Is it a bad idea for runs to share a fence?

[Jeff Cooper]

I am expanding to four different coops with four different runs. It would save money and space if I placed the runs side by side and they shared the fence between.

Is this a good Idea or bad .... why?

 

[Silkie Princess]

I don't see why it isn’t a good idea

 

[Aquira]

It could be a bio security risk. So if one bird catches something contagious then potentially all your birds in all the pens could end up with it.

 

[GregnLety]

I have 3 runs adjoining each other. Shade is at a premium during hot Texas summers so my runs are built around a huge oak. No issues going on 2 years now.

 

[3KillerBs]

It sounds very practical to set things up that way -- a big help with any integration you might do.

The only issue I might see is if you have roosters that fight along the fence. I don't think that biosecurity would be such an issue because for true biosecurity you'd have to separate facilities on distant parts of the property.

 

[igorsMistress]

It should be fine, just make that wall with wire that has small enough holes to prevent fights.

 

[GregnLety]

It sounds very practical to set things up that way -- a big help with any integration you might do.

The only issue I might see is if you have roosters that fight along the fence. I don't think that biosecurity would be such an issue because for true biosecurity you'd have to separate facilities on distant parts of the property.

They sometimes meet at the fence and do some head bobbing and weaving and get bored with it then wonder off.

 

[Ted Brown]

... I don't think that biosecurity would be such an issue because for true biosecurity you'd have to separate facilities on distant parts of the property.

I like numbers. For example this article cites 100 feet between coops on a farm. Much larger distance between different operations.

I looked at several articles, biosecurity measures are generally applied but not uniformly. I liked this article as it was easy to read, provided specific advice, agreed with my common sense.

https://thepoultrypunch.com/2020/03/bio-security-measures-in-poultry-farming/

 

[GregnLety]

Ours free range together so contact is inevitable. New chickens get isolated at first.