Kind of off the wall chicken run question and nesting area

[natedawgg94]

I see most of the chicken runs you can buy have a closed area for roosting and nesting. So my question is is this something the hens have to have or just a added luxury? This is for chicken runs not coop and free range. I have a portable 14' x 24' i built to move around my pasture and currently i havent made an enclosed nesting area i just have the nesting boxes in the back corner facing the back wall so they are semi enclosed. half of the run is covered with tin and the other half is open with chicken wire. This is mainly just something i have been wondering because the hens dont seem to have any issue with things like they are and it makes the run easier to roll around from area to area.

 

[Jaxon4141]

Do your chickens have a place to roost at night or are they in the run?

 

[natedawgg94]

i have a place setup inside the run its 6ft high. we have a lot of hawks around my house so they stay in the run full time but it is moved every other day for them to scratch and feed on the grass

 

[natedawgg94]

so no one else has any insight on this???

 

[Kaitie09]

I can't imagine what you are describing. Could you post a picture of your setup?

 

[hispoptart]

So I guess I am confused....Is the roosting area and nesting boxes built inside the run? So basicly that is their coop? Or do you have a seperate coop for them? and yes a pic would help.

 

[Linn Bee]

Some chickens prefer their "privacy" when egg laying. Others will lay on just about anything horizontal. Some folks find milk crates and 5 gallon buckets are just what their girls ordered.

You will need to have some spot for the hens to lay their eggs. It should be lower than their roost other than that, whatever works for you is just fine. My girls are spoiled, I know.

The largest meat-ers probably prefer to roost right on the floor, but my duel-purpose girls do prefer getting a bit off the floor.

 

[natedawgg94]

this was in the early stages only difference now is the nesting boxes are mounted on the side and the roosting poles are higher. Hope this gives ya an idea of what im talking bout...

 

[natedawgg94]

Here is an outside pic just something i throwed together with materials i had left from another project. I added some lawnmower tires to it since this pic to make it portable its still a work in progress and not the prettiest thing but serves the purpose.

 

[Kaitie09]

Oh ok, It's called an open air coop or tractor. The use them a lot in the south because there is nicer weather all year long. In the northern areas, it is sometimes better to have a completely draft free closed coop so that the wind does not cause them to get frostbite, and they can stay in there during heavy snow. The only thing I would suggest is to completely cover that one half open side with tin. That way the have full coverage on 3 sides, just in case it starts raining sideways. Also, if possible, change out the chicken wire for either welded wire, or better yet, hardware cloth. Chicken wire does nothing but keep them in. Any creature can rip right through it.

If you are in the north, you might want to consider just closing the front off too, to make an enclosed room for them.