Is a run important????

[Purdy]

The answer is YES! A small run is better then none!
Runs can be portable too. They do not have to be very tall, 24 -36 inches will do the job, but can be hard to clean out.
If you can't free range them all day long, give them a few hours daily late in the day.

 

[wvtim]

Im not so sure that Eagles are a big chicken killer. I have seen a pair of mallards in creek below an eagles nest on several occassions. Do people have trouble with Eaglles attacking chickens. i mostly see eagles eating carion. Chickens need to free range in my opinion. Confining chickens to a muddy run day in and day out isnt good.

 

[Grateful Dad]

Id bet the hens would peck each other to bits, and then theyd get infected and sick if they were confined in an enclosure 24/7. just like any other animal they will become agitated and aggressive to each other.

 

[Carols Clucks]

We have full sized Easter Eggers, currently just a very secure coop for nights and the area around our garden for them to free range-we do keep them away from the house and landscaped yard. We also have 2 or 3 pairs of hawks that live on the properties that are very near by.

We did have one swoop by a young hawk. But other than that, our elderly rooster does a great job protecting his ladies, we have fruit trees scattered around, some vintage farm equipment and lots of patio chairs to sit and watch the garden and chickens.

Having all of these random things, encourage the hawks not to try a swoop and give the chickens places to hide.

But one of the best things about having chickens, is just sitting there and watching them be chickens. Our new citrus orchard is their new favorite place to spend an hour dust bathing (we just come back and rake it back out for now-it will get planted in a few weeks but til then we have the chickens on weed sprout patrol) Or finding them all napping under a hedge. And watching how fast they can run when you head down there with a shovel in hand. They are happy chickens for sure.

 

[Altonafamily]

Thank you guys for all the great info! I really appreciate it. We now have some designs for a run/coop in a triangular shape. The run will be 8ft x 4ft and 3ft tall with a coop attached at the end in a 4ft x 4ft triangle. I hope this is enough room, I went down and picked up 2 more chicks yesterday

. But now they will have full access to a run at all times. I would love to have them out of their run for some free time, but my neighbor has a dog that likes to come over and visit daily, we'll have to introduce the girls to the pup and see how they do together before I ever let them out. I want my ladies to be fully happy, and can't thank you all enough for the help.

 

[ECBW]

As it seems, I will be the only opposing voice.

Chickens are very adaptive. Some breeds more so than others. They can thrive in virtually any environment. Anything we BYC people provide is better than the factory battery setup. So dare I say... just coop and no run will work just fine.

If your situation allows, the more you can provide the better. But do not let it deter you from enjoying hobby chickens. Many city folks do in tight spaces.

However, I would not do it to my flock. Mine has a coop and run. I prefer to see them scavenging and frolicking. I have lost birds to foxes and hawks when the flock was free ranging. So your concern is absolutely valid. I now only let them out when someone is out with them. The human scent and sight seem to deter the predators.

 

[duckinnut]

As it seems, I will be the only opposing voice.

Chickens are very adaptive. Some breeds more so than others. They can thrive in virtually any environment. Anything we BYC people provide is better than the factory battery setup. So dare I say... no run will work just fine.

However, I would not do it to my flock. I prefer to see them scavenging and frolicking. I have lost birds to foxes and hawks when the flock was free ranging. So your concern is absolutely valid. I now only let them out when someone is out with them. The human scent and sight seem to deter the predators.

I think you may have not understood what the OP was saying as they were going to keep them cooped up all the time they are not home. Not a question of run or free range. Keeping them cooped up all the time in my opinion when you are not there is not much better than battery hens.

 

[Kaitie09]

Thank you guys for all the great info! I really appreciate it. We now have some designs for a run/coop in a triangular shape. The run will be 8ft x 4ft and 3ft tall with a coop attached at the end in a 4ft x 4ft triangle. I hope this is enough room, I went down and picked up 2 more chicks yesterday

. But now they will have full access to a run at all times. I would love to have them out of their run for some free time, but my neighbor has a dog that likes to come over and visit daily, we'll have to introduce the girls to the pup and see how they do together before I ever let them out. I want my ladies to be fully happy, and can't thank you all enough for the help.

If my math is right, you now have 6 chicks. On BYC, the average interior per bird is 4 sq ft. The outside run should have about 10sq ft per bird.

4 x 4 =16 /6 = 2.6 sq ft per bird interior.

8 x 4 = 32/6 = 5.3 sq ft per bird exterior.

According to BYC standards, you should double your run and coop. Now, this is just what most people on this site will tell you to have happy hens. There are others that will say your setup will be fine for 6. Either way, it is better than having them inside all the time.

 

[loanwizard]

You COULD leave them cooped up all the time. If you create the size and habitat, I am sure they could live indoors and be relatively happy. What I mean by habitat is a dust bath, plants, buggy area, fresh clippings every day, varied levels to sit, windows to get sunshine.

You COULD build them a run with all the above attached to the coop.

You COULD let them free range some or all of the time. They belong to you.

Full size birds don't have the predation problems during the day that most people think, or maybe I have just been lucky. Night time has been a different story, at least in my experience. My suggestion is to have them in a coop/run combination, but let them wander in late afternoon. I promise you, they know where the coop is after 3-4 days. I have moved mine twice in the last 1 1/2 years, and both old coops are still in place, yet after the most recent move, they know where the barn is (1 stall is their new coop), and they go there nightly to roost.

Welcome to the world of chickens.

Shawn

 

[Mingming]

If my math is right, you now have 6 chicks. On BYC, the average interior per bird is 4 sq ft. The outside run should have about 10sq ft per bird.

4 x 4 =16 /6 = 2.6 sq ft per bird interior.

8 x 4 = 32/6 = 5.3 sq ft per bird exterior.

According to BYC standards, you should double your run and coop. Now, this is just what most people on this site will tell you to have happy hens. There are others that will say your setup will be fine for 6. Either way, it is better than having them inside all the time.

Ok may be an odd question... But I'm trying to account for chicken math here... Can the run be too big? As long as they're secure it's okay, right? I've got 6 babies but I was planning on making the run the length of my garden (idk 25 ft or so). I figure once I sell DH on the necessity of more chickens he won't be able to say we've got more work to do first to get more. I'm so jealous of you guys with plenty of space for lots more chickens!