i somehow acquired 2 runaways and i have questions. please help

[pollipazzi]

i am measuring the small run. it's about 6 feet (2m) long and a little under 3' (1m) wide. plus under the coop area is about 3' (1m) square
and so is the coop, of course.
the polytunnel is 6' (2m) x 9' (3m)

someone who is good at math? is this ok?

 

[redinator]

i am measuring the small run. it's about 6 feet (2m) long and a little under 3' (1m) wide. plus under the coop area is about 3' (1m) square
and so is the coop, of course.
the polytunnel is 6' (2m) x 9' (3m)

someone who is good at math? is this ok?

I have a 9 ftx18ft run for 4 chicks (10 weeks) almost adult sized . . . I had one of those smaller coops in it, but they refused to use when they got too cramped so I took it out. I set up some shelves (roost bars are coming) for them to rest on and they seem happier without it taking up space . . . neither of my two pullets are laying ATM so that helps.

 

[pollipazzi]

I have a 9 ftx18ft run for 4 chicks (10 weeks) almost adult sized . . . I had one of those smaller coops in it, but they refused to use when they got too cramped so I took it out. I set up some shelves (roost bars are coming) for them to rest on and they seem happier without it taking up space . . . neither of my two pullets are laying ATM so that helps.

that seems like loads of room! lucky chickens! did you get another coop instead?

i don't think the actual coop i have is too bad for 2 chickens but i wouldn't want more to have to be in there. it said it was a 4 chicken coop. i have peewee sized chickens in it and i wouldn't put 2 more! it's so misleading to people. i'm just glad i didn't get one for 2!
the run even with the extension is dumb.

 

[RoyalChick]

i am measuring the small run. it's about 6 feet (2m) long and a little under 3' (1m) wide. plus under the coop area is about 3' (1m) square
and so is the coop, of course.
the polytunnel is 6' (2m) x 9' (3m)

someone who is good at math? is this ok?

That is just about what is often recommended as space for two chickens.
They of course really want much more room, but it is totally fine if you need to lock them in for a part of a day or even the full day because of an appointment.
I recommend providing entertainment while they are confined. Fresh straw in the floor, hang a cabbage from the roof, a pile of weeds and half rotten leaves. Stuff like that will keep them entertained for a day.

 

[pollipazzi]

That is just about what is often recommended as space for two chickens.
They of course really want much more room, but it is totally fine if you need to lock them in for a part of a day or even the full day because of an appointment.
I recommend providing entertainment while they are confined. Fresh straw in the floor, hang a cabbage from the roof, a pile of weeds and half rotten leaves. Stuff like that will keep them entertained for a day.

perfect!!! thank you

 

[BDutch]

one main question for now... if they are free ranging and you have to go out somewhere, do you put them back in the run? are they free ranging when you aren't at home?

When my husband and me are not at home whole day, the chickens stay locked up. If we leave in the afternoon we set them free in the morning and lure them back inside with feed before we go. We usually give them mixed grains and a few mealworms. Boiled rice or spaghetti is a welcome treat too.

Preferably we set them free when they have at least 2 hours outside. Trying to lock them in after 1 hour is difficult, after 2 hours it’s no problem.

We don’t like it to let them outside to free range in the garden early mornings (spring + summer) when we are not at home bc its more quiet and it is more risky to encounter foxes and other predators.

During the day when we are at home, we look or go outside regularly. I work at home a lot and it’s good for me to take a break and go check the girls every hour or so. A couple of times over the past 11 years we have seen birds of prey, foxes, escaped or free ranging dogs, hunting cats. Being around and showing your presence helps imo. It’s no guarantee nothing will happen.

Over the past 11 years I lost 1 hen inside the run (fox) but more when they were truly free ranging (2 young pullets and 2 hens ????, 1 hen to a buzzard). All these years I had 4-9 grown ups. Never roosters, only cockerels from hatching. Sad of course but willing to take the risk bc the big advantage of truly free ranging is their health and happiness.
Over these years I only lost 2 hens with a health problem.
(I left the chicks out in this overview).

 

[BDutch]

it's 10:45am. i have a little travel time but not much.
the little run is secure. just the polytunnel isn't. i suppose it wouldn't be the worst place to be for a little while. there's food and water and a place to snooze. if i put thelma in a big pot in a box, she'd be happy it's the other one disrupting the peace is the trouble

The decision us up to you. Do what feels most comfortable.
Maybe I can add an anecdote to make you feel comfortable to lock them up for a few hours.

Couple of years ago we had a lot of snow and it froze for over a week. The chickens could go outside in the run or free range but didn’t. My 6 hens stayed in the coop/tiny run voluntarily. Only 3m2 for 6 bantams.

Giving something to eat like pieces of grass (grind stones on the side) and scattered mixed grains is a good thing. I dump/scatter these in the big run when Im away almost the whole day.

 

[BDutch]

i am measuring the small run. it's about 6 feet (2m) long and a little under 3' (1m) wide. plus under the coop area is about 3' (1m) square
and so is the coop, of course.
the polytunnel is 6' (2m) x 9' (3m)

someone who is good at math? is this ok?

Did you measure in foot or in meters?
1 foot = 30.48 centimeters
6’ is 1.81 m

The coop/run is big enough for a few hours for 2 bantams.
The polytunnel is big enough to lock them in whole day if you can make it secure. Why is it not secure?

 

[pollipazzi]

When my husband and me are not at home whole day, the chickens stay locked up. If we leave in the afternoon we set them free in the morning and lure them back inside with feed before we go. We usually give them mixed grains and a few mealworms. Boiled rice or spaghetti is a welcome treat too.

Preferably we set them free when they have at least 2 hours outside. Trying to lock them in after 1 hour is difficult, after 2 hours it’s no problem.

We don’t like it to let them outside to free range in the garden early mornings (spring + summer) when we are not at home bc its more quiet and it is more risky to encounter foxes and other predators.

During the day when we are at home, we look or go outside regularly. I work at home a lot and it’s good for me to take a break and go check the girls every hour or so. A couple of times over the past 11 years we have seen birds of prey, foxes, escaped or free ranging dogs, hunting cats. Being around and showing your presence helps imo. It’s no guarantee nothing will happen.

Over the past 11 years I lost 1 hen inside the run (fox) but more when they were truly free ranging (2 young pullets and 2 hens ????, 1 hen to a buzzard). All these years I had 4-9 grown ups. Never roosters, only cockerels from hatching. Sad of course but willing to take the risk bc the big advantage of truly free ranging is their health and happiness.
Over these years I only lost 2 hens with a health problem.
(I left the chicks out in this overview).

i can’t thank you enough for this detailed information! it’s exactly what i needed!

this morning we did our regular routine and the nagging one went into lay an egg. the other one went into the run too to get some food. they had been out an hour. so i took the opportunity and closed the run door. but just now, the nagging one has finished laying and she’s out there ba-gawking her head off.
there’s no threat out there. usually she just sort of yells, but this is BAGAWK for several minutes already.
will she eventually shut up? i am getting picked up for my appointment soon.
my neighbours are going to hate me. lol!

 

[pollipazzi]

Did you measure in foot or in meters?
1 foot = 30.48 centimeters
6’ is 1.81 m

The coop/run is big enough for a few hours for 2 bantams.
The polytunnel is big enough to lock them in whole day if you can make it secure. Why is it not secure?

the polytunnel wasn’t meant to be a permanent solution. we will build something better, but we aren’t able to just yet.

we have a mean cat who lives next door and has been stalking them (i was out there at 10pm squirting the hose at him to chase him away) and i had 2 fox sightings a couple of weeks ago, where i was able to scare it away, but i didn’t want them looking in the coop window and frightening them. the polytunnel fits tightly into that space, but i had already really secured the small run, so i wasn’t able to move the coop/run. i put metal mesh on the whole back and front, and made a timber and mesh door for the polytunnel. there’s only a tarp roof and the polytunnel curves by the window so, for instance, the cat that was going from one roof to the other last night by the connecting wall, could easily fall or climb in between and get in. but not be able to get out. a fox could too.
i explain in post #156 with pictures.

she finally stopped bagawking and i have to get ready to leave, but thank you so much!