run question

[jmnoel8]

Hello everyone, I am new to the community and intend on getting some chickens in the spring. My small barn has infrastructure already built in it for a coop, so I will work to predator proof that so the chickens are safe. There is a door inside the barn to access to coop, and a hatch for the chickens to go out into the run. My question is I need to rebuild the run for the chickens, does it need a door to access? My plan is to make the run as predator proof as possible, but I was just planning to loosen the chicken wire when the run would need cleaning, if it even does. Is this a bad plan? should I plan on building a door to the run as well? I am tall and am not very handy, though I am willing and eager to learn

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to the forum, glad you joined!

I would. You never know when you will need to go into the run to deal with an issue. Lots of different things could happen that you would want to go onto the run on a moments notice, let alone long term maintenance. The door could be from the coop to the run or through the run wire.

Are you planning on a roof over that run? If so make it tall enough that you can comfortably stand up and walk in there. I'd hate to have to bend over when I went in.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC, and good luck establishing your flock. I think a gate to the run is almost a necessity.

 

[perkolator]

Convenience for human access to perform maintenance, and good security for the animals against predators, are often the topmost basic priorities for good husbandry with keeping chickens. Sounds like your setup lacks both, which isn’t a great plan if you’re in the planning stages for this.

I would plan on adding a door and upgrades to the fence by adding 1/2” hardware cloth to the chicken wire (CW only good use is fencing off chicken access from something)

 

[jmnoel8]

Convenience for human access to perform maintenance, and good security for the animals against predators, are often the topmost basic priorities for good husbandry with keeping chickens. Sounds like your setup lacks both, which isn’t a great plan if you’re in the planning stages for this.

I would plan on adding a door and upgrades to the fence by adding 1/2” hardware cloth to the chicken wire (CW only good use is fencing off chicken access from something)

thank you, exactly why I am here.

 

[Sefirothe]

My feeders and waterers are in the run so I’m constantly in and out of the run.

Access to grab randomly laid eggs (it most definitely will happen), a sick or hurt chicken, cleaning or inspecting the run structure. There’s many reasons to need easy access to the run.

Build a door to it, either in a wire wall on the outer perimeter to the run or from your coop into the run.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

No chicken wire!! My cat could get through chicken wire.

19-gauge 1/2” hardware cloth (NOT 23-gauge 1/4” HWC, which is much weaker) is what you need.