Run options.

[BittenKitten]

Hello I have never had chickens and they are coming late June! YAY! We are getting 7 silkies and 3 banty EE's (hopefully) pullets from MPC. But we are afraid to let them free range where we are at, so we are looking into other options. One that seams like it would work best is to have a semi small run that will mainly be used for winter and early mornings and a movable run for the day time. If handled from chickhood on would they let us carry them about? Also about how big would those runs need to be? Thanks

 

[Chicken0Boy]

1) Well you run is gonna have to be huge if your not gonna let em' free range!
2)Yes, if you handle them and give em treats they will jump up in your lap when you sit down and follow you around!
3) If you let the chickens free range some your run would need to be atleast 10x10(each chicken needs 10sq feet) but since they arent gonna free range I would make it 15x10
I would give them, 15 sq feet!

Hope this helps

 

[cobrien]

ChickenOBoy the run sizes sound right for big chickens but maybe the run can be a tad bit smaller since they are silkies/banties? I have limited experience with bantams but my silkies are fine with a slightly smaller space.

I think your idea of a movable pen sounds great, depending on your predator situation (especially dogs, foxes that can lift the pen up). As far as carrying them, you can always do that but it is far easier to tempt them with food. Here's a trick - you can either restrict their feed in the early AM and then midmorning use their feed to lure them into the moveable run, OR you can leave their feed in the early AM and use tasty snacks (leftovers, veggie scraps, lettuce, a little scratch) to lure them into the moveable run. You can also gently herd them into areas, I hold a few long pieces of bamboo to herd them where I need them to go. But it's a lot easier with food because they don't always cooperate.

In my experience once they've had their fill of any particular food - feed, scratch, lettuce, etc. - then they will no longer be lured by it, it has to be something they haven't had a lot of for several hours.

If you don't manually move them, it is still a good idea to pick them up every day or every few days for a quick phyiscal exam - chickens can get sick / lose weight / get infested with mice or lice quickly so the faster you diagnose a problem the better.

 

[Chicken0Boy]

Either way you can never go with to much space! So as much as possible!

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I saw a run that 'ran' the entire edge of a fenced yard. There was a privacy fence that was between yards ( both sides and along the back) and on the inside of the privacy fence was the chicken run. It was about 4 ft wide 6ft high and a total of 100 running feet. They had planted a bed along the entire fence line with plants the chickens loved /could eat next to the fence and the blooming/pretty plants on the outside edge.. The run was attached to their cute little coop at one end.. I thought it was the prefect soultion to having chickens in a tiny area and still have a yard..for kids, dogs, entertaining, gardening..

 

[flockof4]

Hi BittenKitten, here is a pic of my set up. I have four chickens and they seem to have plenty of space. I let them out to free range when I'm in the garden, but they mostly stay in their run. I use a pitch fork to herd them around the yard if necessary. Good luck.