Fixed Runs: Unhealthy or acceptable?

[Carolot]

I do have a 20 x 20 chain link fence for my permanent quarters for my 3 chickens. (will increase soon) Chickens let out on grass yard daily what ever the weather because if its raining chickens get into barn. I blow dirt and any loose poop out with my air compressor when necessary. Did someone say "common sense" Do what is best for the chickens and cleanliness. I think that the supervised free ranging idea is the best, and cleanest. My chickens free range every day and go into pen at night. They keep me company

 

[sweetcorn]

As long as you have a big enough run for the amount of chickens you have , this isn't a problem. When i was a kid we had chickens in the same large run , usually about 12 - 15 banties at a time for yearsssss and flies, smell and disease were never a problem. The run was very large though , probably at 250 sq feet of outdoor space ( 50 x 50 ), and although there were some bare spots where they dug and dustbathed , most of the run remained grass covered. My mother in law on the other hand has 40 large chickens in a 30 x 30 run and it is nothing but dirt, no vegetation left. Even with this there is no smell, no flies ( other than in the pig barn

) and no disease. Our girls currently have a temporary run until we get the big run built , right now its 12 x 12 for 17 youngsters born in august , even that has no smell or flies.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Does it really have to be one or the other?
In my case where I live in Europe (The Netherlands) where birdflu incidents often result here in (temporary/seasonal) recquirement that you keep your birds enclosed (so any outdoor faceilites must contain the birds and be under a roof) ... I have this permanent run paved in large cement pavers (which means the capability of truly being able to disinfect which you cannot do with soil/sand)... during this time I make use of tractor (roofed) to allow access to grass and insects. As there are no predators to speak of here when the restrictions are not in place my birds come and go as they please.
In the USA where there are predators and thus what I call "restrictive practices" are really the norm there with you all if you want to provide adequate protection. Why not pave/cement the run and coop floor (so it can be truly cleaned) and then simply employ tractor(s) moved regularly to "fresh" areas regularly?

 

[PAJerry]

I have 10 hens in a 18ft. X 25ft. net-covered run. It has a nice slope to it and dries soon after a rain. It doesn't smell and the only thing I rake out is the left over stems and rinds of garden veggies I feed them. I plan on dumping leaves in there soon so they can dig through them for bugs and stuff for entertainment. My birds seem very healthy and very happy so I'm going to continue doing what I've done.

After seeing the conditions that a lot of the commercial operations use, I wouldn't be too concerned about what method the backyard grower uses because it HAS to be a lot better for the birds than that. Good feed, fresh air, sunshine and loving attention should keep our birds healthier than 99% of those kept in commercial operations. The taste and quality of our eggs proves that!

 

[jmc]

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. ALL THESE REPLIES MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A CELEBRITY, LOL.

I think you all deserve a chocolate!

I am about to complete a new run area, 1296 square feet (36' x 36') to be covered by top rite netting from cutlers supply. I think this should be big enough for my whopping flock of...................7 birds!!!

Thank you for all those fantastic replies. I'm printing this whole shmeer out. I am very much the unsure beginner--and something of an idealist, which can get one into trouble sometimes!

I can't believe what I have learned from BYC since just July 22 '08 when I came on board!

Thank you again

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
I would say that's a luxurious accommodation for 7 birds!
I do use some small movable pens for conditioning young birds but mu main coop is 24' x 36' so moving it is difficult! I also raise 250-300 birds each year & that would involve a lot of tractors. I have fixed runs on either end of the coop. Both runs are partially shaded & one encloses several trees. In the fall, after I have closed things down but before the ground freezes I rototill as much of the coop as possible & scatter annual rye grass seed. In the spring I wait until the grass is growing before I turn birds out into the runs.
We have been where we live for 20 years now & these runs have been in use for all that time. I fact one of the runs was there when we arrived so who knows how long it's been a run.
I don't have a problem with disease or internal parasites so I assume what I'm doing is OK. I do think it's important to keep the soil in the run loosened & to divert runoff so the run doesn't get muddy but don't see any reason why a well maintained run shouldn't be fine for a long time.

 

[ams3651]

I only have run with plenty of room for my 6 birds. I did free range them until they spent more time in my neighbors yard than mine. Im only going on a few months but no problems. I had half covered till my strong fall winds started and I know snow would be too heavy. I do plan on expanding the run and alternating and making a tractor for the warmer weather in my garden. They get colver, grass and corn so they keep the run scratched up pretty well. Now that I see it mentioned here I will lime or other things to help.

 

[vfem]

I have a small fixed run for their morning outtings. Then I collect the eggs and open the run to the free world. We're adding sand and mixing it around to keep it sanitary while they are in there. I see no problem with not moving the run... especially since they free range 75% of the day!? Besides, properly taken care of, a stationary run should be just fine, and plenty safe. Some people don't get to drag their chicken tractors around as they haven't the yard space, and they are trying to save their small lawns. Long as the run is the proper size, I don't see any issue.

 

[sweetcorn]

Quote:
Woot woot , bring on the choccies !!

That sounds like a lovely large yard for 7 birds, lucky chickens !! Good luck!

 

[fowltemptress]

Quote:
Good gracious! You black hearted ghoul! how can you even think of restricting so many birds to such meager accommodations?