if proper ventilation and space is met, it's double without one. My pigeons don't have a run. And they are fine.

 

[DobieLover]

Runs provide access to the outdoors for chickens in confinement, but are they really necessary?
I understand that if a chicken is free range they may not need a run. That's not the focus of my question. I am wondering about chickens who do not free range, who are captive 24/7.
Assuming that a coop meets adequate ventilation and square footage.
I've kept large fowl birds always with a run and adequate coop. I've never, ever given my bantams runs. Not even my breeding pens. What would be the considerations for going without a run? Would certain breeds not be advisable for this method? Is it detrimental to the health of the birds?
If toys are added, or flock blocks or other distractions, maybe the birds won't get too bored. Would a rooster overbreed hens in confinement?
With us approaching spring, and coop plans on the horizon, I feel this is an important topic to cover. All insight is welcome, participation is encouraged.
Some examples of coops with and without runs.
View attachment 1632504

I'm sure the birds could survive in a coop without a run.
And you could survive locked in your bathroom as long as someone brought you food. I don't think you'd be too happy not getting out in the fresh air and sunshine and feeling the earth beneath your feet, but you'd survive. Maybe even have fun playing with the shampoo bottles!

 

[Cyprus]

I'm sure the birds could survive in a coop without a run.
And you could survive locked in your bathroom as long as someone brought you food. I don't think you'd be too happy not getting out in the fresh air and sunshine and feeling the earth beneath your feet, but you'd survive. Maybe even have fun playing with the shampoo bottles!

Well yes, a bird can live in a coop with no run for sure Mine did for over a year before I rearranged how they were kept. I'm hoping we get a lot of good community discussion on this topic because I'm sure there's more to it than meets the surface.

 

[123RedBeard]

Ask the battery hens ... ?

 

[Shadrach]

What have you got against your bantams then?

 

[Acre4Me]

Ask the battery hens ... ?

Battery hens are kept in small cages. OP is talking about a coop, which is generally much larger.

 

[N F C]

I can't free range due to the number of predators around here so I provide a run. I think it's healthy for the flock to be able to get outside and stretch their wings, soak up some sunshine, scratch in the dirt, break up coop boredom, etc.

No matter how large a coop is, I believe the chickens still need to be able to go outside for the benefits afforded them. If I were to relate run vs. no run to myself, no matter how large of a house I live in, I enjoy and benefit from being outside.

 

[Callender Girl]

The coop in my avatar is home to a Wyandotte and two bantams. It did not come with a run, but there are plans for one in the spring. The girls can live successfully in terms of space, roosts and nesting boxes, and there is ventilation.

But I feel guilty if I don't at least let them out into a nearby run daily so they can revel in whatever sunshine we have and dig into the dirt for baths (Iowa is having quite unseasonably warm temps right now -- into the high 40s).

They sometimes do some free-ranging with my other birds, but there are some safety issues with my tiny bantams -- one of which has a bum leg -- and my very assertive rooster.

Maybe it's more about me than about the chickens, but I think they NEED to experience the outdoors, as we all do.

 

[Acre4Me]

Over the summer visited relatives in E. WA. One of their friends had 5 acres, some large livestock, and chickens. They had built a decent size building (30x40?) where there were two or three separate indoor confinement areas for flocks with a pop door to a rectangular run for each. High desert in this area, so ground is sandy, dry dirt...nothing green. In the winter, they just close off the pop door and chickens confined inside 24/7. But, seemed pretty roomy, good ceiling height, solid walls between flocks, but HWC on side facing human access corridor/supply area. Owner indicated it worked really well. Previously, they had owned a large ranch with large animals along with chickens in similar set-up (run for summer/coop only in winter) before retiring to a smaller acreage.