If it was possible for you to rotate runs

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Would you? The way my coop is set up, I have the option to set up two separate runs, with two separate entrance doors. So I could have both runs open all the time, or rotate. So which would you do?

 

[georgialee]

I guess it would depend on the size of the run & the number of chickens .... and if the run is going to be grass.

If its a large run and you have a small number of chickens I would rotate every few days. You'd probably save the grass (at least for a time) that way.

If you have a lot of chickens there's no hope, lol.

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Quote:
Runs will be about 10x10 or so. I'm not sure how many chickens we will have (we don't have any yet) probably 8-10 layers. We will have meaties to but we have a separate area for them

 

[georgialee]

If they're 10 LF chickens I would just make one large run. You wouldn't believe how quickly they'll eat that grass down to dirt. Even if you were to rotate every 2 days the grass would be gone in a week or less.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

For 10 layers you need about 100sqft of outdoor space and that would be the minimum. My run was 30 x 20 and 10 birds had it picked clean of any vegetation whatsoever.

 

[WashingtonCowgirl]

Quote:
Well they would have free range as well during the day, the runs would only be at night and so they could be outside if we were late getting them out one day or something.

 

[RustyHen]

I would because if you ever introduce new chickens or younger ones you would have a ready made place for them to be seprate for awhile. Just my two cents.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That would probably work great if they're free range most of the time. If you ever had to confine them more and the grass wasn't holding up, you could sacrifice one run to dirt and only let them have limited time in the green run. That way it wouldn't get over-grazed.

 

[PapaChaz]

Quote:
yeah i fixed my coop and run with removeable dividers so new chicks/new hens can live 'next door' until they all become good neighbors! once they appear to be able to get along, i'll open the middle section and let them roam together. i don't let mine free range that much, i have 170 sq feet total counting runs and under the coop fenced in for 12 girls and 1 roo

the ends on each side are hinged so they can be opened for access, they swing up and lay on top of the run

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That's nice!