Odd questions re: connecting run to coop - and a nest box access issue

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

I've got an issue that I'm completely stumped on and I'm looking for some creative chicken-lovers to help me come up with a solution.

I've got a nice chicken coop for my three hens with an attached run. Here's a pic of it:

Obviously the floor of the run is just hard ground so they can scratch around all day out there, but there's nothing really to eat. I think it's healthier for my hens to be able to scratch around in the grass from time to time so we built a moveable hoop run that we put them in about once or twice a week. (Since this photo there is a wooden door on one end and a tarp over about 1/4 of it so they can get out of the sun. Here's a pic of it before these additions:

Here's my issue....

My hens are still laying daily. When I put them in the hoop run they don't have access to their nest boxes in the coop. I have a fear that this frustrates them somehow. Am I right? The three of them all lay at different times, so it's not like I can wait until all 3 have layed an egg before putting them in the hoop run. Is this a valid concern or am I making too much out of it? I can move them from the hoop run to the coop at sunset, but they don't run in an lay an egg at that time of the day... Because of this they only get to scratch around in the moveable hoop run once a week or so - I just feel guilty that they're in there wishing they could lay an egg in their nest box.

Here's the dilemma....

I'd like to find someway to attach the hoop run to the coop/run with some sort of above-ground tunnel/corridor "thing" so they can access the hoop run and scratch around on fresh grass, but still scurry back to the coop/run and up into the nest boxes. I'd like to move the hoop run over a bit each day so they have fresh grass and at the end of the week move it back to where it started. You can see there is plenty of nice grass around their coop. But how to accomplish this? I know I could cut a hole in the run or coop, but how can I join them with something that enables me to move the hoop run over a few feet each day?

I have two chicken-hungry dogs so I can't let the hens free in the yard - plus we are high on predators around here - especially eagles and hawks - so I need to keep the girls safe.

I had thought about a duct like an air conditioning tube/duct maybe? Something like this? http://img.en.china.cn/0/0,0,259,20238,1250,1265,88500107.jpg But is this INSANE??

Any other ideas for me??

Thoughts?

I really thing having access to the grass AND a nest box will make my hens happier and healthier, but I can't figure out how to do it. Granted I could build a moveable chicken tractor but I already have a coop and can't afford to build something new. I've got two things that just might work together... it's figuring out how to connect them with something flexible that's the issue.

Thanks all!

 

[patandchickens]

That's a nice setup you've got there!

Quote:
The simplest thing would be to put some little nestbox type thing in the hoop pen. If it were built on 12" legs it wouldn't even take up any floorspace and thus not reduce the amount of grass they have available. Or if you like to move the hoop pen with them in it, walking along, you could build the nestbox 12-18" up upon supports that go from one side of the hoop frame to the other, so it is an integral part of the hoop structure.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

you answered your own question but not of duct work what you need to do is.......................

1. Make it out of 2x4's or 1x2's depending on your predotors you have their.

2. cover that in hardware cloth

3. put a sliding (hand operated) door on the end that goes from the coop/run side to the tunnel this way if you don't want them in the grass area (they will strip it clean belive I know) but that once a week deal that way you can open it and they can come and go as they please but then you can shut them off from it until the grass grows again.

4. attach the two sections with scews washers and boards as I said up there ^^ or you could always do it with locking pins this way you can remove the hoop run from the coop/run and place when you allow them to be there.

5. Go to youtube and look up chicken tunnels I have seen one or two that look good so you may get an Idea from there to use


Good luck and I hoped this helped a little bit.

 

[kcsunshine]

This is a pic of my 2 chicken tractors with above ground tunnels so they can go out of their coop/run and onto the grass and back to the run at will. Before you say it's not safe - We don't let them out there unless we're home. I move it around and they stand at their little pop door pressing against it like women at a white sale. They know what I'm doing. The tunnels are a series of 1x2 bottoms, welded wire sides and tops in different sizes 3 ft, 6 ft. All are open on each end the 3ft. have side openings too with wire doors that can be shut and fastened. These allow me to take them off in all directions. And they're light enough for me to move by myself. The tractors are on wheels.

 

[teach1rusl]

How about just a small, covered litter box with bedding and a fake egg in it??? Just move it when you move your hoop run???? Keep things simple.