free range run

[chicks]

Ok I have 5 chickens. My husband made a beautiful coop and attched run that is extremely secure. The run is filled with sand and right now everything is perfect! We live in town, on 1/2 acre of land. We want to make a free range run up a decent section of our property. The area will be to 20 feet wide by 150 feet long. We need to enclose it because of our dog. We want to just use chicken wire and welded wire fencing together and it would 5 feet tall. My question is what about the top. Do we need to cover? Will they fly away? They will only be in this area when we are home. Please help, don't know where to start. Thank You

 

[JessicaAndHerChickens]

I am new to having chickens, but as far as having a top. I would definitely have a top or else they will get out. I am 5'4" tall and my chickens will fly taller than I am to get to something or away from something. Plus a top would protect them from any predators. We have hawks in our area.

 

[sussexgal]

I think it would depend on your birds. Are they standard large breeds or bantums. Have you seen them fly up before? Another consideration is birds of prey. If you have hawks, flacons, etc - you may want a cover of some type to keep them out. If not, then my thoughts are that it all depends on your birds.

 

[chicks]

I have 4 buff Orpington and 1 silverlaced Wyandotte, I have seen them jump up before, but not fly. They are 4 months old. I just really want them to have access to some grass. Any suggestions what to cover a large area like that?

 

[chicks]

I'm sorry I was way over on my estimate. Husband out there now it is 25 feet wide and 50 feet long

 

[Zuesdude]

If you don't put a top on it A HAWK WILL GET YOUR BIRDS

If you have big dogs, they will get into the fence if they want TO.


Good Luck

 

[Zuesdude]

You can also feed they by hand the grass as a treat.

My birds fly but if you cut thier one wing feather back they will be unable to fly

 

[Davaroo]

That is really more of a paddock, or a flight cage, as opposed to a "free range". Which is, in my esteem, a better thing than any supposed free range. Regardless, it's a good idea, whatever you call it.

They could well fly out, so clip their wings to stop that.

You should cover the top of you have BOP's in the area and can afford to. An alternative is to offer shelters and shrubbery within the paddock for the chickcens to duck into. Also, stringing the top with a weave of heavy cord or monofilament will discourage hawks The paddock being so narrow will facilitate this. Hang some shiny pie tins and danglies around the top to alert BOP's to the string.

Something you could do is NOT cover it and see what happens. You may find there is no real issue as you are in town. You may find that there IS a problem, albeit not a great one, and stringin' would suffice.

Of course, the ulitmate protection against aerial attack would be to cover it.

 

[MIKE555444]

I guess it depends on your area... we don't have hawk problems and I don' t have a top on mine. I suppose that could change and i'd be in trouble bacause my run is to large to cover since it is about 25 x 30....

I don't think you will see your large breeds flying out.... if it becomes a problem you could clip a littleon ONE of there wings and that shopuld stop them from getting out.

Good Luck

 

[chicks]

I have a dauchshund, not a problem but a chaser, They would only be out when we are home, do you think polt. netting would be fine?