Fixed Runs: Unhealthy or acceptable?

[the1much]

dont forget to check out the ground, the plants, and the bugs and diseases where your moving ya tractor too,, every move raises the chances of putting your birds in a "not so healthy" spot.

 

[asher]

I have fixed runs with attached coop and mini barn (depending on the run). We clean out our coop/barn and runs on a regular basis, as well as use garden lime on the outdoor run and d.e and put in lots of fresh pine bedding.

Works for us and the alternative for me is letting my dogs and cats eat them or having stray dogs get them. No thanks!

 

[1acrefarm]

I do fine with a fixed run and my goats even get night penned with the chickens. I do remove a good bit of extra dirt when I clean the coop and run. when it rains I remove all the mud layer as well. I do occasionally put sand in for makeup dirt. I need the sand to help break up the clay. I rototill the run once a year as well. (makes it easy to rake level)
On edit my stove ashes go in in the winter and I use lime the rest of the year.

 

[bkbuz1987]

I too am a beginer and have a fixed run. We have MANY preditors here that's why they don't free range. I clean the run regulary and use DE. They love the combo dust and dirt baths.

I am going to put sand in the run this spring because the little buggers have dug the dirt so much (which is something I didn't know chickens would do)

 

[Faye]

Which is better... free range on acres with mountain lions and bears ??

Or in a pen 24/7 in the city ???

I think "ALL WE NEED IS LOVE.... LOVE.... LOVE IS ALL WE NEED"

 

[rooster-red]

If there were one perfect solution, be it stationary runs or mobile, everyone of us would be using that one sole method.

Truth is, there are so many variables and so many different situations that neither is perfect for everyone. You have to determine which is best for your situation, and no expert or book can tell you what is best for you unless they've checked out your particular situation.

I will say that I personaly use 2 well maintained and well drained stationary runs and have done so for years without any parasite infestations.

These runs are 40 feet from my back door, so its not like I wouldn't know if they were smelly, or fly infested.

I do let my birds free range when I can supervise them (2-3 days a week), so its not like they spend 365 days locked in one spot.

 

[CritterHill]

Hmm, interesting, I never thought about cleaning the run before (our chickens have only been in the coop/run for 4 months or so).

So I have a question. I have 11 chickens and a 30' x 20' run. It is on top/side of a hill - rainwater promptly drains down the side of the hill. The footing is dirt and rock - a couple boulders they like to perch on. We also dumped a bunch of sand in one corner to give them something nice to dust bathe in.

Now that the leaves are falling, they have a nice layer of leaves in the run to dig through.

The run really hasn't developed a smell at all. I was assuming that the rain would just basically wash it out since it is on the hillside. But now I am thinking I am wrong and I may need to rake it out periodically.

How often do folks do that? Just when it starts to look/smell like it needs it?

Just curious. Thanks.

 

[the1much]

im an over achiever,, i clean my coops and runs out once a week,, i dont like the deep litter method cause "things" can hide in dere,,lol,, and i wouldnt have any excuse to get away from the wifers,,lol,, thats NOT saying i do it right,, or wrong,, but doing it once a week,, i can "check" on multiple things things at 1 time,, next year i plan on having ALOT more pens,, so i will probably do the cleaning once a month, and use the deep litter method.


EDIT: ta say,, if you wait till it smells and gets yucky,, its kinda too late, and MORE work.

 

[country freedom]

With 2 of my henhouses, I'm going to have three large henyards each -
front, two side/backyards.

I'm thinking that I can rotate which henyard my chickens will go into every week/bi-weekly -
three pop doors in each henhouse, one to each henyard, both side/back henyards will have a gate (for people), connecting to the front henyards, and the front henyards will connect to the fenced-in garden.

My Bantams will be in housing that will have 2 pop-doors, and 2 large henyards (front/back) of their housing.

I'm going about doing this, because I don't want my chickens in my yard.
My house - My yards
Henhouse - Henyards

I've looked at coops with fixed henyards, and they look so depressing to me. It's like having your whole yard with no grass, bushes, flowering plants, etc......just dirt. Just depressing to me.

 

[CritterHill]

Quote:
Yeah, I kindof figured as much. Once a week just aint happening here. Honestly, it just doesn't seem at all dirtier than when they were first moved there. I suspect the hill and torrential downpours are helping me out there.

I have shoveled out the coop once so far. I was going for the deep litter method and it was going really well. nice deep bedding, no smell, everything was staying dry. then DH refilled the waterer and ended up having it drain the entire 5 gallons of water into the bedding IN the coop. Gasp, gack! Oh man was that nasty. That got the whole coop shoveled out right quick.