Is a run a must have?

[anniemorgan]

Good morning! I have a small farm and it already has a wonderful little house that I want to use as a coop. I will free range my chickens. Is a run absolutely a must have? I will install an automatic door. Thank you!

 

[SueT]

Hi, welcome to BYC! No, a run isn’t a must have, but there could be predators of various kinds. It’s good to have a run for Plan B just in case. You could add one later….

 

[anniemorgan]

Oh good. I didn't think about adding it later. I just need to get the basics to get started. Thank You!

 

[aart]

Might depend on your tolerance for loss of birds due to predators.

Also, climate.

Welcome to BYC! @anniemorgan
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Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[Percheron chick]

Even if you haven't seen any predators, they are out there lurking. They will show up. Having a safe day time area will quickly become a necessity. If $$, time or building skills are the problem pick up 3 6'x10' chain link panels and use that now. I can find them for $25+ each on CL. One adult hen.

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

I don’t have a “run” per se, but our coop is pretty open air (2 of the walls are hardware cloth) and it’s 6x7 feet, so it’s big enough for 4 hens to stay in it for a few days if we go out of town for a bit and have a pet sitter. Which I would say is a definite consideration - do you ever leave town, and if so, do you have someone willing to make sure the hens go back up each evening? If not, a secure run might be super helpful so you can leave the coop open to the run and the chickens can let themselves in and out and you only need someone to check their food and water and grab eggs.

I also let mine “free range” within a fenced yard with our dog, so that may help us avoid predator losses. We did lose one though even with the fence and dog.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

My run is just a "nice to have," because I had chain link panels for a dog run that I don't use for my dogs. It helps if I need to confine them (like when I had to put rat poison out years ago.) or when I go on a trip. But it's definitely not a "must have," when your property is just one big run.

 

[Krugerrand]

My concern if some migrating hawks show up or a fox passing through and you want to lock them up for a few weeks.

 

[Captain13]

Neither I nor any of my neighbors free range. We have foxes, red tail hawks, raccoons, coyotes, bears and more. My run is covered on the sides and top and is located by my barn which houses a shotgun. We always have a mating pair of red tail hawks and barred owls on our property and they are always on the hunt. They are fast when they come in for a squirrel. They can’t get in my run, but will often light in a tree and check out the chickens.