Official BYC Poll: Is your RUN Covered or Not?

[1shelby1]

Covered with 2x4 mesh....because, Hawks.


My runs have semi-deep litter(cold composting), never clean anything out, just add smaller dry materials on occasion, add larger wood chippings as needed.
Aged ramial wood chippings are best IMO.

Wow,never knew about ‘Ramir

I’m now regretting having the kids clean up the big pile of bark from cutting wood all winter we have tons of woods and trees and limbs everywhere so I’m sure it’s not going to be too hard collecting stuff to add. Just need to get a good amount to get started. We have some trees in the woods that have been down many years that I’m sure I can get quite a bit from.

Ramial wood cuttings,never heard that term- thanks for the suggestion!

 

[MandaRae]

I currently have a netting cover but I wish I could afford a full covering on atleast part of the run.

 

[electrycmonk]

The one that I'm currently building (about halfway through that process now) will be covered for shade... we've had uncovered runs in the past and a run covered in netting and neither were much of a deterrent to predators (the netting doesn't take much to deteriorate to the point of not being functional). We lost so many birds to hawks and other predators over the years... I would NEVER use netting again, it was basically a huge headache and wasn't really that useful, and I'd shy away from having a run that wasn't covered as well. The design of our prior coop/run didn't make it possible to cover it without basically rebuilding the entire thing, which I was never ready to commit to doing (the coop had many other issues too, which is why I'm building a new one).

The chicken tractor that I built to "solve" that problem was covered in 1x1 cage wire and eventually we threw a tarp over it for shade... it still wasn't/isn't completely predator proof though.

One Texan to another.... Care to expound on the netting deterioration experience here? Or have you already explained elsewhere? If so may I ask for a link to read please?

I'm preparing to add netting over a section of our small backyard .....

 

[chicks071123]

Here is a pic of our girls home. Just finished. It is 6'x18' overall.

 

[Three Little Bunnies]

My runs are 12x4 and 12x8 for the big girls. The coop came with the 12x4 run and we added an extension.

The whole big chicken area.

First run

Second run

The babies are in a 3x6 run with free time when I can give it.

 

[K0k0shka]

My run is 180 square feet and covered with clear polycarbonate panels. The bedding is yard waste (dry leaves, grass clippings, weeds from the garden and various raked natural debris from the yard). I've been very happy with it.

 

[Jedstar]

My run is uncovered and I have just lawn clipping mulch I chuck in there during the wet season when I mow my lawns. I have 2 lots of 2 clusters of banana trees growing in the run and they love it.ive picked one big bunch of bananas so far. And going to pick another big bunch soon.and they create enough shade for my chooks. Also have some bits of shade cloth tied up.and my passionfruit has been growing crazy over the last couple of months going all over the fences and shade clothes with heaps of fruit fruiting on the vines. I circulate my chooks into different runs at different times of the year. I'm currently growing vegies in a pen I had them in over the wet season.its dry season now so I'm growing all my vegies in one of my pens that has full sun. Next dry season I'll grow in my other run. There's 3 runs. One run I don't grow in.thats the one with the bananas in it.

 

[Mariakissinger132]

My run is both so they can be in the open or under the roof the ground is dirt but the chickens have a very big house and laying boxes and they have something to roost on in there big house the ducks have a very big corner with a bunch of bedding where they sleep at night

 

[Baumshell28]

I chose “Uncovered” as my poll choice. My chicken run is 100% enclosed with welded wire and chicken wire due to the amount & proximity of aerial predators. But, there are no solid roofing panels like corrugated metal or plastic, to provide protection from rain or sun. The yard itself provides LOTS of shade from 2 huge oak trees and other tall trees and plant life. We are having lots of rain right now and were under flash flood warnings over the weekend, thru last night. Slightly over half my yard holds lots of water for days on end, but the area where the coop & run are located drain amazingly quickly and has never held standing water.

 

[DuckDuckGooseMum]

My run is 180 square feet and covered with clear polycarbonate panels. The bedding is yard waste (dry leaves, grass clippings, weeds from the garden and various raked natural debris from the yard). I've been very happy with it.

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I absolutely LOVE your coop & run!! WOW!! Just charming!! We're in the process of building a bantam coop & run now. I hope mine turns out to be as attractive as yours! Well done!!