How to maintain a full-time run?

[Animals970]

My family is getting tired of moving our pens every day or so, so it would be kinda easier to just build a pen. I have 17 hens and 10 chicks (basically young chickens). So my questions are...

How big would the pen have to be? (is there a general rule of thumb?)
Is there any way to keep the grass growing?
Any fencing suggestions?
How to keep the pen clean/poop down.

Thank you,
-Animals970

 

[aggiemae]

Size:
The rule of thumb is 10 sq feet of outdoor space per standard size chicken and it is really the minimum since the chickens will peck and squabble if they can't move around.

Maintaining grass/ground cover:
The only way I can maintain grass is to have two runs so one can rest and recover while the other is in use. We have a small predator proof run 70 sq feet clad with 1/2" builders wire. The larger run is ~ 500 sq feet. It's fenced with 2"x2" cattle fencing on two sides and the wooden property line fence on the other two, Because of the open top and opened fencing we do get lots of wild birds in our run. If this will be a problem for you you should take it into consideration when you choose your fencing material. The hens are kept in the big run in the summer so that humans can use the yard, During the winter the hens use most of 1/2 acre while the run is blocked off to recover. Beginning in late September, while the hens free range in the bigger yard the run is raked out, tilled, mulched and seeded. I also add leaves as they fall.

Poop:
You can keep the poop down with thick ground cover since the hens will constantly scratch it under. It doesn't need to be the same all over the run. We use sand under the coop and, as the chickens tear out the seasonally planted fodder we plant I add wheel barrel of leaves that I much by going over them with the lawn mover. all fall and winter long. We have mainly pines on our property so we get our leaves from my neighbors. I bag the mulched leaves in garbage bags and keep them in the shed. The compost set up is in the large run so we walk and wheel barrel through it all winter. Sometimes by spring we run out of leaves and if the run gets muddy we add a bale or two of straw to the path, but generally I try to avoid straw since we live in an urban area and straw isn't east for the hens to scratch over completely so tends to get stinky and draw flies,

BTW I compose everything that I rake out of the coop and run along with kitchen waste and lawn clippings. Mixed 1/2 to 1/2 with native soil the the mixture of composed leaves, chicken poop, straw and sand makes a great planting medium for raised beds.

 

[Animals970]

Ok, thank you aggiemae

Anyone else, one thing I'm really wondering about is the poop situation and the grass-growing. Any suggestions on that anybody else?

 

[Animals970]

I just went outside and did some measuring and the area I would put the pen is 158 sq ft (with an access of 2 in) Do you think that would work?

 

[JackE]

With 27 birds in 158 sq ft, you can FORGET about growing any grass in there. That doesn't even meet the minimum size area for that number of birds.
As far as the crap goes. in a small area like that, after all the grass is dead and you have bare ground, just use a big pushbroom and sweep it up.
I have 19 birds in an area 100X200'. They have been in there over a year. I still have to go in there and cut the grass. They have a few holes and rough spots out there. But for the most part, it's still green. You want to keep some grass, go BIIIIIIIIIG
Jack

 

[TXchickmum]

We have a run that is approximately 300 square feet. We have 7 standard and 2 bantam hens. There is no grass in the run. They cleared it pretty quickly. I scoop the run around 4 times per day to keep it cleaned out. I rake and turn the dirt every day to every other day, as well, so it is good for dust baths. All of the waste goes into the compost bin. The chickens do have a good bit of time on the lawn each day, also. The lawn grass is growing wonderfully (and the garden is cleared of bugs/pests), the run stays clean, and it's all good. -no smell in the run/lawn. It also helps to plant fragrant herbs and flowers near the run and coop. We have Jasmine, mint, and lavender near the coop and run. -no "chicken odor" at all!

I agree with JackE, if you want some grass have a very, very large run (provided it's practical for your situation/acreage).

Best of luck with your run!

 

[aart]

........ I scoop the run around 4 times per day to keep it cleaned out. ......

Really!?!?!? That's ALOT of poop scoopin'!!

 

[TXchickmum]

Yep....I know. Our family lives outdoors around here, though. -have to maintain our two garden fountains, care for the vegetable and fruit gardens as well as weed/deadhead flower beds and gardens, and hanging baskets each day. If I am going to be outdoors working in those areas, it just seems fitting to tidy up the run area as well. The chickens love to roam the lawn and rid it of bugs and weeds whilst their run is being tended. (-and, the compost bins are always full

)

 

[Animals970]

I'll try to find a spot that is bigger. We have 40 acres, probally 25 of it is wooded. probally 5-7 more is a Christmas tree field, and the rest is where the house is and the front and back yard is. The front yard is pretty large but that is right beside the pine field which is our property but not our trees. So someone comes and sprays them every once in a while. Would that be ok for my chickens?

 

[TXchickmum]

-wouldn't want my chickens to be near an area where chemicals are being sprayed. Forty acres is a good amount of property. Could you place a run or enclosure in an area away from the grove of trees?? In the back of the house (or is that your original plan that will require a smaller run)??