Have a run question...

[PuggyDawn]

I have a pre-maid coop with a little run of 5'.5". I'm adding an additional 8' onto it. I only have a flock of 3. So far the predators I've seen are raccoon, hog, stray cats and a wondering cougar. I have the coop and run placed inside a 14' enclosed, chainlink dog run for added protection. Do you think that is enough room for 3 hens?

 

[123RedBeard]

What's the other dimension?

13' 5" X ?
14' X ?

 

[rosemarythyme]

What's the other dimension?

13' 5" X ?
14' X ?

x2 - very important to know the total size.

Also if the coop is inside a chain link dog run, why not just use that for their run space? You'll need to beef it up a little to deal with predators but it's probably more room than what you're building.

 

[PuggyDawn]

Oh, I'm sorry, it's 13' long by 4'w by 4'H. I didn't use the dog run as the chicken run because I'm scared that predators could get past it.

 

[123RedBeard]

Yeah, a 13'X4' run should be enough ... are you able to let them out in your yard for a few hours now and then while your home?

 

[rosemarythyme]

13x4 should be a good enough space for 3 hens, though I'd price out how much it would cost to reinforce the dog run vs building a separate smaller run inside. Not so much for the space you'd gain, as it isn't that much, but costwise it may make more sense and chain link isn't a bad base to work off of.

 

[Percheron chick]

I'd be more concerned that it's only 4' tall. An obese motivated dog could get over it. At the least, pick up a cattle panel and place it on top.

 

[IamRainey]

I wouldn't rely on chain link.

I applaud you for surrounding your little coop with a substantial run. What I'd encourage you to do is sink in your upright supports. Enclose everything in 1/2" hardware cloth of a heavy gauge and dig it in 12-18" (depending on how loose and dig-able your soil is). Cover it with a sturdy roof with a generous overhang.

Affix the hardware cloth with a generous distribution of washers and screws or overlaid lath.

Make it tall enough to enter and move around in comfortably. Close any opening with secure latch/es that permit you to reinforce them with carabiner clips. Carabiner clips are the only thing I've ever known to stop a determined raccoon.

This will be MUCH more substantial than your prefab coop but it will protect your flock and permit you to, eventually, add a more substantial coop on one end as your flock grows. And everything you do to make your enclosure impregnable will save you countless hours of worry, loss and clean up.

 

[PuggyDawn]

Yeah, a 13'X4' run should be enough ... are you able to let them out in your yard for a few hours now and then while your home?

 

[PuggyDawn]

Yes I can, I had never thought of that. That is ok to do? I have a large enclosed backyard for my pugs to putter around. Of course I wouldn't let the dogs out at the same time