Just Joined!

[Shaznay999]

Hello everyone. I've just joined Backyard Chickens today having owned my four hens for only one week. At the present time, my four girls are in a very small run attached to their coop, however, we have plenty of outdoor space to build a large run. Any advice on designs, tips for keeping the area clean, foxproof etc would be gratefully received. Thank you.

 

[WindStep]

 

[TwoCrows]

Welcome to BYC!

You might want to do some reading on these two pages in the learning center. Lots of reads on keeping them safe from predators and keeping them healthy...

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/housing-and-feeding-your-chickens

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-predators-pests-how-to-protect-treat-your-flock

The best advice I can give you is to not use chicken wire to protect your flock. It can easily be chewed thru by many predators. Always use hardware cloth. It comes in 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch. You can purchase it in long rolls of 25 feet up to 100 feet.

And while you are in the learning center, there are lots of other good reads on all the other aspects of keeping your new flock.

Great to have you aboard and enjoy your new hens!!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! TwoCrows gave you some great links for ideas, the coop/run design forum is a great place to post also for feedback on your run plans... https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/9/coop-run-design-construction-maintenance

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

- looks like you have some good links above

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC.

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[wolftracks]

Looks like you've been supplied with the links you need. You might need a few days to go through them though, although I doubt everyone is like me and has to see every single thing that people make.

OH.....You might want to build a bigger coop. Chicken Math is no joke!

 

[gander007]