Looking for some advice

[aart]

Im looking to have a few chickens (and my fiance wants a duck) , would love to this spring. Right now i have an empty horse barn with 12x 12 stalls tht i was hoping to comvert to a coop. I was going to seal it off from predators and habe them locked in at night so they stay safe. However, how am i to keep them from just taking over the whole barn that i cant effectively seal up from predators. Im not wanting to build a run as i already have too much to mow and weedeat around as is .im in indiana, so main predators would be dogs, hawks, coyotes, raccoons, possible a mink.

What would you (experts) do?
Thank you!!

If your run fencing is 2x4 welded wire, they will keep the grass down up to 6" outside of fencing....they might lose a head that way too tho.
For 2 years they did a good job 'trimming' and I lost none...then I lined lower 2' with 1/2" hardware cloth to hold in deep bedding, no more chicken 'trimming'.

A mesh topped run can be a good thing to have if you have predator issues and they need to be confined for a time.
A partially solid roofed run can be great for winter snowless space.

Oh, and, Welcome to BYC!

 

[ncheek16]

Heres some pics of the stall i think ill use

The floor actually isnt wet, just stained and turning into compost