HOW Much height in the run? Standard breeds

[chickchick]

OK, so when we built the coop last year, or DH built the coop I should say, we did not make the run really high. I can't remember why we did it this way, but I don't like it and as soon as we, HE has time I really want to change it.

But my question is can having a low run be a real bummer for a chicken? It is only about three feet high and until recently they have been free-ranging nearly every day except in really rainy weather so it was not much of a concern to me. But now that there is so much poop in the yard that we can't do anything outside I've curtailed their free-ranging days quite a bit.

I am planning on building a fenced in pen for them later this winter-early spring so that they can run about but I am a bit worried about them being "cooped" up in a low run until then...

Anyone else have a low run?

 

[Wildsky]

I dont' think it makes MUCH difference to a chicken - but its dang near impossible to clean it.

 

[Corey NC]

I do, it is maybe a bit taller than 3ft. but my chooks don't seem to mind at all. It is a killer on my back though.

Pics -

 

[silkiechicken]

One of my grower pens... with over grown babies (6 months old) in it, is only 2 feet tall... and when the adults in the big coop come out for they day... they seem to like to go and just stand in the low roof coop.... must be the feeling of safety. They are all tractors though so cleaning is pretty much pick up and move it.

 

[68CudaGuy]

That's a question I've been pondering myself... I plan on building mine 6 foot tall so I can actually stand up and clean the run. Once I finish my two greenhouses I'll move the small flock into them for fertilizing doo'ty and build a real chicken coop and run not this rattle trap crap I've pieced together. Open top runs here in N.E. Georgia are NOT a good idea.. My girls get the shotgun escort when they are out. With Heidi the wonderdog on point and Zoe the princess on the deck looking for interlopers I've not lost any to predators yet... Blasted a couple coons out of the trees above the open top run before they "dropped" in and Heidi killed a fox trying to chew its way into the coop.

 

[Dawn419]

We built our main run out of cattle panels. I'm 5'2" and it leaves me with a ton of head-room and the Banties enjoy being able to spread their wings.

Hope this is some help!

Dawn

 

[hinkjc]

I think some of it depends on the breed. If it is a heavy breed, 4 feet high is sufficient. For flightier breeds, I go with 6-8 feet high on our runs. What's nice about the higher runs is they usually can not fly out (altho we cover our tops) and you can build jungle gyms in there for them to hop up on.

Jody