Fixed Runs: Unhealthy or acceptable?

[DaKid]

OK I skim through this thread of 4 page long I too am new
only been raise chicken for a yr or so out side
I build a coop made it so I can easy clean out and easy up -n- to wash down , my runs are fix I wish I could have them free range but really don't want the neighbors or no predators getting P -off or ate up so I have them pen up in a lager run plus don't need them getting into the woods behind my proerty and getting lost-eaten or whatever .

Anyway if you keep up with the clean up and like most have started placing sand in the run and raking it out ( da poop that is ) then all should be good if ya see that thing are getting a bit smell will ur not cleaning or have way to many chickens for that run and coop .

I too purchase many books on raising chicken and other farm animals just like all of my other hobbys , but some have started that what you read with a grain of salt .............the best reasult is read.books .... talk to others ........get all the infor . as you can and minus 45% and add 20% then thing about the do's and don't and take it from there , but the best infor. is from other raiser like from here , they been there , done that , and have great infor. .....books are only good for the basic in my mind , go with the people that are doing it now ....


with that beening said coop -n- fix run
Unhealthy or acceptable

well it up to you on how you keep your run and how many birds u have


you really can't have 10 people sleep and living in a 3 room house and not keep it clean and health can ya


OK MY 2 CENT WORTH


GOOD LUCK


AL.

 

[jmc]

Thank you for the replies, all!

But, I thought lime was dangerous for chickens. I guess raking it in gets it out of their reach???

What is the lime for anyway--just to sweeten the soil? I wonder what the point to lime is, anyway.

Actually rototilling a run, eh? Wow. Like putting your chickens on an unplanted garden! If it rains soon after you till, then you have a nice deep layer of pretty muddy stuff..........Hmmmm........

 

[speckledhen]

Well, it does sweeten the soil. If you think about what it's used for-that's what they pour over the bodies of animals on the side of the road to break down the body faster. It's done here all the time. It breaks down organic compounds. You dont want them walking on straight lime, though pulverized limestone is probably milder than hydrated lime (if I have my terms correct). I till it under or at least spade the ground over, or you can keep them off till it rains once or twice so it seeps into the ground.

 

[JennsPeeps]

You *are* a celebrity, Chickenmonk, because BYC so often sees the same questios over & over that it's refreshing to get one that hasn't been debated.

I've got an urban flock of 4, which means a fixed run. The girls FR when I'm home, and stay in the run when I'm at work. Since I'm also a commuter and winter is coming, that means they're in the run M-F right now (sooo sad!).

I clean their coop weekly and have been adding leaves to the run as I prune things around my yard. I remove the branches after the chooks have turned the leaves unto mulch for me.

I'm going to add some sand in a couple of weeks and put a cover on the run - we're in the Seattle are, which is prone to rain. My poor little banty cochin is miserable in the rain because she gets so wet and cold.

We plan to extend the run in the spring when we get more chickens.

Oh and by "we" I mean *DBF* will extend the run when *I* get more chooks.

 

[chickeepoo]

I've been reading through all these replies and have a question (or two):

With 4 RIR's and limited space, would a sand-filled 4x8 yard attached to my Lowe's playhouse be enough space for them, assuming it's raked weekly and I give the girls some greens to make up for their lost free-range option?

And where can I get this DE to sprinkle in their coop? And lime is not the same thing?

 

[Katy]

My runs are all fixed. Some areas of them have had chickens in the same area for 35 years!! I've never had any issues with health and diseases. If you don't over stock and keep things clean you shouldn't have an issue with disease.

 

[pips&peeps]

I have over 150 chickens and free ranging is not an option, especially for breeders.

I did let all my babies grow out in my garden area in '06 and '07. And, that is when I had disease problems................

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
It's not the greatest arrangment but it's certainly not terrible and IMO you have a reasonable shot at it not gettin' you into trouble.

And where can I get this DE to sprinkle in their coop? And lime is not the same thing?

Lime is not the same thing. There are some other threads here (use the 'search' feature in the blue banner, above) discussing sources. The important thing is to use DE labelled FOOD GRADE. Pool or garden type DE are *not* the same thing, no matter what some self-assured dingdong at the feed store tells you; food grade does not have much sharp crystalline silica (which is an irritant to respiratory membranes, to the point of being capable of causing serious illness) the way pool or garden type DE do. Hopefully you can find somewhere locally that has it, or a feedstore that can special-order the RIGHT type for you; it is not expensive per se but if you want to mail-order it the shipping greatly increases the overall price because of the weight. It is not like you *need* DE to keep chickens, btw, it is just handy in some ways.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat​

 

[Wildsky]

My chickens free-range.

That said, my original "plan" was to have a run on each side of the coop - and rotating them by season - leaving one side to rest for a few months before letting the chickens back into that side, and closing the other.

 

[Anny]

My chickens have a fixed run because it's safest for them. I keep the run clean which might require a little more work, but I'd rather have a little more work then have dead chickens.

I also put grass clipping in the run when I mow the lawn (with my push mower)