Pick apart my plan for hen run pls!

[barnhiller]

Howdy,

I'm new here. Place keeps coming up in searches for info on the topic, you all seem so very clever with this stuff! Might I run something by you all?

We have 4 rescue hens about a year now, they're doing well. The cheap hen coop we bought is not. You've seen them in stock photos, no doubt. Not well built, not suitable for rainy old Ireland. I threw together a run knowing that it wouldn't last very long. It's held up well but is not easy to live with. So here's the plan...

New run. Dig a small foundation trench, lay down paving bricks flat in trench, other bricks half sticking out above ground level on top, stacked on their sides. The hen coop built directly on top of this template, stilted with big wood screws and anchored in ground with wooden stakes. Inside area shallowly excavated and filled with hardcore, then weed control layer, then rubber safety matts, then in filled with sand for the hens. 2m x 1.5m area, 1m tall to front, 1.4m to rear, corrugated steel roof on hinge, door/gate at one end, hen coop at other.

So would anyone see any issues with this set up? Should I get rid of the failing hen coop now, save the heartache? And does anyone have any experience with the heavy duty rubber matts, any reason I shouldn't use them to stop my ladies scratching their way to China?!

Thanks

 

[DobieLover]

Howdy,

I'm new here. Place keeps coming up in searches for info on the topic, you all seem so very clever with this stuff! Might I run something by you all?

We have 4 rescue hens about a year now, they're doing well. The cheap hen coop we bought is not. You've seen them in stock photos, no doubt. Not well built, not suitable for rainy old Ireland. I threw together a run knowing that it wouldn't last very long. It's held up well but is not easy to live with. So here's the plan...

New run. Dig a small foundation trench, lay down paving bricks flat in trench, other bricks half sticking out above ground level on top, stacked on their sides. The hen coop built directly on top of this template, stilted with big wood screws and anchored in ground with wooden stakes. Inside area shallowly excavated and filled with hardcore, then weed control layer, then rubber safety matts, then in filled with sand for the hens. 2m x 1.5m area, 1m tall to front, 1.4m to rear, corrugated steel roof on hinge, door/gate at one end, hen coop at other.

So would anyone see any issues with this set up? Should I get rid of the failing hen coop now, save the heartache? And does anyone have any experience with the heavy duty rubber matts, any reason I shouldn't use them to stop my ladies scratching their way to China?!

Thanks

I would build a walk in style run. And I wouldn't use the mats. If it's that rainy there you will have a stinking quagmire in no time. I understand your desire to stop them digging. But I fear you will deeply regret trying this technique.
Lots of dry organic material is best. Build the ground up with lots of dry material. Wood chips and dry leaves work well.
Your dimensions are small for 4 hens. I would shoot for closer to 2.5m x 2.5m instead. The coop area could be smaller than what is normally recommended if your entire run is completely predator proof. You could make it 1.56 m2 and leave the pop door open to the run.
I would run a predator apron out 2' vs. digging to set brick.
Put everything up on high ground and divert all water runoff away from everything.
Buzzards usually only go after carrion, not live animals.

 

[black_cat]

I don't see the reason for rubber safety mats and the like, or filling the whole thing with sand. That sand will get wet and smelly QUICK. I"d recommend just using dirt, leaves, shavings, etc.

 

[deidreg]

Thanks for the reply. We've used wood shavings, etc for the last year. We get an awful amount of rain. I need a better drained area. Even with shelter the coop just turns into a midden heap. So matts to prevents digging to soil level. Sand and hardcore for drainage. Might continue to use the wood, leaves again.

Can you dig some trenches to redirect the water around the run? I did this and filled the trenches with river stone. Helps a lot!

 

[aart]

Sounds like a difficult situation...renting, small, swampland.
If you can't fix the drainage, chickens might not be for you at this time.

 

[deidreg]

Kudos to you for thinking hard about this! I agree to skip the rubber mat and sand. Mulch, leaves, etc. will help compost the poop. If you're concerned about predators digging their way in, consider lining the bottom of the run with hardware cloth. If you do this, though, provide a container for dust baths. Chickens need a place to dig. Keep us posted on progress!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Count me with the others. Adjsut the slope so water runs out of the run, trench/swale/berm as much as you can to keep water from running into the run, and fill with leaf litter and wood chips, let them dig. In time, as it composts, it will build a natural hill inside the run of some very fine earth.

That said, your brick filled moat to deter digging predators is a very good idea. and if its in the budget, incorporate a rebuild on the house itself at the same time. Much more difficult to work in a constrained space after the fact than to construct as part of a larger build from the start.

 

[barnhiller]

Thanks for the reply. We've used wood shavings, etc for the last year. We get an awful amount of rain. I need a better drained area. Even with shelter the coop just turns into a midden heap. So matts to prevents digging to soil level. Sand and hardcore for drainage. Might continue to use the wood, leaves again.

 

[3KillerBs]

any reason I shouldn't use them to stop my ladies scratching their way to China?!

Welcome to BYC!

Digging and scratching is natural behavior for chickens. I can't say for certain, but I strongly suspect that frustrating natural, instinctive behaviors is likely to cause other behavioral problems.

I need a better drained area.

The only way to prevent a wet, stinky run on a piece of ground with drainage issues is to fix the drainage.

Depending on the precise nature of the problem you may need to dig diversion ditches, install French drains, re-grade the area, and/or raise the level of the ground with fill dirt.

If you post photos of the area we might be able to suggest possibilities for you.

 

[barnhiller]

Thanks Tonya. I'll take all that under advisement but I don't have a lot of space to situate this run. I'm not a land owner, this is a back garden job. I can't simply put things on higher ground. I intend to improve soil drainage too.
You're right, european common buzzards do primarily eat carrion. But I've seen them take out unsuspecting wood pigeons in the garden before, so....concern.