Help me Run and Coop with pics

[lalalandchickens]

am really stuck on what run to make and hoping you could all help me.

This space is right outside my back door and is sheltered with a set of iron stairs the bottom bit just needs mending and they do have gaps in between the steps that could be sorted with wire mesh NOT chicken wire. There is a drain that is connected to my kitchen sink but I can very easy get a drain cover or send the pipe the other way.
Am just worried it won't be enough space for the hens I plan on having 3 birds that area will just be there run not coop there coop is an outhouse type shed the other side of the back door I have attached pictures. It's got a gate inside which is handy a tap and drains. That hole in the floor is old gas piping that can be covered so rats can't get in. The window is broken on one pane of glass so am going to replace it with very fine mesh for ventilation. Anyway....


.The run would be 4ft x 14ft and they can occasionally free range. It would have that wire panel attached on the photo that isn't secured so doesn't look like it fits but it does. On the other side I would mesh the front and made a walk in gate on the sloped section.

they will have nesting boxes in both the run and coop along with roosts. They will be let out and locked up each night. Would this work?

 

[Peppercorngal]

Looks like that would work fine for 3 chickens! Hardware cloth is fine if you prefer it over chicken wire. Good Luck!

 

[lalalandchickens]

Thanks am thinking sand for the bottom of the run?

 

[Peppercorngal]

Thanks am thinking sand for the bottom of the run?

I don't know about sand. There under the stairs is concrete and you will want something you can "cart away" on occasion. Do you have a garden area or other area where you can throw the used material as mulch? If so I would use wood chips or straw. Use it later under plants, in garden beds and such. Moving sand would not be light or easy!

 

[lalalandchickens]

Why would I want to cart it away? Yes we have a garden area with grass and flowers beds ect I plan on free ranging them if am out there which is quite often to be honest. Also 3 large compost heaps they can have fun on.

 

[lalalandchickens]

Oooh I see what you mean now

 

[Peppercorngal]

Why would I want to cart it away? Yes we have a garden area with grass and flowers beds ect I plan on free ranging them if am out there which is quite often to be honest. Also 3 large compost heaps they can have fun on.

What I mean is that you will have to clean the area. Chickens poop ALOT and whatever you put down will need to be removed and replaced every so often. Be careful, chickens will ruin a flower garden! I've seen just a couple of hens ruin my friends beautiful garden! Good Luck!

 

[lalalandchickens]

Am thinking as the sand will be covered it will stay dry and I will poo pick daily and sift sand off and pop into compost and change sand every few months?

 

[aart]

There is a drain that is connected to my kitchen sink but I can very easy get a drain cover or send the pipe the other way.

That pipe goes to an open drain?

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[lalalandchickens]

Yes but it's all covered with a fine grate covering it and it will be covered with a drain cover.