Run Question

[Tressa27884]

I'm in the process of sorting out a run design for my flock. I have; Leghorn, EE, Black Cochin, Barred Cochin, Langsham, Lt. Brahma, Silver Wyandotte and two Bantams - Tell me how high I need to build the fence, and do I REALLY need a roof?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Whether or not you need...or want...a roof may depend on where you live. Here in the rainy NW, having a roof on the run keeps things dry and smelling okay. Even if you don't put a roof on, you may want to put some sort of netting to keep birds of prey from entering the run from above.

If you're thinking about the height as in, what will keep them in, I'm not sure. One of my EEs is quite a little flyer, but I have a roof on my run.

 

[TayFray!]

i have a chain fence for my run, then I have chicken wire over the top! They cant get out, and birds or other prey cannot get in to kill my birds. The only thing you need to watch out for is the bantams can fly pretty well! good luck!

 

[Pinky]

I have a six foot tall fence for my runs and my white leghorn rooster and his daughters fly over it with no problem, like it isn't even there

. I have some game hens on the outside of the run that free range and they often fly up on the fence to get away from the roosters.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

TayFray! :

i have a chain fence for my run, then I have chicken wire over the top! They cant get out, and birds or other prey cannot get in to kill my birds. The only thing you need to watch out for is the bantams can fly pretty well! good luck!

Same here, and I have a roof over mine. Best thing I did! They go out all year long. In really bad weather they're still outside. Even with it covered it's going to get wet inside. Here's a pic of mine after it snowed. I have the east side covered with a tarp which I remove in the Spring. You can see above the tarp where I didn't block the snow it's sticking to the chain link and probably why most of the snow ended up in the run. I'll have to come up with something for next year. No matter what you will need to cover it with something so they don't fly out and hawks don't fly in.